Nateshwar Deul

Nateshwar Deul (Bengali: নাটেশ্বর দেউল, romanized: Nāṭēśbara Dē'ula, lit. 'Temple complex of Nateshwar') is a Buddhist archaeological site located in the village of Nateshwar in Tongibari Upazila in the Munshiganj District, Bangladesh.[6] It is the ruin of a Buddhist city established from 780 to 950 CE and from 950 to 1223 CE in the Bikrampur region. Archaeological excavation began at Nateshwar in 2012–13.[1][3] From 2013 to 2018, an area of approximately 500 square metres (5,400 sq ft) was excavated.[7] Sixteen Buddhist stupas, including Bangladesh's only pyramid-shaped one, have been found in Nateshwar.[1][5]

Natshwar

নাটেশ্বর
Location of Nateshwar in Bangladesh
Location	Tongibari, Munshiganj District
Region	Bangladesh
Coordinates	23.531680°N 90.469358°E
Type	Stupa, Buddhist Vihara
Part of	Jia Bang Lao (as mentioned in the biography of Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna)[1]
Area	10 acres[2]
History
Material	Soil
Founded	780 CE[1][3]
Abandoned	1223 CE[3]
Site notes
Archaeologists	Oitijjo Onneshon Gobeshona (Heritage Exploration Research, Jahangirnagar University), Cumilla University,[4] Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology of Hunan Province, China[3]
Ownership	Ministry of Cultural Affairs[4]
Management	Shah Sufi Mustafizur Rahman, Jahangirnagar University;[5] Agrashar Bikrampur Foundation[3]
Architecture
Architectural styles	Buddhist architecture

History

Bikrampur was Bengal's capital during the Chandra, Verma and Sena dynasties.[8] Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna (982–1054 CE)[5] described this region in his writings:

"There is a country in the eastern part of India, named Jia Bang Lao. There are thousands of buildings in the capital city. The palace of the city is gilded with gold."

— Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna[1]

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.[3] From Atiśa's writings, it is estimated that there were almost 25,000 Buddhist temples in the "temple-city"[4] where he was born.[2] The pyramid-shaped structure found at Nateshwar was perhaps Atiśa's place of worship or the centre of his preaching.[9]

Archaeological excavation

The "glory of Bikrampur" was previously thought to have disappeared in the Padma's riverbed, namely the "Kirtinasha" (Bengali: কীর্তিনাশা, romanized: Kīrtināśā, lit. 'Destroyer of the achievements').[10] The location of Bikrampur (along with Wari-Bateshwar and Nateshwar) first came to be discussed in the writings of historian Nalini Kanta Bhattasali,[11] the first curator of the Dhaka Museum. In 2010, the first archaeological excavation work began at nine locations in three villages across Rampal and Bajrayogini; it uncovered the Bikrampur Vihara at Raghurampur, which has been carbon-dated to be from 990 to 1050 CE.[6] Excavations in Nateshwar began in 2012–13. A research team from a Chinese archaeological institute joined the project in 2014.[3]

During the excavation in 2012–13, an human settlement was unearthed at Nateshwar.[3] Beginning in 2013, Buddhist temples, octagonal stupas, 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.[2] From 2013 to 2019, approximately 6,000 square metres (65,000 sq ft) were excavated at Nateshwar.[1]

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.[3] The stupas have 4-metre (13 ft) thick walls. The two pairs of Chaturstūpas are unique in Bangladesh.[2][12]

During the excavations of 2019–20, a pyramid-shaped stupa was unearthed, the largest found in Bangladesh to date.[1]

Architecture

As of August 2020, sixteen stupas have been unearthed at Nateshwar.[10] They were constructed in a Buddhist architectural style. They are mainly tombs or burial chambers, and an important part of Buddhist architecture.[1] They reflect the views and culture of Buddhist civilisation, and are sometimes seen as the symbol of Buddhism introduced by Gautam Buddha.[5] The stupas of Nateshwar can be compared to the Mahastupas of Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati, and Sarnath.[1] Buddhist stupas are predominantly dome-shaped. However, a unique[1] pyramid-shaped stupa has been excavated at Nateshwar.

