Researcher unearths 800 AD Buddhist relics in Jajpur

Historian–cum-Buddhist researcher Dr Harish Chandra Prusty recently has discovered several Buddhist remnants from the premises of Naga mutt in Baujanga village under Bikramtiran gram panchayat in Badachana block of Jajpur. Prusty claimed that he has discovered votive stupa with Buddha in dhyana mudra. Besides, domestic earthen pots, large size bricks and other items which date back to the Bahumakar dynasty (8th -10th century AD) were also found.

According to Prusty, the discovered votive stupa is of 1.10 feet high whereas the unearthed 8x8 inch sacred foot prints of lord Buddha is a chlorite stone. He claimed that the sacred foot print of lord Budhha was worshipped by the Buddhist monks of   Hinajan community. A stone structural Harmika of 1.6 feet x 1.6 feet was also discovered from the sites as well. The discovered Buddhist remnants at Naga mutt speak about the peaceful co-existence of Mahajana and Hinajana Buddhist monks in a single place.

large size bricks, whose length is 3 to 16 inches, have been found at the spot. He stated that the large size bricks might have been used in the walls of the Buddhist monastery. Coloured domestic earthen pot remnants were also discovered from the Naga mutt premises. The unearthed items were the remnants of sprinklers, bows, pots, designed framed earthen potsherds which date back to early medieval period, between 8th and 10th Century AD. Prusty stated that most of the images of Buddha and other male divinities are suspected to be transferred from Nagabadi to the nearby Mallikeswar shrine. They are Tara, Mahakala and another votive stupa at Malikeswar shrine.