Part 12 - Apsidal Caitya (west of the Aśokan pillar)

Archaeological remains located in the west of the Aśokan pillar known as the Apsidal Caitya was excavated in 1914- 15. It is 82’ 6” in length and 38’ 10’ in width with a semi-circular apse in the west and the entrance facing the Aśokan column in the east. The archaeological remain in this site is scanty and no roof or pillars to support the roof was not found. But the outer face of the structure was covered with stucco probably to provide longevity to the shrine. The bricks of the foundation of the structure were thick and large belonging to the Mauryan time. The caitya was probably meant for congregation of the monks. A fresh study of this caitya was made in 1927-28.^[1] The dividing line between the crude and polished portions of the Aśokan pillar was taken as the ground level and the caitya was found to be 1 feet 7 inches above the ground level.

When the caitya fell into disuse, two long walls and a platform were built near its southern side. Another boundary wall, some 44 feet to the west of the Aśokan pillar was found. Precise nature of the structure cannot be determined. To the northern side of this fragmentary wall the foundation of a narrow building was traced though its nature could not be known. Along the northern side of this building is a corridor. In the southern side some cells other later date structures may be found. The bricks are all well made. The plan of the remains is unconventional but does not seem anything other than a monastery. The fragmentary walls and platform belonged to the Gupta or Kuṣāṇa period. To the west side of the boundary wall remains of a room of moderate size could be located. From the discovery of a large quantity of lime, sand, earthern and stone vessels in this room the house appears to be a storehouse for material needed for petty repairs.^[2]

Excavation in 1927-28 of the open space within the boundary wall of the apsidal shrine showed existence of an irregular stack of well-burnt, durable but broken Mauryan bricks. Suggestively some brick making operations were done here in the late Mauryan times (Aśokan time). It was found out in this phase that foundation of the apsidal building was made of two types of bricks. Bigger, well-made and superior bricks were assignable to the Mauryan time. Smaller and inferior bricks are of the Śuṅga period. Those Mauryan bricks were obtained from some other structures.

To the north of this caitya, concrete bases of two walls meeting each other at a right angle were traced. Probably they served as boundary walls. Lower terrace of a stūpa lying above the Mauryan level enclosed by these walls was found though no relic casket was located here. To the east and north of this stūpa bases of two walls were exposed. They were not parallel to the sides of the terrace. So it has been suggested that they were built much later than thestūpa. In this phase of excavation a fresh study of the north western boundary wall was made. The bases of the stūpa and the north-western boundary wall were made of well-burnt and well-made Mauryan bricks. The upper portion of this wall was built in the Kuṣāṇa period.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Raibahadur Ramprasad Chanda, Excavations at Sarnath in H.Hargreaves ed., Annual Report Archaeological Survey of India, 1927-28, Delhi, Swati publications,1990,p.95

[2]:

Excavations at Sarnath, in Sir John Marshall ed., Annual Report Archaeological Survey of India, 1914-15, ed. Swati publications, Delhi 1990, pp.105-11.