posted by obaidur rahman on his fb page
Telhara Birth place of Dr.
Kaleem Aajiz
Telhara is a small village in the Hilsa
subdivision of the Nalanda Dist. in Bihar. It is about 29 K.m. west of Nalanda, the Dist.
headquarter. This place was visited by the Chinese traveller, Heun Tsang in the
7th Century AD., and it was mentioned as Teleadaka in his account. In course of
excavation at the site a good number of Pala sculpture have been discovered
including both Buddhist & Hindu deities. The site, under Turkish ruler
became an important settlement of Muslims during medieval period. This place is
also mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari as Tiladah and is shown as one of the 46 mahals
of Sarkar Bihar. In the survey map prepared by the company administration in
1842-45 the Telahara had been mentioned as Pargana. Buchanan mentioned this
village as an important estate of Bihar. There is a mosque towards the eastern
side of the mound, It is said that the mosque was built with the materials
carried from the ruins of the Buddhist monastry. It is mentioned that Bakhtiyar
Khilji during his conquest of Odantapuri moved
south from Maner towards Tiladah. i.e. Telahara (The account in Minhaj's Tabqat-i-Nasiri).
It is very possible that Bakhtiyar camped at Telhara before conquering
Odantapuri. Adjacent to the mosque (Sangi Masjid) there is a huge mound
measuring
about 200m x 100m which might be a monastery site.
About 10 K.m. south of Telahara is a village called Ongar, in which there isa
splendid tank called the Suraj Pokhar. To the north of this tank, there is a
temple containing an images of Surya and Buddhist figure. About 4 k.m. of
Ongari, there remains of large village called Biswak & Biswa. Like Telhara,
this place is also mentioned as a pargana, which
according to the Ain-i-Akbar, once contained 35,318 bighas, which stretches
away as far as east bank of the Panchana. There are two enormous tanks to the
east of the village, and two mud forts of considerable size and antiquity.
Remains of Buddhist vihara is remarkable. Islampur is another important site
south-west of Telahara, from here also remains of another vihara has been
reported. Another site Icchos about 25 kms./South-West of Islampur was an important
Buddhist sites. A huge mound marking the site of temple or vihara is reported
at Mubarakpur South-West of
Icchos. Near this ruins, is a village known as
Afzalpur Sarunda covered with mud fortification and also a large tank from
where several Buddhist figures were found. Telhara or Teladhaka was one of the
monastic establishments most extensively describe by Heun-Tsang, who visited
India in the the 7th Century A.D. A large number of stone sculptures were
noticed by Broadley from Telahara. The famous
Maitreya and twelve armed Avalokiteswar image are at present displayed in the
Indian Museum Kolkata. Perhaps the best known Pala sculpture from
Telhara is now in Rietbarg Muzeum. Zurich. Even
today, many Buddhist as well as Hindu sculptures are found in the village
Telhara.
Telhara monastic site was first mentioned in 1872
by A M Broadley, the then Magistrate of Nalanda and letter on 1875-78 by
Alexander Cunningham. The excavation work on nearly 35' high Bulandi mound at
Telhara by a team of archaeologists of state Govt. unearthed the evidence of
three-storeyed structural remains, as mentioned by Huen T sang in his travel
account. Evidence of prayer hall and residential cells for monks in the
Monastery, have been found in course of the recent diggings. The recent
excavation work at the site was started in December 2009. Evidence of ancient
monastic structure has been discovered at the site within a short period of
excavation. The excavation has yielded a good number of antiquities besides
heavy structural remains as stated above. A fairly good number of pottery and
images belonging to Gupta age to later Pal period have been found. Digging have
also revealed a 34 meter long floor lined by a number of cells. The large floor
is dotted with a number of platforms with images of Buddha installed on them. A
-4' high blue basalt image of Buddha in Abhay Mudra another in Dharma Chakra
Mudra and miniature images like Hariti, Manjushri etc. have also been found on
the floor. It appears to be a prayer hall, mentioned
by the Chinease traveller. A stone plaque with 8
lines inscriptions in Proto-Nagari and a black colour terracotta seal have also
have been found on this floor. Another brick paved floor with a wall almost 12'
in height has been discovered below this prayer hall in eastern side. Above
this floor a well was found in which some broken images of Buddha have been
discovered. On the northern side of the mound two brick cells have been
unearthed with paved floor. After cutting the floor, a 4.25 mt. sand deposit
was noticed after that an exciting discovery was made by findings of N.B.P.
