1900-Year-Old Buddhist Monastery discovered in Gujarat’s Vadnagar
1900-Year-Old Buddhist Monastery discovered in Gujarat’s Vadnagar
By Japan K Pathak
Vadnagar/Gandhinagar, DeshGujarat,11 October, 2008
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.
Related reading on DeshGujarat
1900-Year-Old Buddha Plaque discovered in Gujarat’s Vadnagar
October 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
develop tourism site for visitor from japan,korea,shrilanka,burma, thailand.
October 12th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Great News. Yes Agree with Uttam, an amazing discovery indeed. Copuled wth some Indus sites, Gujarat will well be poised to become “Ancient Indian HEritige sites” visit center.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Why not ?
At least, Vadnagar has something to offer to the world.
People with faith do have an appetite to visit this kind
of a place.You are doing a great job,Keep up !
Make this an history for future ….
October 13th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
PLEASE PRESERVE THIS SO FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN UNDERSTAND HOW GRORIFIED INDIA WAS, AND PLEASE DO NOT LET ANY CONGRESSI TAKE PART IN THIS. PARTICULARLY SIDDHARTH PATEL ARJUNE MODHWADIA, SHAKTISINH GOHIL, AND BHARATSINH SOLANKI. THESE ARE SELFISH , OPPORTUNIST POLITICIANS. JAI SHREE KRISHNA…
October 15th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Gujarat could attract tourists interested not only in Ancient Indian and Indus Heritage sites but also gastronomy as we have the widest variety of vegetarian food available in the world and as more of the world adopts vegetarian food we have a clear advantage. i know of many people who’d be delighted to sample our cuisine and take back the recipes with them. then ofcourse there’s the worlds longest dance festival and kite flying which the gov is already marketing.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:30 am
these news tend to warm up my heart far away in europe!
Don’t forget, who destroyed Buddhism in India: Islam.
Hold them out of your country.
Long live India, with its rich culture.
Greetings from germany.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:18 am
these news tend to warm up my heart far away in europe!
Don’t forget, who destroyed Buddhism in India: I_s_l_a_m.
Hold them out of your country.
Long live India, with its rich culture.
Greetings from Germany.
PS Germany starts to fight Islam
Please post this. Don’t stop the truth.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
that means it is of first century. it however is unknown the methodology adopted for dating
February 11th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
It shows that Buddhism was prominent religion in Gujrat also.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
enjoy in the Buddhist site.
November 27th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
It is always exciting to find that some historical site is discovered somewhere for opens a trace of past which may script the history of a certain period. The discovery of a buddhist monastery in Vadnagar in Gujarat is really an exciting discovery. The presence of buddhists in Gujarat must be exhilerating for the people of Gujarat. I think, it is misleading to say that Islam is responsible for the disappearance of buddhists. The causes of the disappearance of buddhists as buddhists arey many and complex. So, no such occasion should be used as an excuse for ckultivating hate. Lets remember main teaching of buddhism is not to do away your enemy but to convert him as a friend.