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Somapura
Somapura Mahavihara (), also known as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara (), is a major Buddhist monastery (''mahavihara'') in Paharpur, Badalgachhi, Naogaon, Bangladesh. It is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It is one of the most famous examples of architecture in pre-Islamic Bengali architecture. It dates from a period to the nearby Halud Vihara and to the Sitakot Vihara in Nawabganj, Dinajpur. History A number of monasteries grew up during the Pāla period in ancient India in the eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent, comprising Bengal and Magadha. According to Tibetan sources, five great Mahaviharas (universities) stood out: Vikramashila, the premier university of the era; Nalanda, past its prime but still illustrious; Somapura Mahavihara; Odantapurā; and Jaggadala. The mahaviharas formed a network; "all of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pala Empire
The Pāla Empire was the empire ruled by the Pala dynasty, ("protector" in Sanskrit) a medieval Indian dynasty which ruled the kingdom of Gauda Kingdom, Gauda. The empire was founded with the election of Gopala, Gopāla by the chiefs of Kingdom of Gauda, Gauda in late eighth century CE. The Pala stronghold was located in Bengal and eastern Bihar, which included the major cities of Gauḍa (city), Gauḍa, Bikrampur, Vikramapura, Pataliputra, Pāṭaliputra, Munger, Monghyr, Somapura, Ramavati (Varendra), Tamralipta, Tāmralipta and Jaggadala, Jagaddala. The Pālas were astute diplomats and military conquerors. Their army was noted for its vast war elephant corps. Their navy performed both mercantile and defensive roles in the Bay of Bengal. At its zenith under emperors Dharmapala (emperor), Dharmapala and Devapala (Pala dynasty), Devapala in the early ninth century, the Pala empire was the dominant power in the northern Indian subcontinent, with its territory stretching across ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Architecture Of Bengal
The architecture of Bengal, which comprises the modern country of Bangladesh and the States and union territories of India, Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Assam's Barak Valley and eastern part of Bihar and Jharkhand, has a long and rich history, blending indigenous elements from the Indian subcontinent, with influences from different parts of the world. Bengali architecture includes ancient urban architecture, religious architecture, rural vernacular architecture, colonial townhouses and country houses and modern urban styles. The bungalow style is a notable architectural export of Bengal. The corner towers of Bengali religious buildings were replicated in medieval Southeast Asia. Bengal roofs, Bengali curved roofs, suitable for the very heavy rains, were adopted into a distinct local style of Indo-Islamic architecture, and used decoratively elsewhere in north India in Mughal architecture. Bengal is not rich in good stone for building, and traditional Bengali architecture m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Naogaon District
Naogaon District () is a district in northern Bangladesh, and part of Rajshahi Division. It is named after its headquarters, the city of Naogaon in Naogaon Sadar Upazila. Demographics According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Naogaon District has 765,457 households and a population of 2,784,599 with an average 3.59 people per household. Among the population, 436,445 (15.67%) inhabitants are under 10 years of age. The population density is 810 people per km2. Naogaon District has a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 72.24%, compared to the national average of 74.80%, and a sex ratio of 97.58 males per 100 females. Approximately, 14.97% (416,809) of the population live in urban areas. Muslims make up 86.88% of the population, while Hindus are 11.54% and Christians 0.77% of the population respectively. Other religions are 0.81% of the population. As of 2022, ethnic minorities are 107,312 (3.85%). This was the largest ethnic minority population in Bangladesh outside the Ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mahavihara
Mahavihara () is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a great vihara (centre of learning or Buddhist monastery) and is used to describe a monastic complex of viharas. Mahaviharas of India A range of monasteries grew up in ancient Magadha (modern Bihar) and Bengal. According to Tibetan sources, five great mahaviharas stood out during the Pāla period: Vikramashila, the premier university of the era; Nalanda, past its prime but still illustrious, Somapura, Odantapurā, and Jaggadala. The five monasteries formed a network; "all of them were under state supervision" and there existed "a system of co-ordination among them . . it seems from the evidence that the different seats of Buddhist learning that functioned in eastern India under the Pāla were regarded together as forming a network, an interlinked group of institutions," and it was common for great scholars to move easily from position to position among them. Nalanda The famous Nalanda Mahavihara was founded a few centuries earli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bengal
Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Bengal proper is divided between the modern-day sovereign nation of Bangladesh and the States and union territories of India, Indian states of West Bengal, and Karimganj district of Assam. The ancient Vanga Kingdom is widely regarded as the namesake of the Bengal region. The Bengali calendar dates back to the reign of Shashanka in the 7th century CE. The Pala Empire was founded in Bengal during the 8th century. The Sena dynasty and Deva dynasty ruled between the 11th and 13th centuries. By the 14th century, Bengal was absorbed by Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent. An independent Bengal Sultanate was formed and became the eastern frontier of the Islamic world. During this period, Bengal's rule and influence spread to Assam, Arakan, Tri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dharmapala Of Bengal
