Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, Naogaon, Bangladesh
Somapura Mahavihara is among the best known Buddhist viharas in South Asia and is one of the most important archeological sites in the country. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Since then, a series of UNESCO missions has regularly visited the site and helped with the maintenance and preservation project.
The monastery is built as a quadrangle, measuring 281 meter on each side. All outer four wings contain 177 monastic cells. In the center of the open courtyard of the monastery is a shrine. Its remains are still 21 meter high and have three gradually diminishing terraces. The walls were built of burnt bricks, some ornamented with motif of flowers and seated Buddhas. There were also bands of terracotta plaques in rows all around the terraces.
The remains of the monastery is now in a peaceful environment and can be seen from afar. Almost all of the archeological terrain is covered by grass. The monastirial remains have been hidden under the same grass and stones for centuries, after the monks left in the 13th century. Locals thought it to be a hill, hence the name Paharpur (hill town). The monastery complex that was discovered behind the rubble had 177 monastic cells, a water pit, a kitchen, various stupas en the centrally located main temple. The whole complex is bigger than most visitors anticipated and because of its location, there aren’t many visitors and it is not widely known. The whole area is well-cared for but some of the bricks badly need repair.
The excavation at Paharpur, and the finding of seals bearing the inscription Shri-Somapure-Shri-Dharmapaladeva-Mahavihariyarya-bhiksu-sangghasya, has identified the Somapura Mahavihara as built by the second Pala king Dharmapala (circa 781-821) of Pala Dynasty. Some clay seals from the ruins bear the inscription Shri-Somapure-Shri-Dharmapaladeva-Mahavihariyarya-bhiksu-sangghasya. Tibetan sources, including Tibetan translations of Dharmakayavidhi and Madhyamaka Ratnapradipa, Taranatha’s history and Pag-Sam-Jon-Zang, mention that Dharmapala’s successor Devapala (circa 810-850) built it after his conquest of Varendra. The Paharpur pillar inscription bears the mention of 5th regnal year of Devapala’s successor Mahendrapala (circa 850-854) along with the name of Bhiksu Ajayagarbha. Taranatha’s Pag Sam Jon Zang records that the monastery was repaired and renovated during the reign of Mahipala (circa 995-1043 AD).