Paharpur Monastery

The quadrangular monastery, measuring 922'-0" north-south & 919'-0" east-west and occupying an area of about 22 acres of land, has an enclo­sure wall, about 16'-0" thick which accommodates 177 monastic cells, each measuring approximately 14'-0"x 13'-6’’. The cells are all connected by a 9'-0" wide verandah in front. The central blocks, on three sides, extend to the exterior and the interior and contain an additional three cells and a passage around them. In the centre on the northern side is located the main portal which consists of an inner and outer entrance, hall. The elaborate gateway complex is flanked on either side by guard rooms.

Located in the south-eastern corner of the courtyard is a highly interesting group of fine votive shrines of var­ious shapes and decorations, in which bold and deep cor­nice mouldings are prominent. The most striking in this group is a star-shaped sixteen sided structure.

Ancillary Buildings:

The monastery's latrine block is located on the south­ern side at a distance of 30 yards from the main complex. It consists of an open rectangular platform measuring 105'-0"x27'-0"running parallel to the monastery wall. The platform is 10'-0"above ground level and accessible only across a raised and vaulted gangway from cell No. 102 which is 16'-6" wide. The vaulted passage between the gangway and the wall, allows a free passage to people outside the enclosure. The entire southern face of the platform is provided with a series of water-chutes at regular intervals.

The kitchen and the refectory, with its long hall,is also sited close by. Apart from a number of ancillary structures on the eastern side, an interesting structure representing a miniature model of the main temple, is noteworthy. Here the slightly asymmetrcal plan of the great temple seems to have been perfected in the model.

Satyapir Bhita:

The ruins of the Satyapir Bhita mound are located about 300 yards east of the Paharpur monastery. The site is trapezoidal in shape with the north­ern boundary wall about 140'-0" long. A large number of votive shrines of various shapes, size and decoration, clus­ter around the main temple of Tara- an oblong structure facing south-which is 48'-0" wide from east to west and 80'-0" long from north to south. The general layout of the numerous votive stupas, erected within the perimeter of the temple, may be divided into two groups:-the sanctum, placed in the northern sector; and a pillared hall to the south, around which runs an ambulatory path. The identity of the temple was ascertained by the discovery, from var­ious parts of the courtyard, of about 50 circular terracotta plaques stamped with the figure of an eight handed god­dess and the usual inscription of the Buddhist creed.

 The goddess has been identified as one of the forms of Tara the Sakti of the Dhyani Buddha or Bodhisattva, dated around the 11th Century. There are about 132 votive shrines of various shapes and dimensions within the courtyard, the largest being a circular stupa of about 25'-O"in diameter, to the north-west of the main temple, whereas the smallest is only 2'-9" in diameter. The former is a solid structure enclosed within a separate rectangular boundary wall and accompanied by four miniature round stupas.  One of the votive stupas in the south-western area is decorated with tiers of moulded terracotta with figures of the Buddha seated in bhumisparsa mudra or the`earth­touching; attitude, and vyakhyana mudra or The `preach­ing' pose, in alternate rows. 

Another interesting 10'-3" square stupa within the compound, which was unearthed close to the main temple in the south-eastern sector, was found beautifully embe - llished with rows of brick mouldings chiefly consisting of a torus and dentil motif. The interior of the stupa contained a brick-built relic chamber like some others in the area, which preserved a thick deposit of miniature votive clay stupas numbering several thousands. These miniature clay votive stupas were moulded in the traditional form of a circular base, cylindrical drum, a square harmika and a pointed finial. Inside each was encased two tiny circular clay tablets placed face to face, stamped with the usual Mahayana Buddhist creed.