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JAGJIVANPUR

A NEWLY DISCOVERED BUDDHIST SITE IN WEST BENGAL

Jagjivanpur is a sleepy village in Malda district of West Bengal. It deserves an important position in the archaeological atlas of West Bengal due to the recent discoveries of a large Buddhist establishment through the excavations, undertaken by the Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, West Bengal since 1992.

The site is located at the distance of 41 km. east of Malda town and can be approached through motorable road via Kendpukur.

Prior to archaeological excavation, the site came to be known through the chance discovery of the new famous copper plate inscription, of Sri Mahendrapaladeva (c. 9th to 10th cent. A.D.) of the Pala Dynasty, on 13th March, 1987. A small bronze image of Buddha was also recovered from the site. Subsequently the site was brought under the protection of the West Bengal Government and excavation was taken up.

THE COPPER-PLATE INSCRIPTION

The Copper Plate contains an epigraphic account on both sides (40 lines on obverse and 32 lines on reverse) in Siddhamatrika scripts of 9th century in Sanskrit language. It has a royal seal, attached on the top, which contains within a lotus, a dharmachakra of the centre, flanked by deers on either side and the inscription "Sri Mahendrapaladeva" below. The weight of the copper plate is 11Kgs.850 gms. and measures 52 cms. X 37.5 cms. The copper plate recorded that the kind Mahendrapala announced before the body of the officers and other persons assembled on the occasion of a land grand ceremony that the General Vajradeva of his army intended to dedicate the land adjacent to the Nanda-Dirghika-Udranga Mahavihara, erected by his for accruing religious merits to his parents and all people of this earth for the worship of the Buddhist deities and maintenance and performance of religious rites by the Bhikshus residing there. The copper plate introduces Mahendra as a Pala sovereign, whose identity was unknown till date.

EXCAVATION

Though several archaeological mounds have been identified so far in the locality, the impressive mound Tulabhita was excavated to ascertain the lay-out of the burried structures and to ascertain a sequence of the site. Some of the other mounds are Akhridanga, Nimdanga, Nandagarh, Rajar-Mayer Dhibi. Though the excavation begins 1992 an extensive programme was taken up at Tulabhita during this year (1995-96). Altogether 24 Trenches of 6mt. X 6mt. (864 square metre area) were laid and these brought to light a part of the brick built monastery, stupas, cells with corbelled niches, verandah and the rich crop of antiquities like terracotta plaques, terracotta-seals & sealing, inscribed potsherd, beads and other miscellaneous objects of daily-use.

STRUCTURAL REMAINS

MONASTERY: The excavation at the central part of the mound has unearthed the eastern portion of a monastery. Different sizes of bricks (32 X 18 X 6 cms., 28 X 26 X 5 cms., 23 X 17 X 8 cms., 28 X 15 X 6 cms., 17 X 6 X 6 cms.) and mud mortars where used to construct the wall ( 1 mt wide) of the monastery. The north-east and south-west corner of the monastery have been exposed. The exposed courtyard of the monastery is made of rammed bricks with a tiled pathway have been traced at a regular distance of 2.5 metre, probably indicative of the existing of a shed over the pathway for circumambulistic during rainy season. At the eastern part of the courtyard attached to the monastic world (verandah) a step staircase of 3 mete width with three steps has been exposed. A brick stupa (circumference – 6.00 mt. and Diameter – 2.25 mt.) has also been identified. The eastern verandah with rammed-floor of the monastery has also been found partially.

CELLS: The excavation at the south-east corner of the mound have revealed two monastic cells (2.60 mt. X 2.60 mt.) with corbelled niches (ht. 1.05 mt.) in the southern wall of each cell. The height of the cell is 3.00 mt. from the floor level with 35.40 courses of bricks (size of brick 28 X 24 X 8 cm). Originally an opening of 130 mt. X 1.28 mt. was provided to the partition wall in between the cells. It was blocked subsequently. Four distinct layer of deposit have been excavated to reach the floor level of the cells.

CORNER STUPTA : A huge brick-stupta along with a wall adjacent to its southern part has been exposed at the north-western corner of the mound. It seems that the stupta is hollow inside. The excavation was carried out up to the depth of 1.50 mt. within the filling debris at the centre and exposed a niche on the southern side with a blocked opening indicative of the activities of 2nd phase. Few fragmentary potsherds of gray colour were recovered from the core of the stupa. The existing height of the stupa is about 3.5 mt. with the circumference of 19.63 mt.

ANTIQUITIES

SEALS & SEALING : The most notable discovery of this year's excavation is terracotta seal & sealings, out six, one is intact. It depicts a dharmachakra, flanked by two deers on either side on the upper part and a legend in two lines below in 9th/10th century character in sanskrit. The legend was read by Dr. (Mrs.) Debala Mitra as "Sri Vajradeva-Karita-Nanda dirghi-Vihariyaarya-bhikshu-sam (gha)". It is interesting to note that the monastery was named after a water-body which is still is existance as Nandadighi.

TERRACOTTA PLAQUES : So far, a considerable number of terracotta plaques have been recovered through excavation from the collapsed debris of the corner-stupa complex (north-west). Those plaques were probably used to decorate the outer surface of the stupa like Paharpur & Mainamati in Bangladesh. The plaques are different in size. Among those the common size is 28 X 24 X 7 cms. Some of them are intact and in good state preservation. The plaques depict Siva, Surya, Avalokitesvara, Vidyadharas, Gandharvas, Garuda, Kinnia-Kinnaris, Sacred-Manuscript on lotus. warriors, Man with basket, Devotee, Boar, Lion, Deer, Peacock, Swan etc.