After carbon-14 testing of 26 specimens of charcoal found in the excavations, America's Beta Analytic Inc. Laboratory[5] fixed two time period for human settlement at Nateshwar.[3] 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.[8]

Further archaeological findings include the ruins of Buddhist monasteries with seven monastic rooms,[10] two almost intact brick paved roads, quadrilateral and octagonal stupas used for religious rituals or burials, and a 2.75-metre (9.0 ft) thick meandering wall on the south-east side[12] suggest a well-planned city.[2] The octagonal stupa occupies an area of about 25.2 square metres (271 sq ft). Each of its sides is 9.2 metres (30 ft) long; diagonally it measures 8.6 metres (28 ft). There is also a cross-shaped central Aṣṭamārga (eight ways) shrine that was used by the Vajrayana Buddhists.[8] 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,[13] and multiple residences indicate a well-established city at Nateshwar.[2] The upper walls of the Chaturstupas are wider than the lower walls. This style of architecture is different from other archaeological sites in Bangladesh.[12] Pumicite 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.[2][12]

The largest[5] complete pyramid-shaped stupa in Bangladesh found during the excavations in 2019–20 occupies a total area of about 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) with a height of about 44 metres (144 ft). It is 44 metres (144 ft) long to the south. The dais is 64 centimetres (25 in) high and 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide. Carbon-dating in a laboratory in the USA indicates the pyramid-shaped stupa was built during the period from 780 to 950 CE.[1] Considering the time period, it was built before the birth of Atiśa (982–1054 CE).[5]

There is also some evidence that new buildings were constructed over the older ones.[2] At least five construction periods can be identified from a 7 metres (23 ft) depth.[12]

Future planning of archaeological site

Excavation work continues at Nateshwar. The archaeological findings from the site have been preserved in the Bikrampur Museum.[14] The Bangladeshi government is planning to develop an archaeological park at Nateshwar after excavations are completed in 2024.[10] Archaeologists expect that UNESCO will recognise Nateshwar as a world heritage site.[10][8]

Reference

1. "পিরামিড আকৃতির স্তূপের সন্ধান" [Pyramid-shaped Stupa found in Nateshwar] (in Bengali). Daily Prothom Alo. 20 March 2020.
2. "ধ্বংসস্তূপে মন্দির, রাস্তা, স্তূপ কমপ্লেক্স: হাজার বছর আগের পরিকল্পিত নগর!" (in Bengali). Prothom Alo. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
3. Hasan, Tanvir (18 December 2015). "প্রাচীন বিক্রমপুরের নতুন ইতিহাস: খনন করে মিলছে ১৩ শ বছরের পুরোনো নিদর্শন" (in Bengali). Munshiganj: Prothom Alo. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
4. Hasan, Tanjil (18 February 2019). "নাটেশ্বরে হারিয়ে যাওয়া উন্নত নগর সভ্যতার নিদর্শন" (in Bengali). Munshiganj: Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
5. Dipu, Kaji Sabbir Ahmed (19 March 2020). "প্রত্নতত্ত্ব নিদর্শন: নাটেশ্বরে এবার পিরামিড আকৃতির নান্দনিক স্তূপ" (in Bengali). Nateshwar, Tongibari: Samakal. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
6. "নাটেশ্বরে বৌদ্ধ বিহারের খনন আপাতত সমাপ্ত" (in Bengali). Bangla Tribune. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
7. "নাটেশ্বরের প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক খনন কাজ পরিদর্শন করলেন অর্থমন্ত্রী" (in Bengali). Bangla Tribune. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
8. Dipu, Kaji Sabbir Ahmed (7 January 2018). "নাটেশ্বর দেউল বিশ্বের শ্রেষ্ঠ প্রত্ন আবিস্কারের একটি" (in Bengali). Munshiganj: Samakal. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
9. Mahmud, Iftekhar (7 January 2018). "প্রত্ন-নিদর্শন: পিরামিড আকারের অনন্য স্থাপনা" (in Bengali). Nateshwar, Munshiganj: Prothom Alo. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
10. "বাংলাদেশের অন্যতম সমৃদ্ধ বৌদ্ধ স্থাপনা হবে নাটেশ্বর" (in Bengali). Banglanews24. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
11. Rahman, Sufi Mustafizur (14 April 2016). "নলিনীকান্ত ভট্টশালী: শিকড়-সন্ধানী গবেষক" (in Bengali). Prothom Alo. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
12. "নাটেশ্বর প্রত্নতাত্তিক খননকৃত বৌদ্ধ মন্দির ও স্তুপ". Tongibari Upazila: Bangladesh National Portal (in Bengali). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
13. "নাটেশ্বর: খননকাজ পরিদর্শনে দুই মন্ত্রী" (in Bengali). Prothom Alo. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
14. Aziz, Gazi Munsur (20 November 2018). "বালাসুরের জাদুঘর" [The museum of Balasura] (in Bengali). Jugantar. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

External link

• Agrashar Bikrampur Foundation