Dharmapala was the second Pala emperor of Bengal ( Vangala) in the Indian subcontinent. He was the son and successor of Gopala, the founder of the Pala dynasty. Dharmapala was mentioned as the King of Vangala (''Vangapati'') in the Nesari plates (dated 805 AD) of Rashtrakuta dynasty. He greatly expanded the boundaries of the empire and made the Palas a dominant power in the northern and eastern India. Dharmapala directly ruled over the present-day Bengal and Bihar, and installed a nominee at Kannauj. The Pala chronicles also claim that several other rulers of North India acknowledged his suzerainty, but these claims seem to be exaggerated. Dharmapala was defeated twice by the Gurjara-Pratiharas, but each time the Rashtrakutas subsequently defeated the Pratiharas, leaving Palas as the dominant power in North India. Dharmapala was succeeded by his son Devapala who further expanded the empire. Reign Dharamapala directly ruled over the present-day Bengal and Bihar regions. Si ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vikramashila
Vikramashila ( IAST: ) was a Buddhist monastery situated in what is now modern-day Bihar in India. It was founded by King Dharmapala between the late eighth and early ninth century. It was one of the three most important Buddhist Mahaviharas of its time in India, along with Nalanda and Odantapuri. Its location is now the site of Antichak village near Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district in Bihar. It was one of the largest Buddhist mahaviharas, with more than one hundred teachers and about one thousand students. It produced eminent scholars who were often invited by foreign countries to spread Buddhist learning, culture and religion including Atiśa and Ratnākaraśānti. Vikramashila was established by the Pala emperor Dharmapala (783 to 820 CE) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda. It was destroyed by the forces of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193. History A number of monasteries grew up during the Pāla period in medieva ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sitakot Vihara
Sitakot Vihara (, ''Sitakot Buddhist Vihara'' ) is an archaeological site located in Nawabganj Upazila, Dinajpur, Nawabganj Upazila in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Through regular excavations in the years 1968 and 1972–1973, an ancient Buddhist monastery was discovered in the site. The monastery dates from a similar time period to the nearby Somapura Mahavihara and Halud Vihara. Architecture The monastery was built on a square area of 65 meters. On the northern and southern sides there was large open space inside the boundary. The outer gateway was in the northern side and there were two guard rooms inside the boundary. The inner gateway allows entry to an entrance hall. The hall is attached with monastic cells. There were 41 cells in this monastery: 8 in the northern wing and 11 cells each in the three other wings. The cells were almost equal in size (3.66 m by 3.35 m). The thickness of the front walls of the cells were 1.07 m, back walls 2.59 m and partition walls 0.91-1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Halud Vihara
Halud Vihara () is south of the World Heritage Site of Somapura Mahavihara, at Pahapur in the Naogaon District of Bangladesh. The main feature of the site is "a large mound stretching in east-west and in north-south. It has a height of .Halud Vihara UNESCO World Heritage Centre A brick structure has been exposed at the top of the mound that seems to be the remains of a large hall. A flight of stairs has been excavated on the eastern slopes of the mound. There are other mounds and remains of brick structures. Some sculpture has been removed from the site, which has also suffered considerably from the local inhabitants removing bricks for reuse. It is located at Halud Vihara village, which is also locally known as Dvipganj. Excavations show that it was an early Medieva ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Badalgachhi Upazila
Badalgacchi Upazila () is a Upazila of Naogaon District under Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. Geography Badalgacchi is located at . It consists of 54,001 households and has a total area of . Demographics According to the 2011 Census of Bangladesh, Badalgachhi Upazila had 54,001 households and a population of 201,342. 36,957 (18.36%) were under 10 years of age. Badalgachhi had a literacy rate (age 7 and over) of 49.55%, compared to the national average of 51.8%, and a sex ratio of 1002 females per 1000 males. 6,357 (3.16%) lived in urban areas. Ethnic population was 10,799 (5.36%), of which Oraon were 3,661. In 1991, the population of Badalgacchia was 176,010. Males constitute 51.34% of the population, and females account for 48.66%. Badalgachi has an average literacy rate of 28.4% for persons seven years and older, which is below the national average of 32.4%. Points of interest Somapura Mahavihara Somapura Mahavihara (), also known as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara (), is a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nalanda
Nalanda (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: , ) was a renowned Buddhism, Buddhist ''mahavihara'' (great monastery) in medieval Magadha (Mahajanapada), Magadha (modern-day Bihar), eastern India. Widely considered to be among the greatest Ancient higher-learning institutions, centres of learning in the ancient world and often referred to as "the world's first residential university", it was located near the city of Rajagriha (now Rajgir), roughly southeast of Pataliputra (now Patna). Operating for almost a thousand years from 427 CE until around 1400 CE, Nalanda mahavihara played a vital role in promoting the patronage of arts, culture and academics during the 5th and 6th century CE, a period that has since been described as the "Golden Age of India" by scholars. Nalanda was established by emperor Kumaragupta I of the Gupta Empire around 427 CE, and was supported by numerous Indian and Javanese patrons – both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Nalanda continue ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bangladesh
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by population density, most densely populated with a population of over 171 million within an area of . Bangladesh shares land borders with India to the north, west, and east, and Myanmar to the southeast. It has a coastline along the Bay of Bengal to its south and is separated from Bhutan and Nepal by the Siliguri Corridor, and from China by the List of Indian states, Indian state of Sikkim to its north. Dhaka, the capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city, is the nation's political, financial, and cultural centre. Chittagong is the second-largest city and the busiest port of the country. The territory of modern Bangladesh was a stronghold of many List of Buddhist kingdoms and empires, Buddhist and List of Hindu empir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
