‘1,000-year old’ Vihara in Munshiganj

Archaeologists in Bangladesh have unearthed what they believe to be remnants of a thousand-year old Buddhist Vihara (monastery) at Nateswar in Munshiganj’s Tongibarhi.

Farhana Mirzabdnews24.com

Published : 1 March 2014, 10:23 AM

Updated : 1 March 2014, 10:23 AM

Also Read: Ancient Buddhist Vihara found in Munshiganj

Researchers hope the discovery would help them better understand the student days of famous Buddhist scholar Atish Dipankar Srigyan.

Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, a professor of archaeology at Jahangirnagar University, is leading the excavation.

“We have unearthed a Buddhist Vihara, an octagonal bulk, several brick-made drains, among others,” Rahman said.

He said the south-western side of the Vihara had survived the test of time.

According to Prof Rahman, the findings so far indicate that Nateswar was a cluster of Buddhist monasteries in the past. It was only natural to find Viharas beside it, he said.

The area was known as Bikrampur in ancient time and was the capital of Banga and Samataat communities between 980 and 1054 AD.

It was here that Atish Dipankar, child prodigy like Lord Buddha, was born during the regime of King Dharmapala (820 AD).

His fame had spread far and wide as the principal of Bikramshil and Sompur Viharas.

However, nothing much is known about his childhood and student days.

Prof Rahman said there are unanswered questions about Atish Dipankar’s childhood, like where did he take lessons in Buddhism and how he became a scholar?

“We believe the recently discovered Vihara has a deep connection with Atish Dipankar,” he said.

A 70-strong team, consisting of teachers, student and experts are taking part in the excavation under the Bikrampur Foundation, a local socio-cultural organisation.

Prof Rahman said they had discovered several important archaeological sites and artefacts since the survey and excavation started four years ago.

He said the recently discovered Buddhist Vihara segment was important as six rooms for monks had been found there so far.

The south-western part of the Vihara is still standing 2.4m high with a 1.75m thick wall.

The use of handmade designed bricks of various sizes in the construction has given it a wonderful architectural flavour, said the leading archaeologist.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, visiting the site on Friday, said, “This discovery will certainly add a new chapter in our glorious national history.”

Another ancient Buddhist Vihara was discovered in the Bikrampur region in March last year.

The discovery was made during an excavation conducted jointly by Agrasar Bikrampur Foundation, and the Archaeology Department of Jahangirnagar University.

Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin, Director of the Archaeological Excavation and Research in Bikrampur region, said, “We realised from the locality’s rich history that the remains of ancient civilisations were buried here.

“However, no initiative had been taken in the past to dig them out,” he said.

The first survey was carried out in 2011.

Excavation began later that year but the breakthrough came two years later on Mar 23, 2013 when a ‘1,000-year old monastery was unearthed’.

Archaeologists started excavating at Nateswar from Jan 1 this year.

Prof Rahman said ancient structures were scattered through seven acres of highland in the area.

He said the full form of the structure would be clear once the excavation had finished.

Senior school teachers Naresh Chandra Das and Narayan Chandra Das used to look after two acres out of the seven-acre site.

Naresh said he was satisfied at the discovery of Bikrampur’s ancient civilisation even though it had cost him his land.

Nateswar residence Nasruddin Matbar said a part of his land was damaged during the excavation. “But the discovery is what matters,” he said.