Lost CulturesLost Culturesof Bangladeshof Bangladesh

Prof. Dr. M. Emdadul Haq

WariWari--BateshwarBateshwar

These are two nearby villages located three kilometres west of Belabo thana of Narshingdi district.

The landscape of the area suggests that the old Brahmaputra river used to flow near the village during an early historic period.

The time frame of the oldest sites of the subcontinent varies from 700 to 100 BC.

Wari-Bateshwar area dates back about 450BC.

WariWari--BateshwarBateshwar Md Hanif Pathan, a schoolteacher, first

brought the archaeological importance of the villages to lime light in 1933.

Later his son Md Habibullah Pathan, an amateur archaeologist, took initiative to collect antiquities & study them.

Hundreds & thousands of semi-precious stone & glass objects, iron artifacts, punch-marked silver coins & many minor artifacts have been found from the region from time to time.

WariWari--BateshwarBateshwar The area used to be the ancient commercial

city Shownagara. It was the capital city of the 16

Mahajanapada in ancient sub-continent. Eastern side of the Maurya Empire. A fort area surrounded by bunkers. Articles found were from the new stone age. Other 47 sites have been discovered. Current excavation is dealing with the

preface of an Epic.

MahasthangarhMahasthangarh One of the earliest urban archaeological sites in

Bangladesh after Wari-Bateshwar. Village Mahasthan in Shibganj thana of Bogra

District Remains of an ancient city Pundranagara is

found in the territory of Pundravardhana. A limestone slab bearing six lines in Prakrit in

Brahmi script, discovered in 1931, dates back Mahasthangarh from at least the 3rd century BC.

The fortified area was in use till 8th century AD.

Sompura Mohavihara:Sompura Mohavihara: Second King DharmapalaSecond King Dharmapala (770(770--810 AD). 810 AD).

constructed 50 monasteries including constructed 50 monasteries including Vikramshila Vihara & Sompura ViharaVikramshila Vihara & Sompura Vihara..

Sompura Vihara is the most important archeological structures in Bangladesh.

It is the biggest monument south of It is the biggest monument south of Himalayas.Himalayas.

It showsIt shows remarkable developmentremarkable development in the style in the style of architecture, arts & sculpture. of architecture, arts & sculpture.

Influenced the style of monasteries in Influenced the style of monasteries in south south East Asia East Asia up to Indonesia.up to Indonesia.

Sompura Mohavihara:Sompura Mohavihara: Located in village Paharpur under the

Balagachi Upazila of Naogaon district. Quadrangular court spread in 27 acres of

land in Varendra region. The area holds a total number of 177 rooms. There is a pyramidal cruciform temple at the

centre. It accommodates terracotta plaques, statues

of different gods & goddess, potteries, coin inscriptions etc.

Pathorghata-Mohipur in Rajshahi

King Mohipals palace & tomb Hazrat Nasir Uddin Nusrat Shahs majar Meeting point of three religions About 25-30 square kilometer area

Pathorghata-Mohipur The ancient name of this area is known as

Ponchonogori which was referred to as Pentapolish by Greek & Alexandrian geographers & historians.

Remnants of a 50 meter long rock made bridge found in this area that goes back about 15 hundred years.

Stone made jokkho stature from the Krishan dynasty in the 1st and 2nd century AD was found here.

It was the divisional headquarter or Bishoy the Pundrabardhan area.

LalmaiLalmai--MainamatiMainamati

The ancient name of this area was Pattikera,the capital of Banga Samatata.

It was home of one of the most important Buddhist archaeological sites in the region.

A number of Buddhist sites in this region date back from 7th to 12th centuries AD.

Mainamati is located almost 8 miles northwest from the town of Comilla.

Named after Chandra Queen Mainamati, mother of the King Govindachandra.

LalmaiLalmai--MainamatiMainamati The centre piece of the Buddhist sites is the

Shalban Vihara, almost in the middle of the Mainamati-Lalmai hill range.

Although some times it is confused as a fort area, but it was an educational centre for higher studies with residential facilities.

Consists of 115 cells, built around a spacious courtyard with a cruciform temple in the centre, facing its only gateway complex to the north.

Similarities with Sompura Vihara.

Kutila MuraKutila Mura

Kutila Mura is situated about 5 kilometres north of Salban Vihara.

Three stupas are found side by side representing the Buddhist "Trinity" or three jewels, i.e. the Buddha, Dharma & Sangha.

Charpatra Mura is another 2.5 km. north-west of Kutila Mura stupas.

Itakhola Mandir is adjacent to Kutilya Mura within the present day Comilla cantonment area.

Mystery over Lost CultureMystery over Lost Culture

Degeneration Degeneration of Buddhism into obscure of Buddhism into obscure Tantric cults Tantric cults by the end of Pala rule could be by the end of Pala rule could be the primary cause for the Buddhist the primary cause for the Buddhist downsizing. downsizing.

Religious suppression under the subsequent Religious suppression under the subsequent Sena rulers Sena rulers by ousting the Buddhist Pala by ousting the Buddhist Pala rulers.rulers.

The Senas supported the The Senas supported the Brahmanical Brahmanical doctrinesdoctrines from south India & destroyed the from south India & destroyed the social structure founded on equality of all social structure founded on equality of all people in the Pala Age. people in the Pala Age.

Mystery over Lost CultureMystery over Lost Culture A sizable number of Buddhist monks fled to Nepal & A sizable number of Buddhist monks fled to Nepal &

Tibet with their manuscripts & religious books Tibet with their manuscripts & religious books leaving behind their monasteries unutilized for leaving behind their monasteries unutilized for centuries.centuries.

Others continued their existence under various Others continued their existence under various camouflages.camouflages.

Egalitarian approach pursued by Egalitarian approach pursued by IslamIslam also thoughtalso thoughtto be another factor for blocking the resurgence of to be another factor for blocking the resurgence of Buddhism in the area.Buddhism in the area.

Earthquake or other natural calamities are also Earthquake or other natural calamities are also thought to be as a cause of their decimation.thought to be as a cause of their decimation.

Mystery over major speculations remained Mystery over major speculations remained unanswered.unanswered.

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