Buddha Stupa-Deur Kothar
:: Deur Kothar - Bricks Stupa
Buddisth Pilgrimage Tour Guide Offering - Deur Kothar, Bharhut, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Patilputra, Buddisth Stupa, Buddha Stupa, Ashoka Stupa, Buddha Stupa, Deur Kothar, Deor Kothar - Indian Buddhishta Travel Agent Offering - Deor kothar Tour Packages, Deor kothar Tour, Deor kothar Tour Packages, Visit Deor kothar - The Buddhist firmament is abuzz with word of amazing discoveries at the newly excavated site of Deor kothar in Madhya Pradesh, India. Situated on the ancient Dakshinapath (southern trade route), Deorkothar lies between Sarnath and Sanchi, two major Buddhist centers established in the third century BC. It is surprising that Alexander Cunningham, the nineteenth-century doyen of Indian archaeology who did extensive work in the area, missed the site. Excavations at Deorkothar, which seems to predate the late Mauryan-Sunga period (fourth through first centuries B.C.), when most early stupa (temple) complexes were built, promise to throw light on the genesis and spread of Buddhism in Central India, providing missing links in the history of Buddhist art and architecture.
The Deorkothar complex boasts four brick stupas, the most ever found at a site of this period. The varying sizes of bricks used in construction point to an early date. Such motifs as twirling lotus, conical lotus bud, and a simple flower pot on a three-tiered pedestal-the carving of which foreshadows early Buddhist art, can be seen on the railing posts of the largest brick stupa, which rises to a height of nearly 30 feet. The stencil-cut effect of the friezes, along with their simple ornamentation and the paucity of human and animal figures, suggests these are early attempts at stone railing art. It would therefore seem that the stupa at Deorkothar was built before the famous early free-standing stupa at Sanchi.
The site of Deorkothar also comprises monasteries, a water channel system, an ancient pathway, and 30 stone stupas, many of which contained sherds of high quality northern black polished ware, the pottery of everyday use between 700 and 300 B.C. Such sherds are absent from Sanchi, further indicating that Deorkothar predates that site.
Dotting the site of Deorkothar are 63 rock-shelters, many with art dating to the first century B.C., that were likely used by monks for meditation. One painting depicts a stupa and a tree surrounded by a railing. Others show social or hunting scenes; men, women, and animals; weapons; and designs.
Although the pillar bears the trademark Mauryan polish, it is made not of the Chunar sandstone characteristic of Ashokan sculpture, but of local sandstone. Also found at the site were pottery, pieces of stone caskets and bangles with exquisite polish, some copper fragments, a lead strip coiled ear stud, iron nails and clamps, few coins (one punch-marked), pieces of terra-cotta toys, and beads. Worthy of particular mention are several pieces of Mauryan polished chattra (the multi-tiered "umbrella" at the top of a stupa) with evidence of radial ribs. To the west of the main stupa, iron slag, a lump of iron ore, and white nodules of lime indicate the presence of an iron-smelting furnace nearby.
If you wish to visit this place please contact me, I will arrange a tour package suitable for you and your group -
R.K. Agrawal
Tour Operator
M.I.G. 26, J.P.N. Nagar, Behind P. K. School, Near Sirmour Chowk,
REWA (M.P.), India, Pin Code - 486 001
Mobile No. - +91 9424722414
Fax No. - 91 7662 251251,
E mail - info@gtvresort.com
Web Site - www.gtvresort.com
:: Deur Kothar - Bricks Stupa
Buddisth Pilgrimage Tour Guide Offering - Deur Kothar, Bharhut, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Patilputra, Buddisth Stupa, Buddha Stupa, Ashoka Stupa, Buddha Stupa, Deur Kothar, Deor Kothar - Indian Buddhishta Travel Agent Offering - Deor kothar Tour Packages, Deor kothar Tour, Deor kothar Tour Packages, Visit Deor kothar - The Buddhist firmament is abuzz with word of amazing discoveries at the newly excavated site of Deor kothar in Madhya Pradesh, India. Situated on the ancient Dakshinapath (southern trade route), Deorkothar lies between Sarnath and Sanchi, two major Buddhist centers established in the third century BC. It is surprising that Alexander Cunningham, the nineteenth-century doyen of Indian archaeology who did extensive work in the area, missed the site. Excavations at Deorkothar, which seems to predate the late Mauryan-Sunga period (fourth through first centuries B.C.), when most early stupa (temple) complexes were built, promise to throw light on the genesis and spread of Buddhism in Central India, providing missing links in the history of Buddhist art and architecture.
The Deorkothar complex boasts four brick stupas, the most ever found at a site of this period. The varying sizes of bricks used in construction point to an early date. Such motifs as twirling lotus, conical lotus bud, and a simple flower pot on a three-tiered pedestal-the carving of which foreshadows early Buddhist art, can be seen on the railing posts of the largest brick stupa, which rises to a height of nearly 30 feet. The stencil-cut effect of the friezes, along with their simple ornamentation and the paucity of human and animal figures, suggests these are early attempts at stone railing art. It would therefore seem that the stupa at Deorkothar was built before the famous early free-standing stupa at Sanchi.
The site of Deorkothar also comprises monasteries, a water channel system, an ancient pathway, and 30 stone stupas, many of which contained sherds of high quality northern black polished ware, the pottery of everyday use between 700 and 300 B.C. Such sherds are absent from Sanchi, further indicating that Deorkothar predates that site.
Dotting the site of Deorkothar are 63 rock-shelters, many with art dating to the first century B.C., that were likely used by monks for meditation. One painting depicts a stupa and a tree surrounded by a railing. Others show social or hunting scenes; men, women, and animals; weapons; and designs.
Although the pillar bears the trademark Mauryan polish, it is made not of the Chunar sandstone characteristic of Ashokan sculpture, but of local sandstone. Also found at the site were pottery, pieces of stone caskets and bangles with exquisite polish, some copper fragments, a lead strip coiled ear stud, iron nails and clamps, few coins (one punch-marked), pieces of terra-cotta toys, and beads. Worthy of particular mention are several pieces of Mauryan polished chattra (the multi-tiered "umbrella" at the top of a stupa) with evidence of radial ribs. To the west of the main stupa, iron slag, a lump of iron ore, and white nodules of lime indicate the presence of an iron-smelting furnace nearby.
If you wish to visit this place please contact me, I will arrange a tour package suitable for you and your group -
R.K. Agrawal
Tour Operator
M.I.G. 26, J.P.N. Nagar, Behind P. K. School, Near Sirmour Chowk,
REWA (M.P.), India, Pin Code - 486 001
Mobile No. - +91 9424722414
Fax No. - 91 7662 251251,
E mail - info@gtvresort.com
Web Site - www.gtvresort.com