Nateshwar Deul ( bn, নাটেশ্বর দেউল, Nāṭēśśôr Dēul, Temple complex of Nateshwar) is a Buddhist archaeological site located in the village of Nateshwar in
Tongibari Upazila
Tongibari ( bn, টঙ্গিবাড়ী) is an upazila of Munshiganj District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Geography
Tongibari is located at . It has 31346 households and total area 149.96 km2.
Demographics
As of the 1991 Ban ...
in the
Munshiganj District
Munshiganj ( bn, মুন্সীগঞ্জ), also historically known as Bikrampur, is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division and borders Dhaka District.
Geography
Total land area is 235974 acres (954 km2), ...
,
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
.
It is the ruin of a Buddhist city established from 780 to 950 CE and from 950 to 1223 CE in the
Bikrampur
Bikrampur ("City of Courage") was a pargana situated south of Dhaka, the modern capital city of Bangladesh. In the present day, it is known as Munshiganj District of Bangladesh. It is a historic region in Bengal and was a part of the Bhawal Est ...
region. Archaeological excavation began at Nateshwar in 2012–13.
From 2013 to 2018, an area of approximately was excavated.
Sixteen Buddhist
stupas
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Bhikkhu, Buddhist monks or Bhikkhuni, nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In ...
, including Bangladesh's only pyramid-shaped one, have been found in Nateshwar.
History
Bikrampur
Bikrampur ("City of Courage") was a pargana situated south of Dhaka, the modern capital city of Bangladesh. In the present day, it is known as Munshiganj District of Bangladesh. It is a historic region in Bengal and was a part of the Bhawal Est ...
was
Bengal's capital during the
Chandra
Chandra ( sa, चन्द्र, Candra, shining' or 'moon), also known as Soma ( sa, सोम), is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. He is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) and ...
,
Verma
Varmā, Verma, Varman, or Burman are surnames found in India and South-East Asia.
Indian traditional usage
According to Ayodhya Prasad Sah, the title was also used by some Brahmins in parts of Odisha, although it is recommended historically fo ...
and
Sena dynasties.
Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna (982–1054 CE)
described this region in his writings:
The ancient Buddhist ruins found during the excavations at Nateshwar and
Raghurampur of Munshiganj Sadar Upazila indicate that by that time Bikrampur may had been a center for Buddhist pilgrimage.
From Atiśa's writings, it is estimated that there were almost 25,000 Buddhist temples in the "temple-city"
where he was born.
The pyramid-shaped structure found at Nateshwar was perhaps Atiśa's place of worship or the centre of his preaching.
Archaeological excavation
The "glory of Bikrampur" was previously thought to have disappeared in the
Padma's riverbed, namely the "Kirtinasha" ( bn, কীর্তিনাশা, Kīrtināśā, Destroyer of the achievements).
The location of Bikrampur (along with
Wari-Bateshwar
The Wari-Bateshwar (Bengali: উয়ারী-বটেশ্বর,''Uari-Bôṭeshshor'') ruins in Narsingdi, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites in Bangladesh. Excavation in the site unearthed a ...
and Nateshwar) first came to be discussed in the writings of historian
Nalini Kanta Bhattasali
Nalini Kanta Bhattasali (24 January 1888 – 6 February 1947) was an Indian Bengali historian, archaeologist, numismatist, epigraphist and antiquarian.
Career
Bhattasali completed his master's degree in 1912. He then joined the Comilla Victoria ...
,
the first curator of the
Dhaka Museum. In 2010, the first archaeological excavation work began at nine locations in three villages across
Rampal
Rampal or Ram Pal may refer to:
People Given name
* Ram Pal Rajwanshi (born 1958), Indian politician
* Ram Pal Singh (1922–?), Indian politician from Uttar Pradesh
* Ram Pal Verma (born 1959), Indian politician
* Rampal (spiritual leader) (born ...
and
Bajrayogini
Bajrayogini is a village and former Village Development Committee that is now part of Shankharapur Municipality in Kathmandu District in Province No. 3 of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census
The 1991 Nepal census was a widesprea ...
; it uncovered the
Bikrampur Vihara
Bikrampur Vihara is an ancient Buddhist vihara at Raghurampur village, Bikrampur, Munshiganj District in Bangladesh.
Location
The monastery is located at Raghurampur village under Rampal Union of Sadar Upazila of Munshiganj District .
Histor ...
at Raghurampur, which has been carbon-dated to be from 990 to 1050 CE.
Excavations in Nateshwar began in 2012–13. A research team from a Chinese archaeological institute joined the project in 2014.
During the excavation in 2012–13, a human settlement was unearthed at Nateshwar.
Beginning in 2013, Buddhist temples, octagonal
stupas
A stupa ( sa, स्तूप, lit=heap, ) is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics (such as ''śarīra'' – typically the remains of Bhikkhu, Buddhist monks or Bhikkhuni, nuns) that is used as a place of meditation.
In ...
, pathways and drains made of bricks were unearthed. Moreover, a 100 square metre (1,076 sq ft) temple from the 8th–9th century was found next to the octagonal stupas.
From 2013 to 2019, approximately were excavated at Nateshwar.
