Ancient Archeological Sites: Mahasthangar and

Paharpur

• Lecture 4
• His 101: Bangladesh History and Culture
• Muhammad Asiful Basar (Mab2)
Mahasthan: The ruins of Pundrabardhana

Mahasthangarh is one of the oldest and the most important

archaeological attractions in Bangladesh. ‘Mahasthan’ means
‘great sanctity’ and ‘garh’ means fort. Mahasthangarh is the
remains of the ancient city of Pundranagar. It was the provincial
capitals of the Maurya, Gupta and Palas.
Mahasthan or Mahasthangarh represents the largest
archaeological site in Bangladesh, consists of the ruins of the
ancient city of Pundranagara.
Over the centuries, the site was home to Muslims, Hindus and most
importantly Buddhists. The Buddhist Pala emperors of North Bengal
ruled over this region from the 8th to the 11th centuries and it is from this
period that most of the visible remains belong.

The site is 13 km north of Bogra town on the Dhaka-Dinajpur highway.

The city was probably founded by the Mauryas, as testified by a

fragmentary stone inscription in the Brahmi script (mahasthan brahmi
inscription) mentioning the city as Pudanagala (Pundranagara). It was
continuously inhabited for a long span of time.
The excavation works were carried out at different times from 1929 to
the present and revealed these cultural sequence:
Some Important Archeological sites with in Mahasthangarh
The spectacular site is an imposing landmark in the area having a fortified
enclosure. Beyond the fortified area, other ancient ruins fan out within a
semicircle of about 8 km radius.

The northern, western and southern sides of the fortified city were
encircled by a deep canal, traces of which are visible in the former two
sides and partly in the latter side. The river Karatoya flows on the
eastern side. The moat and the river might have served as a second line
of defence of the fort city.

Govinda Bhita Temple, Bairagir Bhita, Khodar Pathar Bhita, Vasu

Bihar, Parsuram’s Palace, Jiyat Kunda are some of the prominent sites
of Mahasthangarh.
One of the gateways towards the citadel of Mahasthangarh
Ancient canal on west side of Mahasthangarh citadel
Mahasthangarh citadel, approach to Jhahajghata (Ship Harbour) Bogura
Jiyat Kunda
Sir Alexander Cuningham for the first time identified the ruins
as the ancient city of Pundranagara in 1879. The city was
probably founded by the Mauryas, as testified by a fragmentary
stone inscription in the Brahmi script mentioning Pudanagala
(Pundranagara). It was continuously inhabited for a long span of
time.
Excavation at the city has reached virgin soil at several points. Of
these, the recent excavations conducted by the France-
Bangladesh mission have revealed 18 building levels. The
works carried out at different times from 1929 to the present
(including France-Bangladesh expeditions) reveal the following
cultural sequence:
Period 1 represents the pre-Mauryan cultural phase. It appears that the
earliest settlement took place over the Pleistocene formation. No precise
date for this early settlement could be ascertained. But some radiocarbon
dates from the lower level suggest that the site goes back to late 4th
century BC. This indicates that the 'early settlement' of this area took
place during pre-Mauryan period.
Period 2 is represented by the occurrence of broken tiles, brick-bats used
as temper or binding material in the construction of mud walls.

A few calibrated radiocarbon experiment dates (366-162 BC) and the

excavated cultural materials indicate that this phase represents the
Mauryan period.
Period 3 represents the post-Mauryan (Shunga-Kusana) phase. It is
marked by substantial architectural remains of large sized and better-
preserved brick built houses, brick-paved floors, post-holes, terracotta
ring wells, large quantity of terracotta plaques of Shunga affiliation. A
radiocarbon examination dates this period as 197-46 BC.

Period 4 represents the Kusana-Gupta phase. It is marked by the

discovery of substantial amount of Kusana pottery and terracotta
figurines with definite stylistic affiliation of the contemporary idiom.

Period 5 represents the Gupta and late-Gupta phase. Radiocarbon data of

this phase give calibrated dates between 361 AD and 594 AD. The phase
yielded remains of a massive brick structure of a temple called Govinda
Bhita, located close to the fort-city
Govinda Vita
Period 6 represents the Pala phase, evidenced by architectural remains of
several sites scattered throughout the eastern side of the city, like
Khodar Pathar Bhita, Parasuram's Palace and Bairagir Bhita. This was
the most flourishing phase and during this period a large number of
Buddhist establishments were erected outside the city.
 A recently unearthed sculpture from the Terracotta plaque from Bahsu Vihara
Bairagir Bhita excavation at Mahasthangarh
Period 7 represents the Muslim phase testified by the architectural
remains of a 15 domed mosque superimposed over the earlier period
remains at Mankalir Kunda, a single domed mosque built by Farrukh
Siyar, and other antiquities like Chinese celadon and glazed ware typical of
the age.
Paharpur

Geographically located to the north-west of Bangladesh in the district of

Naogaon, the heart-land of ancient “Varendra”, close to the village of
Paharpur the extensive ruins of the Buddhist monastic complex are the
most spectacular and important pre-Islamic monument in Bangladesh.
The original name of the monastery is Sompur Bihar.

The builder of the monastery was Dharmapala Vikramshila (770-

810AD), the king of Varendri-Magadha, as inscribed on a clay seal
discovered in the monastery compound. The plan of the monastery can be
described as a large square quadrangle measuring approximately 920
feet, with the main entrance, an elaborate structure, on the northern side.
The main central shrine has a cruciform
ground plan and a terraced superstructure
that rises in three terraces above ground
level to a height of about 70 feet. The upper
level is a massive rectangular central block
which forms the central brick shaft.

The site was first noticed by Buchanon

Hamilton in course of his survey in Eastern
India between 1807 and 1812. Sir Alexander
Cunningham visited the place in 1879.
Cunningham intended to carry out an
extensive excavation in the mound. But he was
prevented by ZAMINDAR of Balihar, the owner
of the land. Ground plan of Paharpur Mahavihara
Pre-1971 expeditions have revealed the architectural remains of a vast
Buddhist monastery, the SOMAPURA MAHAVIHARA. The entire establishment,
occupying a quadrangular court, has high enclosure walls, about 5m in
thickness and from 3.6m to 4.5m in height.

The Somapura Mahavihara at paharpur, proudly announces the

excellence of the architectural art achieved in the Pala period. It was the
largest Buddhist Vihara in the Indian subcontinent and the plan of its
central shrine was evolved in Bengal. In the Nalanda inscription it has
been described as jagatam netraikavishrama bhu (pleasing to the eyes of
the world). Experts believe that its architectural plan, especially the
gradually receding crucified plan of its central shrine, had influenced the
architecture of the neighboring countries like Myanmar and Indonesia.
Epigraphic records testify that the cultural and religious life of
this great Vihara, were closely linked with the contemporary
Buddhist centres of fame and history at Bohdgaya and
Nalanda, many Buddhist treatises were completed at Paharpur, a
centre where the Mahayana Buddhism was practiced. Paharpur
is the most spectacular and magnificent monument in
Bangladesh and the second largest single Buddhist monastery
on south of the Himalayas. Somapura was designated a UNESCO
world heritage site in 1985