Comments on: Bhilai to Sirpur on bike: Chapter 13: Anand Prabhu Kuti Vihar, Swastik Vihar and excavated Shiva temple http://admirableindia.com/chhattisgarh/bhilai-to-sirpur-on-bike-chapter-13-anand-prabhu-kuti-vihar-swastik-vihar-and-excavated-shiva-temple Admirable India - India Travel Blog Fri, 14 Oct 2011 19:34:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: vishal http://admirableindia.com/chhattisgarh/bhilai-to-sirpur-on-bike-chapter-13-anand-prabhu-kuti-vihar-swastik-vihar-and-excavated-shiva-temple/comment-page-1#comment-625 vishal Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:47:20 +0000 http://admirableindia.com/?p=880#comment-625 Sirpur is situated on the right bank of Mahanadi river and about 85 km. from Raipur town in Chattisgarh . The Buddhist settlement of Sirpur was proved with the excavation of one of the two monasteries that is particularly rich in large sized sculptures. The monastery was oblong on plan. It has usual quadrangular monastic plan of a paved courtyard with a pillared veranda all around openings into the cells at back. The monastery was built during the reign of the Mahasivagupta Balarjuna (7th century AD), it continued to be in use for at least two centuries more. Edging the eastern wall of the monastery and connected with it by a door, is an annexe accommodating most probably the kitchen, refractory, bath, store room and hall. A stone paved court with low and paved benches on two sides is an interesting feature. The second monastery is located not far off but is of smaller dimension. It is square on plan and consist of a front porch projecting from the northern wall, nine cells, a chapel and a pillared chamber. The bronze images found are noteworthy and one of then was plated with gold. It was probably a centre of bronze casting like Nalanda and Kurkihar. The bronze images, mostly represented Buddha, Padampani, Vajrapani, Manjusri and Tara. Among the important antiques found on the site were stone images, tablets inscribed with the Buddhist creed and texts, a miniature crystal stupa and a Chinese copper coin of Kai yuan (AD 713-41). The discovery of coins specifically proves that the establishment was important enough to attract foreign pilgrims. The colossal head of an image of Lord Buddha and discovery of a complete inscribed image of Buddha along with a number of bronze images are notable alike for their technical qualities, artistic excellence and variety. All these findings prove that the Sirpur was a flourishing Buddhist center during the 6th & 7th century A.D. The two large monasteries with an ancillary structure found with hoard of bronze items showed that it was one of the important Buddhist मोनास्टिक. Sirpur is situated on the right bank of Mahanadi river and about 85 km. from Raipur town in Chattisgarh . The Buddhist settlement of Sirpur was proved with the excavation of one of the two monasteries that is particularly rich in large sized sculptures. The monastery was oblong on plan. It has usual quadrangular monastic plan of a paved courtyard with a pillared veranda all around openings into the cells at back. The monastery was built during the reign of the Mahasivagupta Balarjuna (7th century AD), it continued to be in use for at least two centuries more. Edging the eastern wall of the monastery and connected with it by a door, is an annexe accommodating most probably the kitchen, refractory, bath, store room and hall. A stone paved court with low and paved benches on two sides is an interesting feature. The second monastery is located not far off but is of smaller dimension. It is square on plan and consist of a front porch projecting from the northern wall, nine cells, a chapel and a pillared chamber. The bronze images found are noteworthy and one of then was plated with gold. It was probably a centre of bronze casting like Nalanda and Kurkihar. The bronze images, mostly represented Buddha, Padampani, Vajrapani, Manjusri and Tara. Among the important antiques found on the site were stone images, tablets inscribed with the Buddhist creed and texts, a miniature crystal stupa and a Chinese copper coin of Kai yuan (AD 713-41). The discovery of coins specifically proves that the establishment was important enough to attract foreign pilgrims.

The colossal head of an image of Lord Buddha and discovery of a complete inscribed image of Buddha along with a number of bronze images are notable alike for their technical qualities, artistic excellence and variety. All these findings prove that the Sirpur was a flourishing Buddhist center during the 6th & 7th century A.D. The two large monasteries with an ancillary structure found with hoard of bronze items showed that it was one of the important Buddhist मोनास्टिक.

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