Lost Cultures Lost Cultures

of Bangladesh of Bangladesh
Prof. Dr. M. Emdadul Haq
Wari Wari--Bateshwar Bateshwar
These are two nearby villages located three
kilometres west of Belabo thana of Narshingdi
district.
The landscape of the area suggests that the
old Brahmaputra river used to flow near the
village during an early historic period.
The time frame of the oldest sites of the
subcontinent varies from 700 to 100 BC.
Wari-Bateshwar area dates back about 450BC.
Wari Wari--Bateshwar Bateshwar
Md Hanif Pathan, a schoolteacher, first
brought the archaeological importance of the
villages to lime light in 1933.
Later his son Md Habibullah Pathan, an
amateur archaeologist, took initiative to
collect antiquities & study them.
Hundreds & thousands of semi-precious
stone & glass objects, iron artifacts, punch-
marked silver coins & many minor artifacts
have been found from the region from time
to time.
Wari Wari--Bateshwar Bateshwar
The area used to be the ancient commercial
city Shownagara.
It was the capital city of the 16
Mahajanapada in ancient sub-continent.
Eastern side of the Maurya Empire.
A fort area surrounded by bunkers.
Articles found were from the new stone age.
Other 47 sites have been discovered.
Current excavation is dealing with the
preface of an Epic.
Mahasthangarh Mahasthangarh
One of the earliest urban archaeological sites in
Bangladesh after Wari-Bateshwar.
Village Mahasthan in Shibganj thana of Bogra
District
Remains of an ancient city Pundranagara is
found in the territory of Pundravardhana.
A limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit in
Brahmi script, discovered in 1931, dates back
Mahasthangarh from at least the 3
rd
century
BC.
The fortified area was in use till 8
th
century AD.
Sompura Mohavihara: Sompura Mohavihara:
Second King Dharmapala Second King Dharmapala (770 (770--810 AD). 810 AD).
constructed 50 monasteries including constructed 50 monasteries including
Vikramshila Vihara & Sompura Vihara Vikramshila Vihara & Sompura Vihara..
Sompura Vihara is the most important
archeological structures in Bangladesh.
It is the biggest monument south of It is the biggest monument south of
Himalayas. Himalayas.
It shows It shows remarkable development remarkable development in the style in the style
of architecture, arts & sculpture. of architecture, arts & sculpture.
Influenced the style of monasteries in Influenced the style of monasteries in south south
East Asia East Asia up to Indonesia. up to Indonesia.
Sompura Mohavihara: Sompura Mohavihara:
Located in village Paharpur under the
Balagachi Upazila of Naogaon district.
Quadrangular court spread in 27 acres of
land in Varendra region.
The area holds a total number of 177 rooms.
There is a pyramidal cruciform temple at the
centre.
It accommodates terracotta plaques, statues
of different gods & goddess, potteries, coin
inscriptions etc.
Pathorghata-Mohipur
in Rajshahi
King Mohipals palace & tomb
Hazrat Nasir Uddin Nusrat Shahs majar
Meeting point of three religions
About 25-30 square kilometer area
Pathorghata-Mohipur
The ancient name of this area is known as
Ponchonogori which was referred to as
Pentapolish by Greek & Alexandrian
geographers & historians.
Remnants of a 50 meter long rock made bridge
found in this area that goes back about 15
hundred years.
Stone made jokkho stature from the Krishan
dynasty in the 1
st
and 2
nd
century AD was
found here.
It was the divisional headquarter or Bishoy
the Pundrabardhan area.
Lalmai Lalmai--Mainamati Mainamati
The ancient name of this area was Pattikera,
the capital of Banga Samatata.
It was home of one of the most important
Buddhist archaeological sites in the region.
A number of Buddhist sites in this region date
back from 7
th
to 12
th
centuries AD.
Mainamati is located almost 8 miles northwest
from the town of Comilla.
Named after Chandra Queen Mainamati,
mother of the King Govindachandra.
Lalmai Lalmai--Mainamati Mainamati
The centre piece of the Buddhist sites is the
Shalban Vihara, almost in the middle of the
Mainamati-Lalmai hill range.
Although some times it is confused as a fort
area, but it was an educational centre for
higher studies with residential facilities.
Consists of 115 cells, built around a spacious
courtyard with a cruciform temple in the
centre, facing its only gateway complex to the
north.
Similarities with Sompura Vihara.
Kutila Mura Kutila Mura
Kutila Mura is situated about 5 kilometres
north of Salban Vihara.
Three stupas are found side by side
representing the Buddhist "Trinity" or three
jewels, i.e. the Buddha, Dharma & Sangha.
Charpatra Mura is another 2.5 km. north-
west of Kutila Mura stupas.
Itakhola Mandir is adjacent to Kutilya Mura
within the present day Comilla cantonment
area.
Mystery over Lost Culture Mystery over Lost Culture
Degeneration Degeneration of Buddhism into obscure of Buddhism into obscure
Tantric cults Tantric cults by the end of Pala rule could be by the end of Pala rule could be
the primary cause for the Buddhist the primary cause for the Buddhist
downsizing. downsizing.
Religious suppression under the subsequent Religious suppression under the subsequent
Sena rulers Sena rulers by ousting the Buddhist Pala by ousting the Buddhist Pala
rulers. rulers.
The Senas supported the The Senas supported the Brahmanical Brahmanical
doctrines doctrines from south India & destroyed the from south India & destroyed the
social structure founded on equality of all social structure founded on equality of all
people in the Pala Age. people in the Pala Age.
Mystery over Lost Culture Mystery over Lost Culture
A sizable number of Buddhist monks fled to Nepal & A sizable number of Buddhist monks fled to Nepal &
Tibet with their manuscripts & religious books Tibet with their manuscripts & religious books
leaving behind their monasteries unutilized for leaving behind their monasteries unutilized for
centuries. centuries.
Others continued their existence under various Others continued their existence under various
camouflages. camouflages.
Egalitarian approach pursued by Egalitarian approach pursued by Islam Islamalso thought also thought
to be another factor for blocking the resurgence of to be another factor for blocking the resurgence of
Buddhism in the area. Buddhism in the area.
Earthquake or other natural calamities are also Earthquake or other natural calamities are also
thought to be as a cause of their decimation. thought to be as a cause of their decimation.
Mystery over major speculations remained Mystery over major speculations remained
unanswered. unanswered.
Thank you