Raw data
"25.5, 81.5 […] During his visit to the area in 639-45, the Chinese monk, Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), did not mention any king of Pundravardhana in his itinerary records.[1] He travelled from Kajangala to Kamarupa through Pundravardhana.[2]
Xuanzang, referred to Pundravardhana as follows:
There were twenty Buddhist Monasteries and above 3,000 Brethren, by whom the ‘Great and Little Vehicles’ were followed; the Deva-Temples were 100 in number, and the followers of various sects lived pell-mell, the Digambar Nirgranthas being very numerous.[15]
There are certain references that go to indicate that Pundravardhana lost its eminence in the 7th-8th century. Archaeological excavations at Mahasthangarh indicate the use of the citadel during the Pala period till 12th century AD but no more as a power-centre.[1]" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundravardhana
"By virtue of monastic geographicity and gift-giving by lay and ordained bouddha disciples, this order extended southwards into the plains of coastal Bengal. Sites such as Kausambi and Kapilavastu (Ser- skyahi-gnas), Ayodhya (Mi-thub-pa), Ti-ra (Tirabhukti?) and especially the fortified monastic site called Pundravardhana (Li-kho-ri-sin-hphel-ba) in the eighth century (and Mahasthan, Bogra, Rajshahi subsequently) were integral to Tibetan reckoning of themselves as part of the cosmological ‘Jambudvipa’.55" - Chatterjee (2011:20)
"Mahasthangarh […] is one of the earliest urban archaeological site so far discovered in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganj thana of Bogra District contains the remains of an ancient city which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of Pundravardhana […] 24.961111, 89.342778" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasthangarh
Input by: tmciolek Jul 17 2013
Final data (and their sources)
Last updated: 15 Sep 2013
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 2 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Pundravardhana monastic cluster, BD.
Lat 24.961111 Long 89.342778
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Pundravardhana monastic cluster
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- Bangladesh:Rajshahi Division
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- [missing data]
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx. Lat 24.961111 Long 89.342778 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasthangarh - tmciolek, 17 Jul 2013.
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
- Pundravardhana - Chatterjee (2011:20)
- Mahasthan - Chatterjee (2011:20)
- Rajshahi - Chatterjee (2011:20)
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Approx. Lat 24.8500 Long 89.3667 - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BG/83/Bogra.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- In the 7th c. both Mahayana and Theravada - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundravardhana
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
- [missing data]
11. Date-early
0567-99p 0600-32p 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32p 1133-66p 1167-99p dated-xl
12. Date-intermediate
- Active in 639-45 CE, during the visit of Xuanzang - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundravardhana
MBM chrono-tag 0633-66c - tmciolek 15 Sep 2013
- Active in the 8th c. - Chatterjee (2011:20)
MBM chrono-tag 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c - tmciolek 17 Jul 2013
13. Date-late
- Possibly active till 12th century AD - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundravardhana
MBM chrono-tag 1100-32p 1133-66p 1167-99p - tmciolek 17 Jul 2013
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
- [missing data]
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- [missing data]
16. Additional notes
- 20 Buddhist Monasteries with 3,000 monks - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pundravardhana
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
- [missing data]
18. Known monks and nuns associated with this monastery
19. Available Printed Literature
- [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
- [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
- [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]
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