Historian –cum-Buddhist researcher Dr Harish Chandra Prusty on Friday stumbled upon several Buddhist remnants that were lying neglected at the crematorium ground at Sadanandapur under Benipur gram panchayat in Derabish police station.
According to Prusty, he discovered three stupas, which were of 3-foot, 3.6-foot and 4.6-foot high respectively whereas another Stupa was unearthed from Asthaprahari Mandap in Panusuda village. The Buddhist remnants date back to the 11th century AD. The Stupas are designed in Triratha shape with the handsome images of Buddha and Buddhist divinity.
In the recent discovery, he found a 1.3 feet high lord Buddha in Khasarpana Boddhisattva posture ( lord Buddha sitting on a lotus posture ) engraved in the dome of a Stupa, whereas in anotherStupa, it has been carved a feet long lord Buddha holding lotus in left hand and Barada Mudra in right hand sitting in Bhadrasana pose.
In yet another stupa, a one foot high image of Tara has been on the central doom of the Stupa. All the three stupas have been discovered from the crematorium ground of Sadanandapur. Similarly, he unearthed a 3.10 inch Stupa which has been kept at Asthaprahari Mandap and worshiped by locals. In the stupa, a 1.3 feet high Buddha idol in Bhumisparsa mudra was engraved whereas in the feet of the idol Nagaribrahmi, Buddhist creed Yedharma Hetuprabhaba has been scripted in two lines.
Meanwhile, the locals and the Buddhist researcher demanded for more spade work in the area as in past several rare Buddha images, Stupas and remnants of Buddha had been discovered from the site.
locals demanded conservation of the recently discovered Buddhist remnants for the posterity along with undertaking spade work in the locality to bring several hidden artifacts related to Buddhism.
When contacted, district Collector Niranjan Nayak stated that he has directed Derabish BDO Rudranarayan Mohanty to visit the spot to conduct an inquiry and submit a report. He assured to write to the State Culture Department to take steps for their preservation.