Two Buddhist Stupas found in Bandhavgarh – Times of India

BHOPAL: A couple of days after one-of-a-kind rock art and evidence of a 2,000-year-old ‘modern society’ were discovered in the famed Bandhavgarh tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district, two Buddhist stupas have been found in the ongoing excavation.
These stupas — one 15ft-high and the other 18ft — were used to contain the ashes of monastic heads. Besides these, Buddhist pillar fragments dating to the 2nd and 3rd centuries, quite similar to the Chaitya pillars of Bedase caves in Maharashtra, have also been found. Last year, in a sensational find, several Buddhist structures were discovered, including a votive stupa dating back to 2nd and 3rd centuries.

“The structures found this time are full-fledged Buddhist stupas. These were used by common people and monks alike. These are cylindrical stupas and have all the characteristics of typical Buddhist stupas — like a square platform and hemispheres. Also, one more votive stupa was found this time. From stylistic dating, we estimate these two fledged stupas to be from the 7th or 8th century,” superintending archaeologist, ASI’s Jabalpur circle, Dr Shivakant Bajpai told TOI.
Bajpai added, “Last year, a votive stupa, a Buddhist pillar and a few Buddhist caves were found, but so far, residential evidence of only rock-cut caves has been found. This area was in the trade route of old times.”
The written history of Bandhavgarh goes back to at least the 2nd century CE. From the inscription record found from this region, it is clear that it was under the rule of the Magha Dynasty for a very long period of time, say historians. After the Magha dynasty, many other dynasties ruled this region, including the Gupta, Pratiharas and Kalachuris.