''Samcaẏa ādhāra'' or a depository with red and black copper coins was found. Earthen cooking pots, water pots, lamps etc. were among some of the other archaeological findings. Some of the stupas found at Nateshwar are interlinked with three other stupas; each of them is called a Chaturstūpa.
The stupas have thick walls. The two pairs of Chaturstūpas are unique in Bangladesh.
During the excavations of 2019–20, a pyramid-shaped stupa was unearthed, the largest found in Bangladesh to date.
Architecture
As of August 2020, sixteen stupas have been unearthed at Nateshwar.
They were constructed in a
Buddhist architectural style. They are mainly tombs or burial chambers, and an important part of Buddhist architecture.
They reflect the views and culture of Buddhist civilisation, and are sometimes seen as the symbol of
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
introduced by
Gautam Buddha Gautama, Gautam or Gotama may refer to:
Ancient sages and philosophers
* Akṣapāda Gautama, a Hindu sage and founder of the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy: see Nyāya Sūtras
* Indrabhuti Gautama, chief disciple of Mahavira
* Gautama Buddha, t ...
.
The stupas of Nateshwar can be compared to the Mahastupas of
Sanchi
Sanchi is a Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the States and territories of India, State of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located, about 23 kilometres from Raisen, Raisen town, dist ...
,
Bharhut
Bharhut is a village located in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh, central India. It is known for its famous relics from a Buddhist stupa. What makes Bharhut panels unique is that each panel is explicitly labelled in Brahmi characters mentioni ...
,
Amaravati
Amaravati () is the capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river Krishna in Guntur district.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone at a ceremonial event in Uddandar ...
, and
Sarnath
Sarnath (Hindustani pronunciation: aːɾnaːtʰ also referred to as Sarangnath, Isipatana, Rishipattana, Migadaya, or Mrigadava) is a place located northeast of Varanasi, near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pr ...
.
Buddhist stupas are predominantly dome-shaped. However, a unique
pyramid-shaped stupa has been excavated at Nateshwar.
After
carbon-14
Carbon-14, C-14, or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with an atomic nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its presence in organic materials is the basis of the radiocarbon dating method pioneered by Willard Libby and coll ...
testing of 26 specimens of charcoal found in the excavations, America's Beta Analytic Inc. Laboratory
fixed two time period for human settlement at Nateshwar.
The first settlement began in 780 CE during the reign of the
Deva dynasty (ca. 750–800 CE) and lasted until 950 CE during the
Chandra regime (900–1050 CE). The second phase continued from 950 to 1223 CE and lasted through the reigns of the Chandras,
Varman (ca. 1080–1150 CE) and
Sena dynasties.
Further archaeological findings include the ruins of Buddhist monasteries with seven monastic rooms,
two almost intact brick paved roads, quadrilateral and octagonal stupas used for religious rituals or burials, and a thick meandering wall on the south-east side
suggest a well-planned city.
The octagonal stupa occupies an area of about . Each of its sides is long; diagonally it measures . There is also a cross-shaped central Aṣṭamārga (eight ways) shrine that was used by the
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna ( sa, वज्रयान, "thunderbolt vehicle", "diamond vehicle", or "indestructible vehicle"), along with Mantrayāna, Guhyamantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, are names referring t ...
Buddhists.
Pre-medieval Buddhist viharas (monasteries), panchastupas, octagonal stupas and a brick drainage system along with newly discovered brick pathways, an entrance gate to the stupa complex in the north,
and multiple residences indicate a well-established city at Nateshwar.
The upper walls of the Chaturstupas are wider than the lower walls. This style of architecture is different from other archaeological sites in Bangladesh.
Pumicite
Pumice (), called pumicite in its powdered or dust form, is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough-textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals. It is typically light-colored. Scoria is another vesicular vol ...
has been used for the construction of those buildings, including the temples. This fine-grained pumice-like volcanic ash would have protected the structures from
humidity
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation, dew, or fog to be present.
Humidity depe ...
.
The largest
complete pyramid-shaped stupa in Bangladesh found during the excavations in 2019–20 occupies a total area of about with a height of about . It is long to the south. The dais is high and wide. Carbon-dating in a laboratory in the USA indicates the pyramid-shaped stupa was built during the period from 780 to 950 CE.
Considering the time period, it was built before the birth of Atiśa (982–1054 CE).
There is also some evidence that new buildings were constructed over the older ones.
At least five construction periods can be identified from a depth.
Future planning of archaeological site
Excavation work continues at Nateshwar. The archaeological findings from the site have been preserved in the
Bikrampur Museum.
The Bangladeshi government is planning to develop an archaeological park at Nateshwar after excavations are completed in 2024.
Archaeologists expect that
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
will recognise Nateshwar as a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
.
References
External links
Agrashar Bikrampur Foundation{{Ancient-Medieval sites in Bengal
Tongibari Upazila
Archaeological sites in Bangladesh
Munshiganj District
Buddhist monasteries in Bangladesh
Buddhist sites in Bangladesh
Former populated places in Bangladesh
Buddhism in Bangladesh
Indian Buddhist missionaries