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 - tmc] 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)
Nawapara, India Page
Other names: Nawāpāra,Nūāparha Tānwāt,Nuaparha Tanwat
World:India:State of Chhattisgarh
Latitude 20.8000 Longitude 82.5500
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/37/Nawapara.html
Input by: tmciolek, Apr 16, 2009
Final data (and their sources)
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.
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:
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
final data ….
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 20.71666, Long 82.46666 - Patel (2004:146)
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
final data ….
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Nawāpāra - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/37/Nawapara.html
- Nūāparha Tānwāt - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/37/Nawapara.html
- Nuaparha Tanwat - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/37/Nawapara.html
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Exactly, Lat 20.8000 Long 82.5500 http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/37/Nawapara.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
final data ….
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
final data ….
11. Date-early
- 2nd century BCE - Ahir (2003:213)
12. Date-intermediate
- 7th century CE - Ahir (2003:213)
13. Date-late
- 10th century CE - Ahir (2003:213)
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
final data ….
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
final 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
final data ….
end of page
