Buddhist Sites
-| Padrethan | -
Location: District Srinagar (J&K) - Lat 34º 3' N, Long 74º
51' E
Padrethan is located on the bank of the river Jhelum, 4 kms. southeast of Srinagar
and represents the ancient capital of Pazanadhisthana. The town is believed
to have been founded by Maurya Emperor Ashoka (2nd century BC) under the name
of Srinagari. When the later king shifted the capital to the present town of
Srinagar, the ancient Srinagari received the applellution of Purna adhisthana
(Old capital ). The excavation has revealed two extremely dilapidated stone
stupas besides a rubble enclosure, probably the remains of a monastery. Both
these stupas were enclosed by a compound wall. It had base, cruciform on ground
plan, with three angular offsets and four re-entering angles between the central
projection. The drum of the stupa appears to have been embellished with sculptures.
Among these sculptures, the figures of Padampani with a rosary in his right
hand belonging to about 8th century AD and standing Buddha in Abhaya mudra are
notable. A fragmentary relief depicting the birth of Buddha was found near by.
The other stupa, to its west, has fragments of its stairs on the western and
northern sides. Both these stupas yielded small hemispherical stone objects,
probably stone miniatures of stupa, clay specimens of which were found within
stupa of Paharpur (Bangladesh ) and other places.
Padrethan - Buddhist, Archaeology
in India
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