An already spiritual state, Bihar adds yet another religious haven to its kitty. Recently, an excavation team unearthed the Gangetic Valley’s first hilltop Buddhist monastery at Lal Pahari in Lakhisarai district. Scroll down below to uncover more details. By Bayar Jain
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Bihar has long been a revered spiritual tourism destination, particularly among followers of Buddhism. In fact, accounts by Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang speak of the multitudinous monasteries and caves in the region, particularly in Lakhisarai’s Lal Pahari district. According to reports by The Times of India, the latest discovery here is a hilltop monastery, a first in the Gangetic Valley. Notably, it is also being dubbed as the first vihāra (a Buddhist dwelling) in the state.
This excavation—undertaken jointly by Bihar Heritage Development Society, a part of the Department of Art, Culture, and Youth Affairs; and Shantiniketan’s Visva-Bharati University—is considered particularly special owing to the monastery’s unique features. As per reports, the site is believed to have been set up by Mahayana Buddhists in the 11th or 12th century. Two burnt clay pots with Sanskrit inscriptions, wooden votive tablets with individual figurines—possibly of Buddha—sitting in padmasana (lotus position) in bhumisparsha mudra (symbolic of enlightenment), and many metal bangles have been discovered as well. However, the presence of wooden doors on each of the cells here is the most striking aspect. Uncommon to Buddhist monasteries excavated so far, this feature hints at the possibility of the religious site serving exclusively for female monks or for men and women, both.
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Adding to the hilltop monastery’s uniqueness is the discovery of lime-plastered walls painted in reds, yellows, whites, greens and blacks. Such colours are a first of their kind among east-Indian Buddhist monasteries. Five-hundred sculptures and three large bastions on either side of the building have also been discovered at the site.
According to Hindustan Times, the state archaeology department has decided to erect a shed over the excavated structures to prevent natural decay. Reportedly, a pathway leading to the hilltop will also be created to barricade unwanted movement and tampering.
Related: Follow This Buddhist Trail In Bihar To Walk Into Buddha’s Steps