Sasai Maha Vihar (SRP-I)

During the present excavations (1999-continuing) as many as seven Buddhist monasteries have been revealed from under the earth. The locally called Sasai Vihara, the earliest discovered of the present series is a remarkable one. Though no structure survives our time, the traces testify to the existence of a huge monastery which has a nunnery as well.

SRP-1 area, containing debris of broken pillars, sculpture pieces and an image of head of monolithic Buddha statue on the surface, partly excavated in an area of 700 sq.m. to the depth of 2.50 m. A west facing Buddha temple with a central garbha-griha housing a 1.45 high and 1 m broad (Knee to knee) monolithic Buddha image in padmasana posture and Bhumi-sparsha mudra has been discovered. The granite image has pravavali on the back of head region. To the east and west of central sanctum sanctorum, two more shrines were added which occupied the two images of Bodhisatvas.

The plinth of the entire complex was made of schist slab while the superstructure was of bricks. Bricks used are of three sizes, 1.42 x 22 x 8 cm., 2.36 x 20 x 7.5 and 3.29 x 23 x 8.5 cm.

The construction activity was started at the length of 2.89 m and consisted of five layers. Layer I was nearly 5 cm to 15 cm thick humus and is composed of fine dark brown clay and decomposed vegetation. Layer II varies in thickness from 30 to 50 cm and is composed of blackish brown clay interspersed with small thin chips of slate and specs and nodules of brick bats. This layer has yielded most of the black ware shards and fragments of glass bangles. Layer III varies in thickness from 40 to 65 cm and consists overwhelmingly of brick debris (fallen superstructure) indicating that on top of the layer, the entire superstructure collapsed.

The huge monolithic pillars have also collapsed. This phenomenon is further corroborated by the horizontal straight line cracks on huge lateritic slabs which were used to cap the plinth level of the schist-stone wall and floor of the doors. Vertical cracks appear in the foundation walls and remaining brick superstructures.

The foundation of stone slabs was raised up to 1 m height. The capping stones have not only straight engraved lines, on both the lengthwise ends of slabs, but also carry incision of Brahmi words which consists of Ka, Kha, Ya, Aa, Pa, Ta etc. of which Ka is predominant. Other symbols like svastik also occur in many slabs.

The Buddha temple consists of three garbha-grihas, the central one being occupied by 1.45 m high monolithic Buddha image and with the severed head. Buddha in ‘Bhumi sparsha’ mudra and in papdmasana position is enshrined in the rectangular garbha-griha measuring 4.85 m north-south and 3.20 m east-west. Width of the schist slab walls of the plinth vary from 1.25 to 1.30 m. The roof of the central garbha-griha is 1.32 m in width with a 0.46 m wide and 0.21 thick lateritic slab. This slab along with the wall on which it rests and behind the Buddha image have developed wide vertical cracks, the huge statue of Buddha and some of the pillars have tilted east whereas almost all the remaining pillars in the Vihar area have collapsed into fragments. The fallen pillar in front of this garbha-griha is 2.15 m long, 0.44 m wide and 0.28 m thick. It has been carved with spiral motifs on the inner side. The brick superstructure with thick lime plaster has collapsed towards east.

The two subsidiary garbha-griha one each to the north and south of the main one, house the image of Bodhisattvas sitting over huge carved stone pedestals with figures of Shardula on the right and left. The garbha-griha on the north is 2.40 m north-south and 1.80 m east-west with thickness of walls varying from 1.15 m to 1.30 m, while the one on the southern side is 2.40 m north-south and 1.80 m east-west with thickness of walls varying from 1.25 m to 1.40 m. The central sanctum sanctorum floor was raised thrice, the lowest being of plastered mud, followed by brick paved floor. The top one is plastered with lime plaster and decorated with red-ochre solution with floral designs which are heavily weathered. The fact that the lower portions of earlier pillars inside the main garbha-griha have got embedded by the thickness subsequent floors also indicate subsequent repair or renovations of the Buddhist temple by way of building two more pillars.

In front of the ‘garbha-griha ‘a sixteen pillared mandapa of 10 x 8 m dimension has been exposed. The pillars which have all collapsed are made of monolithic basalt and sand-stone and are beautifully carved with Ghatapallav mithuna couples, Camara-dharinis and scroll motifs. The mandapa is surrounded by a 2.10 m wide varendah on all four sides. On three sides, leaving the eastern side which has the garbha-grihas, are a row of rooms or cells measuring 2.00 x 2.40 m inside. So far twelve of them have been exposed, all open in their respective verandahs. On the south-western side of the room near the entrance to the Vihar is a small store or office room, probably meant for the warden of the nunnery. On the north-west side after the 3^rd room is a small corridor probably had steps to go up. The room by the side of this corridor to the west is bigger and is most likely the dining hall. Almost all the rooms contain fragments of glass bangles in different colours with embossed designs indicating that they were occupied by ‘Bhikshunis’.

One of the most remarkable and unique feature is the discovery of a huge iron-bell, 32 cm long and 30 cm in diameter, from inside the main garbha-griha, in front of Buddha image. On top of the body of the bell is a welded hook for hanging. This is probably the first bell of its kind to be discovered from a Buddha Vihar.

The entire nunnery complex was enclosed by a 2.5 m thick dressed slate stone fortification having sixteen bastions, measuring alternately 13 m and 30 m in diameter. In between the two bastions the length of the wall is 42 m and 30 m alternately. The 250 m x 210 m fortification or enclosure has been made of small cubicles of schist-stones. The entrance to the enclosure was on the southwestern corner. On the south-eastern corner inside the enclosed area is a beautiful tank where lotus still blooms and water from the garbha-griha of Siva temple was drained through a covered drain.

Among the artifacts discovered from the Vihar are beautiful images of Bodhisativas, Manuscripts, Avalokiteshwara, Shardul, mithuna couples, chavar dharinis and ganas were recovered, though in highly damaged condition. Other objects include glass bangles, terracotta figurines, iron objects like nails of various shapes and sizes, door jambs, dowels, chisels, punches, shaving razors etc. a miniature four armed sculpture on schist stone, a seal with conch shell embossed on it, a stone amulet depicting a seated male figure with folded hands, and a stamped pottery on black burnished ware. From the top level two round bilingual type billon (an alloy of bronzes and silver) coins weighing 2.84 gms. each belonging to Sultan Muhamamad Shah Alaud-Din Khalji, A.H. 708 (1308-9 A.D) were recovered. The Arabic legends inscribed on the obverse in typical Naskh style of Sultanate period, read Sultan-ul Azam ‘Alaud-Duniya Wad-Din’. On the reverse in the inner circle the legend in Arabic reads ‘Muhammad Shah’ whereas in the outer circle in Sanskrit in the title, it is Shri Sultan Alawadin with date in Nagari figures, 708 being the date of striking of the coin in Hizriera which corresponds to 1308-9 A.D. This bilingual issue is commonly called Jital.