Gujarat State Archaeological Department has discovered a small size Buddhist monastery in Gujarat’s Vadnagar. Vadnagar is a small fort town located in northern part of Gujarat, the most prosperous state in India.

Walls of discovered monastery were built using bricks. 55 by 55 ft size Monastery had total 12 cells for residual purpose of monks. Entrance was on Northern direction. Small drain was found at South-West corner. Monastery was built on a plinth. Excavation in southern direction is yet to begin. Possibility of finding Shrine cell and Buddha idol in southern side excavation is high.

In the course of two years of excavation, so far more than 2000 pieces of Archaeological importance are found from Ghaskol Darwaja excavation site in Vadnagar including 2000 years old house, numerous clay utensils, silver coins, beads, ornaments, Roman style head sculpture, turbaned face clay plaque, votive tablet, head sculpture, plaque sculpture depicting Buddha, Parts of vessel on which Buddhism related words are written in Brahmi script.

When contacted Gujarat State Archaeology Superintendent Dr. Yadubirsingh Rawat(Y.S.Rawat) said “This Buddhist monastery probably belongs to 2nd to 4th century era. It was probably in use for 300 years. After two years of excavation first we unearthed the monastery structure. For a brief time it remained a mysterious structure for us as we couldn’t figure out it’s motive. After some research, observations and studies we are now at confirm conclusion that this was a Buddhist monastery.”

Decades back in Gujarat, when double size Devni Mori Buddhist monastery was discovered, ditto lay-out plane was found there. Devni Mori Buddhist monastery also had northern side entrance, South-Western drain, open plot in centre and 29 cells for monks around the central plot(Vadnagar monastery has 12). Though Devni Mori site latter submerged in Meshwo river, it’s lay out plan which resembles Vadnagar monastery’s plan is available with Archaeology department.

Chinese traveler Hieun Tsanghad visited Vadnagar between 640 to 644 A.D. and documented presence of 1,000 Buddhist monks and 10 Buddhist monasteries in and around Vadnagar town known as Anandpur in that era. Decades back, a sculpture of Bhagvan Buddha was found from Vadnagar which was then placed in Vadnagar museum for permanent exhibition.

Idea of archaeological excavation at Vanagar was moved by none other but Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi himself as he belongs to this town. Narendra Modi had judged Vadnagar as a prolific site for archaeological excavation in early days of his life when he was a resident of Vadnagar.

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