Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 19, 2011
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/Seeking-Buddha-in-Gujarat/articleshow/7410037.cms
Known more for Hindu and Jain religious places,
Gujarat is now hoping to play host to Buddhist pilgrims too.
While in January this year, Chief Minister
Narendra Modi shared the dais with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the International
Seminar on Buddhist Heritage at Vadodara, the state's tourism department is
now trying hard to promote the "Buddhist Footprints in Gujarat"
through its website.
The earliest archeological evidence of Buddhism
in Gujarat dates back to Emperor Ashoka's reign (269-232 BC). Saurashtra (known
as Surashtra/ Saraostes/Syrastene in the past) finds a mention in early Buddhist
literature such as the Indriya Jataka, Milinda Panha, Petavatthu, etc. In
the sixth century, Bhattarkka, a general of the Gupta Emperors, established
an independent principality around Valabhi (Vallabhipur). He was a devout
Shaivite but the Maitraka rulers that followed him, though Hindus themselves
were great patrons of Buddhism. On his visit to Gujarat in 640 AD, Chinese
traveller Hiuen Tsang noted the presence of 200 monasteries housing 10,000
monks at Bharuch, Atali, Kheta, Valabhi, Anandapura and Surashtra. Both Hinayana
and Mahayana Buddhism were prevalent in Gujarat.
The following are some of the main Buddhist
archeological sites in Gujarat:
Vadnagar, Mahesana
Nearly 128 km from Ahmedabad, the archeological site between River Banas and
River Rupen, has a 12-cell structure that belonged to a Buddhist vihara or
monastery and housed monks from the 2nd to 4th century AD. Hiuen Tsang, who
visited Vadnagar (then known as Anandapur) in the 7th century, reported that
the city had some 10 sangharams (resting places for Buddhist monks) with a
1,000 Buddhist monks. Archaeologists found around 2,000 artefacts including
a Buddha idol, an amphora, figurines, a crucible, a grinding stone, seals,
a terracotta head wearing a turban, shell bangles, necklace beads, copper
and silver coins that are housed at the Museum of Archaeology at the Maharaja
Sayajirao University, Vadodara.
Perched atop the Taranga Hills nearby, is
a shrine dedicated to Devi Taranmata. The idols of Taranmata and Dharanmata
are of Buddhist Goddess Tara, the "Mother of all Buddhas," which
usually refers to the enlightened wisdom of the Buddhas. In the Dharanmata
Temple, over the halo behind the head of the marble sculpture of the Goddess
Tara, is a lotus on which rests the Amitabh Buddha. The lower register of
the sculpture also displays the symbolic representation of the Buddha in form
of an elephant, a horse and a chakra.
Devnimori, Sabarkantha
Better known for its hotsprings, Devnimori located 132 km from Ahmedabad has
a large Buddhist establishment that dates back to the period between 2nd and
7th centuries AD. King Ashoka is said to have erected as many as 80,000 stupas
across India. He unearthed the ashes of Buddha from their original place and
distributed them across the country, building stupas accordingly. One such
stupa, from the 4th century was excavated in early 1960s at Devnimori. Close
to the major trade routes of Mewar and Dungarpur, Devnimori was the site of
an important Buddhist monastic centre 1,600 years ago. The mahastupa's still
there but the relics including a casket containing Buddha's ashes and 17 terracotta
statues of Buddha are now housed in the Department of Archaeology at The Maharaja
Sayajirao University, Vadodara.
Junagadh District
A prominent Buddhist centre since Ashoka's reign, Junagadh district is sprinkled
with rock-cut-caves, monasteries and stupas at 15-odd sites such as the Ashokan
rock edict at Girnar, Baba Pyara Caves, Khapra Kodia caves, Upparkot caves,
Panheswer Caves, Mai Gadechi, Matri, structural monastery at Intawa, brick
stupa at Bordevi and Vajrapanat, Sana caves, caves around Prabhas Patan, Mandor
Caves and Savni-Gir.
Buddhist caves, about 2000 years old, are
among the oldest monuments at Uparkot. Carved out of monolithic rock, these
three-tiered caves are famous for their exquisite art.
Getting there:
Gujarat has one of the better developed road networks in India. State transport
and private buses are the best and the cheapest modes of transport. Ahmedabad
is well-connected to all major cities and towns by road, rail and air.
(Compiled by Eisha Sarkar)