Black & Red ware. Another striking feature of the site is that lot of
inscriptions in Proto-nagri script were also found on potteries.
A small images of Buddha in red sand stone reveals
that this monastery was in existence during Gupta period. In course of further
excavation at the site we have come across with Gupta Age monastery. Nearly 60
mt. long brick wall of the monastry structure has been found at the depth of 8
mt. Below this wall another structure remains running in north-south direction
has been encountered.
A large number of antiquities, including the basalt
image of Yamantak, with seven faces and a stone figurine of Marichi have been
found. A unique piece of Terracotta seals with inscription having the symbol of
Chakra flanked by deer have been found indicative of monastic seals, besides
this more seals with inscriptions, on top of which are the symbol of bull &
lions are found. After decipherable of the seals, the date regarding monastery
remains can be determined with exact chronology of the site. However, during
the course of current excavation some copper coins have also been encountered.
Telhara Birth place of Dr.
Kaleem Aajiz
Telhara is a small village in the Hilsa subdivision of the Nalanda Dist. in Bihar. It is about 29 K.m. west of Nalanda, the Dist. headquarter. This place was visited by the Chinese traveller, Heun Tsang in the 7th Century AD., and it was mentioned as Teleadaka in his account. In course of excavation at the site a good number of Pala sculpture have been discovered including both Buddhist & Hindu deities. The site, under Turkish ruler became an important settlement of Muslims during medieval period. This place is also mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari as Tiladah and is shown as one of the 46 mahals of Sarkar Bihar. In the survey map prepared by the company administration in 1842-45 the Telahara had been mentioned as Pargana. Buchanan mentioned this village as an important estate of Bihar. There is a mosque towards the eastern side of the mound, It is said that the mosque was built with the materials carried from the ruins of the Buddhist monastry. It is mentioned that Bakhtiyar
Khilji during his conquest of Odantapuri moved south from Maner towards Tiladah. i.e. Telahara (The account in Minhaj's Tabqat-i-Nasiri). It is very possible that Bakhtiyar camped at Telhara before conquering Odantapuri. Adjacent to the mosque (Sangi Masjid) there is a huge mound measuring
about 200m x 100m which might be a monastery site. About 10 K.m. south of Telahara is a village called Ongar, in which there isa splendid tank called the Suraj Pokhar. To the north of this tank, there is a temple containing an images of Surya and Buddhist figure. About 4 k.m. of Ongari, there remains of large village called Biswak & Biswa. Like Telhara,
this place is also mentioned as a pargana, which according to the Ain-i-Akbar, once contained 35,318 bighas, which stretches away as far as east bank of the Panchana. There are two enormous tanks to the east of the village, and two mud forts of considerable size and antiquity. Remains of Buddhist vihara is remarkable. Islampur is another important site south-west of Telahara, from here also remains of another vihara has been reported. Another site Icchos about 25 kms./South-West of Islampur was an important Buddhist sites. A huge mound marking the site of temple or vihara is reported at Mubarakpur South-West of
Icchos. Near this ruins, is a village known as Afzalpur Sarunda covered with mud fortification and also a large tank from where several Buddhist figures were found. Telhara or Teladhaka was one of the monastic establishments most extensively describe by Heun-Tsang, who visited India in the the 7th Century A.D. A large number of stone sculptures were
noticed by Broadley from Telahara. The famous Maitreya and twelve armed Avalokiteswar image are at present displayed in the Indian Museum Kolkata. Perhaps the best known Pala sculpture from
Telhara is now in Rietbarg Muzeum. Zurich. Even today, many Buddhist as well as Hindu sculptures are found in the village Telhara.
