Buddhist Sites
-| Sirpur | -
Location: District Raipur (MP) - Lat 21º 20'N, Long 82º 11'E
Sirpur is situated on the right bank of Mahanadi river and about 85 kms. from
Raipur town in Madhya Pradesh. The buddhist settlement of Sirpur was proved
with the excavation of one of the two monasteries that is particularly rich
in large sized sculptures. The monastery was oblong on plan. It has usual quadrangular
monastic plan of a paved courtyard with a pillared veranda all around openings
into the cells at back. The monastery was built during the reign of the Mahasivagupta
Balarjuna (7th century AD), it continued to be in use for at least two centuries
more. Edging the eastern wall of the monastery and connected with it by a door,
is an annexe accommodating most probably the kitchen, refractory, bath, store
room and hall. A stone paved court with low and paved benches on two sides is
an interesting feature. The second monastery is located not far off but is of
smaller dimension. It is square on plan and consist of a front porch projecting
from the northern wall, nine cells, a chapel and a pillared chamber. The bronze
images found are noteworthy and one of then was plated with gold. It was probably
a centre of bronze casting like Nalanda and Kurkihar. The bronze images, mostly
represented Buddha, Padampani, Vajrapani, Manjusri and Tara. Among the important
antiques found on the site were stone images, tablets inscribed with the Buddhist
creed and texts, a miniature crystal stupa and a chinese copper coin of Kai
yuan (AD 713-41). The discovery of coins specifically proves that the establishment
was important enough to attract foreign pilgrims.
The colossal head of an image of Lord Buddha and discovery of a complete inscribed
image of Buddha along with a number of bronze images are notable alike for their
technical qualities, artistic excellence and variety. All these findings prove
that the Sirpur was a flourishing Buddhist centre during the 6th & 7th century
A.D. The two large monasteries with an ancillary structure found with hoard
of bronze items showed that it was one of the important Buddhist monastic complexes.
Sirpur - Buddhist, Archaeology
in India
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