Geospatial analysis by the Bihar Heritage Development Society and Cardiff University has uncovered vast, hidden architectural and archaeological treasures beneath the Mahabodhi temple complex in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. Satellite imagery and ground surveys revealed evidence of a square monastery complex, an extended settlement, and shifting river courses that were once part of the sacred Buddhist site. These findings, corroborating ancient Chinese texts, promise to expand our understanding of this UNESCO World Heritage location through further excavation and research.
In a remarkable discovery, a geospatial analysis conducted by the Bihar Heritage Development Society (BHDS) and researchers from Cardiff University has unveiled the presence of "huge architectural wealth" buried beneath the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Mahabodhi temple complex and its surrounding areas in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
The study, carried out through a collaboration between the Art, Culture and Youth Department of Bihar and the UK-based university, has uncovered evidence of a wealth of archaeological treasures lying dormant under the soil of this sacred Buddhist site. As Additional Chief Secretary Harjot Kaur Bamhrah eloquently states, "It's a huge architectural wealth that needs further excavation."
The project, titled "Archaeology on the Footsteps of the Chinese Traveller Xuanzang," has been a fruitful endeavor, with the research team studying satellite imagery and conducting ground surveys to uncover these hidden wonders. Faculty member M.B. Rajni, one of the project's members, has been instrumental in analyzing the satellite data and correlating it with the detailed accounts left by the renowned 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, Xuanzang.
Interestingly, the study has revealed the shifting course of the Niranjana River, which once flowed to the east of the Mahabodhi temple, before moving westward over time. This shift has led to the Sujata Stupa and other archaeological remains being located on the eastern side of the river, previously considered independent of the Mahabodhi complex.
"The latest finding shows that both the temple and the Sujata stupa along with other archaeological remains stood on the same river bank in the past," Bamhrah explains. "Thus, there is a strong possibility that the monuments and other archaeological remains, now east of the river, were a part of the Mahabodhi complex."
This discovery has sparked renewed enthusiasm for further exploration and study. The BHDS plans to undertake a comprehensive Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey, followed by targeted excavations, to uncover the buried archaeological features and delimit the true boundaries of the Mahabodhi complex.
As Bijoy Kumar Choudhary, the BHDS Executive Director, elaborates, the findings include the identification of a square monastery complex, enclosed by a wall and moat, to the north of the temple premises, as well as an extended settlement to its north. These tantalizing clues hold the promise of unlocking even more of the site's hidden history.
The significance of these findings cannot be overstated. Xuanzang's detailed accounts have long been a valuable resource for scholars, and the current study has the potential to validate and expand our understanding of this revered Buddhist site. With the prospect of systematic excavations and further research, the Mahabodhi temple complex may reveal even more of its architectural and cultural treasures, enriching our appreciation of this remarkable heritage.
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