Telhara monastic site was first mentioned in 1872 by A M Broadley, the then Magistrate of Nalanda and letter on 1875-78 by Alexander Cunningham. The excavation work on nearly 35' high Bulandi mound at Telhara by a team of archaeologists of state Govt. unearthed the evidence of three-storeyed structural remains, as mentioned by Huen T sang in his travel account. Evidence of prayer hall and residential cells for monks in the Monastery, have been found in course of the recent diggings. The recent excavation work at the site was started in December 2009. Evidence of ancient monastic structure has been discovered at the site within a short period of excavation. The excavation has yielded a good number of antiquities besides heavy structural remains as stated above. A fairly good number of pottery and images belonging to Gupta age to later Pal period have been found. Digging have also revealed a 34 meter long floor lined by a number of cells. The large floor is dotted with a number of platforms with images of Buddha installed on them. A -4' high blue basalt image of Buddha in Abhay Mudra another in Dharma Chakra Mudra and miniature images like Hariti, Manjushri etc. have also been found on the floor. It appears to be a prayer hall, mentioned
by the Chinease traveller. A stone plaque with 8 lines inscriptions in Proto-Nagari and a black colour terracotta seal have also have been found on this floor. Another brick paved floor with a wall almost 12' in height has been discovered below this prayer hall in eastern side. Above this floor a well was found in which some broken images of Buddha have been discovered. On the northern side of the mound two brick cells have been unearthed with paved floor. After cutting the floor, a 4.25 mt. sand deposit was noticed after that an exciting discovery was made by findings of N.B.P. Black & Red ware. Another striking feature of the site is that lot of inscriptions in Proto-nagri script were also found on potteries.
A small images of Buddha in red sand stone reveals that this monastery was in existence during Gupta period. In course of further excavation at the site we have come across with Gupta Age monastery. Nearly 60 mt. long brick wall of the monastry structure has been found at the depth of 8 mt. Below this wall another structure remains running in north-south direction has been encountered.
A large number of antiquities, including the basalt image of Yamantak, with seven faces and a stone figurine of Marichi have been found. A unique piece of Terracotta seals with inscription having the symbol of Chakra flanked by deer have been found indicative of monastic seals, besides this more seals with inscriptions, on top of which are the symbol of bull & lions are found. After decipherable of the seals, the date regarding monastery remains can be determined with exact chronology of the site. However, during the course of current excavation some copper coins have also been encountered.
Telhara is a small village in the Hilsa subdivision of the Nalanda Dist. in Bihar. It is about 29 K.m. west of Nalanda, the Dist. headquarter. This place was visited by the Chinese traveller, Heun Tsang in the 7th Century AD., and it was mentioned as Teleadaka in his account. In course of excavation at the site a good number of Pala sculpture have been discovered including both Buddhist & Hindu deities. The site, under Turkish ruler became an important settlement of Muslims during medieval period. This place is also mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari as Tiladah and is shown as one of the 46 mahals of Sarkar Bihar. In the survey map prepared by the company administration in 1842-45 the Telahara had been mentioned as Pargana. Buchanan mentioned this village as an important estate of Bihar. There is a mosque towards the eastern side of the mound, It is said that the mosque was built with the materials carried from the ruins of the Buddhist monastry. It is mentioned that Bakhtiyar
Khilji during his conquest of Odantapuri moved south from Maner towards Tiladah. i.e. Telahara (The account in Minhaj's Tabqat-i-Nasiri). It is very possible that Bakhtiyar camped at Telhara before conquering Odantapuri. Adjacent to the mosque (Sangi Masjid) there is a huge mound measuring
