Post News Network
Kendrapara, Feb 20: Historian-cum-Buddhist researcher Dr Harish Chandra Prusty recently stumbled across several Buddhist remnants from the premises of Naga Mutt in Baujanga village under Bikramtiran GP of Badachana block.
Prusty claimed that he has discovered votive stupa with Buddha in dhyana mudra, sacred footprints of Buddha, Harmika, earthen pots for domestic use, large
size bricks and other items which date back to Bahumakar dynasty (8th-10th
century AD).
Prusty said the discovered votive stupa is 1.10 feet high whereas the unearthed 8×8 inch sacred foot prints of Lord Buddha is a chlorite stone. He claimed that the sacred foot prints were worshipped by Buddhist monks of Hinajan community. A stone Harmika of 1.6 feet x 1.6 feet was also discovered from the sites, he claimed.
The discovered Buddhist remnants at Naga mutt depict the peaceful co-existence of Mahajana and Hinajana Buddhist monks in a single place. According to Prusty, large bricks, about 3 to 16 inches long, have also been found at the spot. He said that large bricks might have been used in the walls of the Buddhist monastery. Coloured domestic earthen pots remnants were also discovered from the Naga mutt premises .The unearthed items were remnants of sprinklers, bows, Handis, pots, designed framed earthen potsherds dating back to early medieval period, which is between 8th to 10th century AD.
Prusty said most of the images of Buddha are believed to be transferred from Nagabadi to the nearby Mallikeswar shrine. They are Tara, Mahakala, another votive stupa at Malikeswar shrine. The displaced Buddhist monuments, earlier unearthed from the locality, are now worshipped as village gods, and comprise a Budhha in ‘Dharma chakra mudra’ and ‘Prabartana mudra’ with Buddhist creed ‘ye dharma hetu prabha’ carved in Gupta Bramhi
character, Prusty said.
