Maraguda monastic cluster, (near) Nawapara, Chhattisgarh, IN

Raw data

This valley and a nearby hill were the site of an extensive and longstanding Buddhist community. It is located in the Nawapur district of Orissa. It has lately been identified with Kosalanagari, which was the capital of the South Kosala kingdom. Xuanzang gave the place 100 monasteries and 10,000 monks. A early date for the site would be the 2nd century BCE, a central date would be the 7th century but the site was active for at least three centuries after that.

See D.C. Ahir, Buddhist Sites and Shrines in India: History, Art and Architecture (Delhi: Inian Books Centre, 2003) p.213.

Src: IN
Input by: SG, Apr 2, 2009

Maraguda Valley (82 28'E and 20 43'N) [= long 82.46666, lat 20.71666 - tmciolek] nestles amidst the graceful spurs of Sunabeda Plateau in Nawapara District of Orissa at a distance of 20 Kms. - Patel (2004:146)
[…]
"Hiuen Tsang who extensively travelled in India from 630–645 A.D. narrates that from Kalinga, he went north-west by hills and woods for about 1800 li to reach Kosala country which was 6000 li in circuit, surrounded by marshes and mountains with its capital city 40 li or 10 kms. in circuit. The soil of the country was rich and fertile, the towns and villages were closed together, the people were prosperous, tall of stature and black in colour and the ruling king was a Kshatriya by birth. He further refers to Po-Lo-Mo-Lo-Ki-Li or Gandhmardan hill 300 li to the south-west of capital city. In the light of the reference of the Chinese pilgrim, Maraguda valley has been identified as the capital city of Kosala country. The Nala king Viruparaja was very probably ruling at the time of his visit."
Patel (2004:147)

Input by: tmciolek, Apr 16, 2009

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 01 Oct 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 20 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Maraguda monastery, IN.

General location of the Maraguda monastery, IN.
lat=20.71666 long=82.46666
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://maps.fallingrain.com), 2009.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=20.71666+82.46666+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Maraguda%20monastery,%20IN)&ll=20.71666,82.46666&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Maraguda monastic cluster

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • India:State of Chhattisgarh

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 20.71666, Long 82.46666 - Patel (2004:146)

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

  • [missing data]

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • [missing data]

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • 2nd century BCE - Ahir (2003:213)

MBM chrono-tag <=0200 - tmciolek 01 Oct 2013
<=0200 0200-32c 0233-66c 0267-99c 0300-32c 0333-66c 0367-99c 0400-32c 0433-66c 0467-99c 0500-32c 0533-66c 0567-99c 0600-32c 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32p 0933-66p 0967-99p dated-el


12. Date-intermediate

  • 7th century CE - Ahir (2003:213)

13. Date-late

  • 10th century CE - Ahir (2003:213)

MBM chrono-tag 0900-32p 0933-66p 0967-99p - tmciolek 01 Oct 2013


14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • [missing data]

16. Additional notes

  • In 630s AD - approx. 100 monasteries and 10,000 monks - Ahir (2003:213)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

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