about 200m x 100m which might be a monastery site. About 10 K.m. south of Telahara is a village called Ongar, in which there isa splendid tank called the Suraj Pokhar. To the north of this tank, there is a temple containing an images of Surya and Buddhist figure. About 4 k.m. of Ongari, there remains of large village called Biswak & Biswa. Like Telhara,
this place is also mentioned as a pargana, which according to the Ain-i-Akbar, once contained 35,318 bighas, which stretches away as far as east bank of the Panchana. There are two enormous tanks to the east of the village, and two mud forts of considerable size and antiquity. Remains of Buddhist vihara is remarkable. Islampur is another important site south-west of Telahara, from here also remains of another vihara has been reported. Another site Icchos about 25 kms./South-West of Islampur was an important Buddhist sites. A huge mound marking the site of temple or vihara is reported at Mubarakpur South-West of
Icchos. Near this ruins, is a village known as Afzalpur Sarunda covered with mud fortification and also a large tank from where several Buddhist figures were found. Telhara or Teladhaka was one of the monastic establishments most extensively describe by Heun-Tsang, who visited India in the the 7th Century A.D. A large number of stone sculptures were
noticed by Broadley from Telahara. The famous Maitreya and twelve armed Avalokiteswar image are at present displayed in the Indian Museum Kolkata. Perhaps the best known Pala sculpture from
Telhara is now in Rietbarg Muzeum. Zurich. Even today, many Buddhist as well as Hindu sculptures are found in the village Telhara.
Telhara monastic site was first mentioned in 1872 by A M Broadley, the then Magistrate of Nalanda and letter on 1875-78 by Alexander Cunningham. The excavation work on nearly 35' high Bulandi mound at Telhara by a team of archaeologists of state Govt. unearthed the evidence of three-storeyed structural remains, as mentioned by Huen T sang in his travel account. Evidence of prayer hall and residential cells for monks in the Monastery, have been found in course of the recent diggings. The recent excavation work at the site was started in December 2009. Evidence of ancient monastic structure has been discovered at the site within a short period of excavation. The excavation has yielded a good number of antiquities besides heavy structural remains as stated above. A fairly good number of pottery and images belonging to Gupta age to later Pal period have been found. Digging have also revealed a 34 meter long floor lined by a number of cells. The large floor is dotted with a number of platforms with images of Buddha installed on them. A -4' high blue basalt image of Buddha in Abhay Mudra another in Dharma Chakra Mudra and miniature images like Hariti, Manjushri etc. have also been found on the floor. It appears to be a prayer hall, mentioned
by the Chinease traveller. A stone plaque with 8 lines inscriptions in Proto-Nagari and a black colour terracotta seal have also have been found on this floor. Another brick paved floor with a wall almost 12' in height has been discovered below this prayer hall in eastern side. Above this floor a well was found in which some broken images of Buddha have been discovered. On the northern side of the mound two brick cells have been unearthed with paved floor. After cutting the floor, a 4.25 mt. sand deposit was noticed after that an exciting discovery was made by findings of N.B.P. Black & Red ware. Another striking feature of the site is that lot of inscriptions in Proto-nagri script were also found on potteries.
A small images of Buddha in red sand stone reveals that this monastery was in existence during Gupta period. In course of further excavation at the site we have come across with Gupta Age monastery. Nearly 60 mt. long brick wall of the monastry structure has been found at the depth of 8 mt. Below this wall another structure remains running in north-south direction has been encountered.
A large number of antiquities, including the basalt image of Yamantak, with seven faces and a stone figurine of Marichi have been found. A unique piece of Terracotta seals with inscription having the symbol of Chakra flanked by deer have been found indicative of monastic seals, besides this more seals with inscriptions, on top of which are the symbol of bull & lions are found. After decipherable of the seals, the date regarding monastery remains can be determined with exact chronology of the site. However, during the course of current excavation some copper coins have also been encountered.
