Paharpur

According to the Bengali Vocabulatory, the name Paharpur (Pahar = hill,

pur = locality) means a locality of hill. Paharpur an important archaeological site in

Bangladesh, situated in a village named Paharpur under the Badalgachhi Upazila

of Naogaon district. The village is connected with the nearby Railway station

Jamalganj, the district town Naogaon and Jaipurhat town by metalled roads. It is in

the midst of alluvial flat plain of northern Bangladesh. In contrast to the

monotonous level of the plain, stands the ruin of the lofty (about 24m high from

the surrounding level) ancient temple which was covered with jungle, locally

called Pahar or hill from which the name Paharpur is derived

Photo: Somapura, Mahavihara, Paharpur

The Somapura Vihara is a Buddhist Monastery dating from the late 8th

century..It is said to be the second largest single Buddhist monastery south of the

Himalayas. It was made a WHS as a tribute to the Pala dynasty that ruled Bengal

and Bihar for 3-5 centuries from the middle of the 8th century.King Dhammapala

established Paharpur Buddhist Monastery in 7th century.

From the readings of the sealing we came to know that its original name was

Sompura (the abode of the moon) Mahavihara (great monastery) which was built

by Pal King Dhammapala in century 770-810 A.D. It was burnt and destroyed by

the Patihari Intruders during the time of weak successors of King Devapala in

century 810-855 A.D. and again by the Vangala armies some time by the twelfth

century A.D. Following these repeated destruction and establishment of Hindu

Rule in this part of Bengal, the vihara was completely destroyed by the monks

around the thirteen century A.D. Since then it had been lying under the wind born

activities for several centuries and ultimately took the shape of Pahar (mountain).

This is why it is known as Paharpur (the abode of mountain).

Photo: Ground plan of the Mahavihara

The main Mandir (temple) is in the center of this Monastery. This 7th

century archaeological find covers approximately an area of 27 acres of land. The

entire establishment, occupying a quadrangular court, measuring more than 900 ft.

externally on each side, has high enclosure- walls about 16 ft. in thickness and

from 12 ft. to 15 ft. height. With elaborate gateway complex on the north, there are

45 cells on the north and 44 in each of the other three sides with a total number of

177 rooms. The architecture of the pyramidal cruciform temple is profoundly

influenced by those of South-East Asia, especially Myanmar and Java. A small

site-Museum built in 1956-57 houses the representative collection of objects

recovered from the area, where you can see the statues of Buddha and Vishnu. The

excavated findings have also been preserved at the Varendra Research Museum at

Rajshahi.

Photo: Terracotta plaque, Base of the Buddhist Temple

The antiquities of the museum include terracotta plaques, images of different

gods and goddesses, potteries, coins, inscriptions, ornamental bricks and other

minor clay objects.In the plain land naturally everybody becomes curious to see

such a high pile of land. As such at the beginning of the nineteenth century the

personals of the then East India Company who came to this land for the official

works attracted the attention of this hill of Paharpur. As a result many of them

visited this Paharpur out of curiosity. Amongst them Dr. Buchanon Hamilton

visited the site as early as 1807-1812. In the year 1875 Westmacott visited the site.

Those personals after returning to their country expressed their views and

experiences in many newspapers. Basically, following their description the Chief

of Indian Archeological Survey and pathe-finder of Archeology in this Sub-

Continent Sir Alexander Cunningham visited Paharpur in the year 1879. At last in

the periphery of 1909 Archeological laws this site Paharpur was declared as

reserved ancient heritage. UNESCO has taken Paharpur as World Heritage Site

(WHS).

Mahasthangarh

History of the oldest known city of Bangladesh dated back to the 3rd century

B.C., which was provincial capital of the Mauryans, the Guptas, the Palas, and

many feudal Hindu kings.

The word ‘Mahasthan’ means a place that has excellent sanctity and ‘garh’

means fort. The extensive ruins of Mahasthangarh presents a glorious past of about

two thousand and five hundred years of Pundranagar, the capital city of ancient

Pundra Vardhan Bhukti. This is the ancient archeological and historical which was,

established in 2500 BC. It is the oldest archaeological site of Bangladesh is on the

western bank of river Karatoa 18 km. north of Bogra town beside Borga-Rangpur

Road. The spectacular site is an imposing landmark in the area having a fortified,

oblong enclosure measuring 5000 ft. by 4500 ft. with an average height of 15 ft.

from the surrounding paddy fields. Beyond the fortified area, other ancient ruins

fan out within a semicircle of about five miles radius. Several isolated mounds, the

local names of which are Govinda Bhita Temple, Khodai Pathar Mound, Mankalir

Kunda, Parasuramer Bedi, Jiyat Kunda etc. surround the fortified city. The river in

the east and a deep moat on the west, south, and north served as additional defense

apart from the citadel wall.

From the archaeological evidence it is proven that the site was provincial

capital of the Mauryans, the Guptas, the Palas, and the feudal Hindu kings of later

period. Beyond the citadel, other ancient ruins found within a radius of 7/8 km in a

semi-circle in the north, south, and west which testify the existence of extensive

suburbs. It is worth quoted that Yuen Chwang, the famous chinese pilgrim visited

the Pundra Vardhana in between 639-645 A.D. Sir Alexandar Cunningham rightly

identified the current Mahasthangarh as Pundranagar at 1879 following the

description left by Yuen Chwang.

The whole area is rich in Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim sites. The Buddhists

were here until at least the 11th century. Their most glorious period was the 8th to

the 11th centuries, when the Buddhist Pala emperors of North-Bengal ruled. It is

from this period that most of the visible remains belong. The citadel was probably

first constructed under the Mauryan empire in the 3rd century B.C. It fell into

disuse around the time of Mughal invasions. Most of the visible brickwork dates

from the 8th century, apart from that added during restoration. Outside the citadel,

there is a remaining of a 6th-century Govinda Bhita Hindu Temple, which looks

like a broken-down step pyramid.

This 3rd century archaeological site is still held to be of great sanctity by the

Hindus. Every year (mid-April) and once in every 12 years (December) thousands

of Hindu devotees join the bathing ceremony on the bank of river Karatoa.

A visit to Mahasthangarh site museum will open up for you wide variety of

antiquities, ranging from terracotta objects to gold ornaments and coins recovered

from the site. Now it is one of the major tourist spots maintained by Bangladesh

archeological Department.

Behular Bashor Ghar

Gokul Medh Also known as Behular Basar Ghar or Lakshindarer Medh,

situated in the village Gokul, 3 km to the south of the citadel, off the Bogra-

Rangpur road, connected by a narrow motorable road about 1 km. Excavations in

1934-36 revealed a terraced podium with 172 rectangular blind cells. It is dated

6th-7th century. Local mythology associates it with legendary Lakshmindara-

Behula The village Gokul also has several other mound Kansr Dhap has been

excavated.

It is also associated with the angry snake goddess Manasa. Excavations in

1934-36 by NG Majumdar revealed a gigantic shrine or stupa plinth built in the

terraced cellular style of construction

It consists of 12 shallow holes with a larger hole in the center containing a

tiny gold leaf. This indicates the shrine was a Siva temple.

*The End*

References:

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Information From Internet

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DEV101 Booklet