Moghalmari buddhist mahavihara

 Mogalmari or moghalmari is a Buddhist monastic site of the early medieval period in  west bengal's paschim medinipur district in india. A Buddhist monestry dated between 6th to 7th century( post Gupta period / pre pala period). It is said  that moghalmari Buddhist vihar is quite similar with Nalanda mahavihara of Bihar and udaigiri and lalitgiri in orissa.

Main gate

Chinese traveller xuanzang( more widely identified as huen Tsang), who visited india in the 7th century CE, referred to the existence of ' ten monasteries' within the limits of tamralipta(modern day tamluk in adjoining purba medinipur district). However, he did not refer to any specific name or location. The excavation of this monastery was began in 2002-2003 by professor Ashoka dutta of kolkata university. A site covers an area of some 4300 square yards and is considered the largest and oldest archeological excavation in west bengal.

By the side of the entrance into  Mughalmari from the side of Dantan  is a mound generally called Pathcala  of Sashisena. Completely lost in ruins  now, it was at one time a big  structure of oblong shape, measuring 120 ft from east to west and 110 from  north to south. Hidden under its  debris, and scattered all around are  to be found heaps of large bricks;  and elderly natives assert that formerly a much larger quantity of  this material was lying about in the heaps which the people of the adjacent villages have since utilized for their private purposes. Even now over and along the road, half a mile in length, which runs from the gada of Shokhisena  to the ruins of the palace of Vikramajit in the heart of the village are to be found remnants of brick-built structure.

Excavations and findings....

Presence of two monasteries- mugalayikavihara and yajnapindikamaha vihara at moghalmari.

The excavation of this monastery had seven phases (from 2003 to 2012). This Buddhist monastery dated between 6th to 7th century( post Gupta period / pre pala period).  During the excavation, six tiny fragments of inscribed seals were found and each of them contained a set of letters accompanied by the deer dharmachakra symbols. 

Excavation so far have unearthed a Buddhist monastery , several stupa,bronze idol of buddha, Bodhisattva and Buddhist goddess, decorated stucco plastered wall and images, terracotta tablets, seals bearing post Gupta Brahmi script, mixed metal coins bearing the name of king samachardeva, gold pendant and part of crown, etc. 

According to the locals of the village with the keen interest to preserve the archeological site, the village probably sits on the top of Buddhist statement. Many a time, villagers have dug up or come across broken piece of artefacts. some of them have been displayed in the museums. Several antiquities  found  from  this  area:  “two  stucco  heads,  one  stone  female deity, few fragmentary  pieces  of  stone sculptures including  one  proto-Bengali script, one copper coin  (possibly  pre-Kushana), large  number of stucco decorative  elements, decorative bricks and  huge  quantity of pottery”. Pottery,  decorative bricks, stucco sculptures, a proto-Bengali script, a copper coin  (probably  of  pre-Kushana  era )  prove again that the monastic  complex was primarily constructed  in an early medieval period. But it  was reconstructed or repaired in  some parts in the veru late medieval period. A massive amount of  antiquities were found from this  excavation that again affirms the quality of taste of those craftsmen.  Noticeably the finding of a Buddha  image, measuring 24cm x14cm,  emphasizes the greater influence of the Buddhist  cult  on  this  settlement.

  A large variety of stucco decorations  have been found  in  excavation. stucco as a decorative  material in Eastern india flourished  meticulously in Gupta period.

Besides the antiquities found from  this excavation  like terracotta  lamps, stucco fragments, sprinklers, iron  nails, footed bowls, hopscotch,  spouted bowls, a large number of  potteries etc. four types of terracotta  votive tablets were also found which  were altogether 17 in number. 

1. The first type shows Lord Buddha  as a central figure seated in a  Padmasana and is being attended by  four standing Bodhisattva figurines in  both of his sides. Rest of the part is  decorated  with miniature forms of  meditating Buddha. 

2.  In the second type also the  meditating  figure of Lord Buddha  is  the central character, but seated on a  Bhadrasana in a European style.  Here also he is accompanied by the two  standing Bodhisattvas figurines in  each side. Every figurine is framed within  a replica structure of Odissi nagara  style temple form with  prominent  ‘Amalaka’ at the top. Below this row  there lies a Buddhist inscription that  reads ‘Ye dharma hetu  prabhava…’. Below the inscription  there are some forms of miniature  votive stupas. 

3.  The third specimen of these  tablets contains a big stupa at its centre surrounded by a hundreds of miniature stupas. 

4.  The fourth or the last one is a blank tablet without any character. 

Prof.  Datta concluded his report  with optimistic future for the site.  He wrote: 

On the basis of  archaeological  evidences including paleography  and artform/style, we can safely place  the  early  monastery to 6th CE and as it  stands unique in terms of stucco  decoration and decorative bricks, it  can only be compared with the similar monasteries of Vikramshila,  Nalanda, Paharpur, Mainamati etc.  of India and Bangladesh. We hope this  discovery will add new chapter in  the history of Bengal in near  future.”