Buddhist monastic complex dug up

27 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
MOGOLMARI (Midnapore), 27 MARCH: An excavation which was started about eight years ago at Mogolmari in Dantan of West Midnapore district led to the discovery of the ruins of a ‘Buddhist monastic complex’ resembling the ancient Nalanda University and Karnasubarna.
It is being believed to be the biggest monastic structure discovered so far in West Bengal and it was probably an institution on the lines of Nalanda, said Mr Ashok Datta, a former head of the archaeology department of Calcutta University, who has been leading the excavation.
Several relics of post-Gupta period dating back to the sixth and seventh century AD have been unearthed which resemble the relics found in Nalanda University and Karnasubarna. This monastic structure was, however, made in two phases: after the destruction of its original monastic complex, another structure was built on its basic foundation. “Its early-phase structure was made of various decorative bricks and beautiful relics. Later, it was painted with red colour and the whole complex was decorated with beautiful stacco arts. But, in the second phase structure, the complex was not made with earlier phase’s arts. The monastic complex was left abandoned after 12th century,” said Mr Datta.
A team comprising eight members from the university's archaeology department, led by Mr Datta, started digging the area in 2003. “A headmaster of a local school had drawn my attention to a big mound at Mogolmari village. I visited the place and saw some fragments of bricks that appeared ancient. I returned and decided that excavating the mound might reveal something,” said Mr Datta. The sixth phase of the excavation began on 13 March this year and got over on Monday. “The excavation reveals that it is the largest found till date in Bengal, measuring about 3,600 square metres,” said Mr Datta.
The complex and the statues trace their origin to the reign of Sasanka, who ruled Bengal between 590 and 626 AD. The relics which have been recovered include a two-metre-long 10th century Buddha idol, a map of the Bouddha Vihar and a dozen other figurines. “We have recovered 45 types of decorative bricks and some statues of Buddha in various forms. We have also recovered some sculptures of Dharmachakra as well,” Mr Datta said. Dharmachakra, the wheel of life, is a religious symbol representing Buddha’s path to enlightenment.
During the first phase of the excavation, the first signs of a settlement were found. In the second phase, conducted in 2007, idols of Buddha, Ganesha and Lakshmi were found on the eastern and southern fringes of the area. Earthen lamps and decoration were also excavated.
During the next phase in 2008, stone images, stacco arts, Pali scripts and cells measuring five square feet in area were found. The following year, the entrance to the Bouddha vihar, a land map and 200 cowries were found. “The excavation should continue and we have already appealed to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to take over. We hope to be able to chance upon many more relics in the next few years,” said Mr Datta.
While Rs 2.5 lakh came from NREGA after an active help of former block development officer Mr Tilak Mouli Rakshit; Calcutta University contributed Rs 2 lakh more for the project. “But, this fund is not enough for this vast project. To continue the excavation, the government should come forward,” a local resident said.