Stupas, Inscription Indicate Buddha's Visit

[sabaijai]

Stupas, inscription indicate Lord Buddha's visit to Kalinga

10 stupas matched with the mention made by Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang during his travel in AD 629-645 "The rare discovery would solve many unanswered questions pertaining to the location of the capital of Kalinga."

by Prafulla Das, The Hindu, August 4, 2005

Buddhist heritage at sites near Kayama hills.

BHUBANESWAR, Orissa (India) ── Buddhist stupas and inscriptions indicating Lord Buddha's visit to the erstwhile Kalinga have been found in archaeological excavations in Jaipur district in Orissa. Emperor Ashoka built 10 stupas in the Kalinga.

"The rare discovery would solve many unanswered questions pertaining to the location of the capital of Kalinga, preaching by Lord Buddha in Kalinga and the Kalinga war," Culture Minister Damodar Rout told presspersons here on Wednesday.

ASI confirms discovery

He said experts of the Archaeological Survey of India confirmed that the discoveries made by researchers of the Orissa Institute of Maritime and South-East Asian Studies, which is under the Culture Department. The excavation was undertaken with licence from the ASI.

The discovery includes 10 Ashoka stupas, a fort which housed the royal headquarters of the Kalinga State and remains of the Ashoka period dating back to the third Century B.C, say Dr. Rout and authorities of the institute.

The sites are under the Dharmasala police station limits.

Excavations have already been carried out at four of the stupas located at Tarapur, Deuli and Kayama in Jajpur, according to Debaraj Pradhan, director of the excavation project and secretary of the institute.

Work will be taken up at the other stupas soon. The first discovery of an Ashoka stupa was made at nearby Langudi Hill.

Both Dr. Rout and Mr. Pradhan said the 10 stupas matched with the mention made by Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang during his travel in AD 629-645. Hieun Tsang wrote that Lord Buddha visited the region where Ashoka constructed 10 stupas.

Pottery found

"In the course of the excavation that started in December 2004, we unearthed square stupas made of latrine blocks, burnt bricks, railing pillars and cross-bars, Besides, pottery and terracotta remains of the Ashoka period have been discovered in these hills," Mr. Pradhan said.

The discovery of several inscriptions at Radhanagar village and other corroborative evidence clearly proved that the place was Toshali, royal headquarters of Kalinga during the time of Ashoka.

Although scholars tried to identify Toshali with Sisupalgarh near Bhubaneswar, no inscriptional evidence was found so far, Mr. Pradhan said.

Venue of Kalinga war

Mr. Pradhan said the research and excavation might also lead to the discovery of the exact venue of the Kalinga war. Till now it was said the war was fought on the banks of the Daya on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.

But the current excavation and survey gave indications that the war might have been fought at Yudha Meruda, which comes under the Korei block near Dharmasala.

source: http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/04/stories/2005080403011300.htm

[sabaijai]

Stupa with Buddha hair found in Orissa

The Tribune, August 3, 2005

Bhubaneswar, Orissa (India) ── In a rare discovery, the "Kesa Stupa" believed to be containing hair strands of Lord Buddha was excavated at Tarapur hill in Jajpur district of coastal Orissa, close to the Lalitgiri-Udayagiri and Ratnagiri Buddhist complex.

Orissa Culture Minister Dr Damodar Rout told mediapersons today a number of plain railing pillars were also discovered from the site, five of which were inscribed — three in early Brahmi characters and two in proto Oriya and Oriya script.

One of them, which has been inscribed as "Kesa Thupa" could be containing eight strands of Lord Buddha’s hair, which he gave to his devotee Tapusa, according to the Buddhist text "Anguttara Nikaya."

The other two pillars, have "Bheku Tapasu Danam" and "Kalinga Raj" inscribed and throw light upon the donation by Bhiku Tapasu, who was once a known merchant of Utkal, for the construction of Stupa at Tarapur. According to archaeologist Debraj Pradhan who undertook the excavation, the ruins of the "Kesa Stupa" were in a square structure made of laterite blocks, burnt bricks, railing pillars and cross bar.

see also: Stupas, inscription indicate Lord Buddha's visit to Kalinga

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050804/nation.htm#28

[Neeranam]

BHUBANESWAR, Orissa (India) ── Buddhist stupas and inscriptions indicating Lord Buddha's visit to the erstwhile Kalinga have been found in archaeological excavations in Jaipur district in Orissa. Emperor Ashoka built 10 stupas in the Kalinga.

The sites are under the Dharmasala police station limits.

Why the Dharmasala police? It is nowhere near Bhubaneshwar.

I went to Bhubaneshwar, Puri, which is an amazing place. Known more for it's Hindu history, it really is one of those places that I felt I had been before.

Remind s me of Sarnath and seeing some Tibetan monks walking around a stupa for hours, anyone know what this is about?

[sabaijai]

I agree, Bhubaneshwar is an amazing place. Many art historians places the historic temples at Bhubaneshwar at the pinnacle of Hindu architecture in India.

Perhaps there's more than one town named Dharmasala in India?

[sabaijai]

I did a quick Web search and found several mentions of Dharmasala or Dharamsala in Jajpur District, Orissa, including this one:

Jajpur District, Orissa

[NextStationBangkok]

MCOT showing Buddism Heritage sites in India a Thai Language program at 8:30 PM (20:30) on Tuesdays. Dont miss !!!

[sabaijai]

MCOT showing Buddism Heritage sites in India a Thai Language program at 8:30 PM (20:30) on Tuesdays. Dont miss !!!

Sounds good, will watch.