Somapura monastery, (in) Paharpur, Rajshahi Division, BD

Raw data

"Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Naogaon Subdivision of Rajshahi District
N25 2 E88 59 [= lat 25.03333 long 88.98333 - tmc]
Ref: 322 […] Evidence of the rise of Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal from the 7th century onwards, Somapura Mahavira, or the Great Monastery, was a renowned intellectual centre until the 12th century. Its layout perfectly adapted to its religious function, this monastery-city represents a unique artistic achievement. With its simple, harmonious lines and its profusion of carved decoration, it influenced Buddhist architecture as far away as Cambodia.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/322

THE biggest single and significant Buddhist vihara, south of the Himalayas, is Paharpur in Naogaon, near the border of Joypurhat. According to inscriptions, Paharpur, previously known as Somapura vihara, was built by the great Pala emperor Dharmapala (770-810).
This huge quadrangular monastery with 177 monastic cells enclosing the courtyard and numerous votive stupas, minor chapels, extensive ancillary buildings on 22 acres is dominated by a lofty pyramidal cruciform vihara in the centre.
The main monastery of Paharpur is cruciform in style, striking a new style of architecture introduced for the first time to ancient Asia. The basement wall of the vihara is adorned with 63 exclusive stone images, most of them belong to the Brahmanical Pantheon. The rich variety of terracotta art of the vihara with approximately 2,100 unique pieces including 900 still in situ, has make it distinct, although the plaques may not have the finest quality or artistic excellence. They are rather crude and simple.
Besides prominent deities of Mahayana Buddhist pantheon like Buddha, Bodhisattava, Padmapani, Manjusri, Tara, Abalokiteshor etc., prime Brahmanical deities like Siva, Brahma, Vishnu and Ganesha have been shown with analogous respect. Well-known stories from Panchatantra and Jataka and scenes from great epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana are also portrayed. The simplicity of non-elite people, human and animal motifs, floral and geometric decoration and divine and semi-divine beings represents the social dynamics and prevailing folk art of Bengal.
Available epigraphic records have shown that cultural and social life of the Somapura vihara was closely linked with the Nalanda Mahavihara at Magadha.

In 1968, Paharpur has been declared as National Cultural Heritage Property protected under the Antiquity Act 1968 (amended in 1976). In 1985, UNESCO has declared Paharpur Buddhist Vihara as World Heritage Site (WHS) [criteria: C (i) (ii) (vi)] under convention 1972.

"Evidence of the rise of Mahayana Buddhism in Bengal from the 7th century onwards, Somapura Mahavira, or the Great Monastery, was a renowned intellectual centre until the 12th century.
Its layout perfectly adapted to its religious function, the monastery-city represents a unique artistic achievement.
With its simple, harmonious lines and its profusion of carved decoration, it influenced Buddhist architecture as far away as Cambodia" — as stated for justification of Paharpur's inclusion as WHS.
http://thedailystar.net/2003/08/04/heritage.htm

An ancient university at Somapura, in Bangladesh (from the Gupta period to the Muslim conquest) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Universities_of_Pakistan#Asia

Input by: tmciolek, 16 Apr 2009.

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 14 Feb 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Somapura monastery, BD.

General location of the Somapura monastery, BD.
Lat 25.03100 Long 88.9770
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2009.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.03100+88.9770+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Somapura%20monastery,%20BD)&ll=25.03100,88.9770&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Bangladesh:Rajshahi Division

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 25.03100 Long 88.9770 - based on visual identification of the site in satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 24 Mar 2010.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

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

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99p - tmciolek 14 Feb 2013
  • 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99p 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 14 Feb 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • archaeological

16. Additional notes

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

  • [missing data]

end of page

0600-32p0633-66p0667-99p0700-32c0733-66c0767-99c0800-32c0833-66c0867-99c0900-32c0933-66c0967-99c1000-32c1033-66c1067-99c1100-32c1133-66c1167-99c1200=>200mbangladeshdated-elplacessouth-asiatrad.mahayanauniversity
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