Harsadeva Vihara (SRP-4)

A double storeyed vihara of 425 sq.mtr. is discovered in 2002-3. It is locally called Harsa vihara. The entrance to the Vihara i.e. ardha-mandapa projecting forward from the main western wall is 7.20 x 4.0 m. It has two monolithic octagonal pillars decorated with ghata pallav carvings, flanked on either side, by a single bhara-vahaka. The northern and southern walls have niches for deities, which are missing. The gateway made of cist and lateritic blocks has sand-stone images of Ganga and Yamuna while the bottom portions are exquisitely carved with serpents chasing, sleeping cow and dog, dancing peacocks and kirtimukhas.

In the center of the complex, there is a 9.60 x 6.0 m twelve pillared mandapa. The monolithic pillars have only ghata pallavas on their top portion whereas the rest of the parts are square and simple. Between the mandapa and the entrance there is 6.0 m wide six pillared antarala. The mandapa is surrounded by a 2.70 m wide and 17.0 m long east west, and 8.20 m long north south corridor. On the northern and southern sides are five and four monks’ cells respectively. The cells are 2.40 x 2.25 m except the central ones which are 3.20 x 2.25 m. The main wall of the complex is 1.50 m in width whereas the partition walls are 1.0 m. All the rooms are approached from rthe corridor through a 50 cm wide door lined on both the sides by stone uprights. Inside the rooms, on one side is a single fly door. The lintels of the doors were of laterite stone. On the south western corner of the complex a 80 cm wide staircase having eight 20 cm wide stone steps leads to the first floor.

The Garbha-griha in the east is projected back by 1 m from the main wall and is 1.40 x 1.30 m in size with a high pedestal in eastern wall and semi-circular pedestals made of bricks on the northern and southern side. Three images of Buddha in bhumisparsh mudra, made of chalk-stone and soap stone were recovered from the Garbha-griha. The sanctum sanctorum has as impressive gateway decorated with nagapursh and naga-kanya images. The lintel stone is also carved with naga figures whereas the lintel stone of the ardha-mandapa depicts the story of Buddha’s life. The walls are made of bricks of varying sizes 40 x 20 x 7 cms, 41 x 24 x 7 cms, 40 x 20 x 6.5 cm and 37 x 20 x 7 cm. All the walls were lime plastered and internally painted.