The Archaeological Survey of India’s Patna branch has unearthed a Buddhist monastery buried under a mound in a village situated in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.
- The monastery is believed to be at least 900 years old.
- The ASI has excavated 10 stone statues of deity Tara and the Buddha in Burhani village near Juljul Pahar of Sitagarhi Hills, around 12 km from district headquarters Hazaribagh.
- The presence of statues of deity Tara shows possible proliferation of Vajrayana form of Buddhism in this region.
- Vajrayana is a form of Tantric Buddhism, which flourished in India from 6th to 11th century.
- The ASI also found a sculpture which appears to be that of Shaivite deity Maheswari – with a coiled crown and chakra – indicating cultural assimilation in the area.
- The monastery is on the old route to Varanasi, 10 km from Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
(Source: Indian Express)
