An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s19.t1.2

v1.c9.s19.t1.2

The only exception is the NĀLANDĀ monastic complex founded in the Gupta period, where we have clear evidence of well-built brick monasteries, *stūpas* and temples. The structures are massive by any standard and have been laid according to a well-drawn plan with separate monasteries, temples and *stūpas*. The plinth of a stone temple decorated with a number of relief sculptures shows the utilization of stone. The main temple, with stucco images in the well-built niches, add grace and beauty to the establishment. The ruins of a Viṣṇu brick temple at APHSAD, Dt Nawada, belong to the close of the 7th century at the time of Ādityasena. The plinth walls of the temple are decorated with stucco panels depicting the *Rāmāyaṇa* story in a clear sequence. As many as eight such panels *in situ* have been exposed on one side of the plinth wall and in style and treatment they are near the time of the NĀLANDĀ stuccos. With the 8th century, in the Pāla period, building activities appear to have made remarkable strides. While VAIŚĀLĪ, PĀTALIPUTRA, SONPUR and RAJGIR are almost blank after 600 years or even more. At NĀLANDĀ the period marks a glorious chapter for its massive structures laid in many cases on previous Gupta *stūpas*, temples and monasteries. The excavations at ANTICHAK, the site of the Vikramaśilā monastery, have revealed a *caitya*-cum-monastery broadly of the Paharpur type. The *caitya* has two circumambulatory paths one above the other and the walls are decorated with terracotta plaques, both sacred and secular. The method of construction is peculiar: two parallel brick walls were constructed at a distance from one another, and the intervening space was filled up with rammed debris and brickbats. And on the floor thus constructed, the same process was repeated finally leading to the drum of the *caitya*. On each of the four cardinal sides huge images (three of clay and one of stone) of Buddha or the Bodhisattvas were installed. There is also a large monastery, with hundreds of cells all around, and the entire complex was surrounded by a wall which had large gates supported on stone pillars. In massiveness it compares favourably with NĀLANDĀ though there are architectural differences. At CAMPĀ some brick walls of structures belonging to this period have been traced to some length. It appears that more attention was devoted to Buddhist monasteries than to secular buildings. The Khalimpur inscription of Dharmapāla (late 8th century) refers to the grandeur and prosperity of the great commercial city of PĀTALIPUTRA, but excavations in various localities of Patna have not corroborated it even partly. One thing, however, that should strike us is that in the mid-Ganga valley remains of numerous forts made of brick and brickbats belonging to the Pāla period exist at such places as INDPE, Dt Monghyr, Odantapurī, Dt Nalanda, Naula and Jaimangalgarh, Dt Begusarai, Katragarh, Dt Sitamarhi, etc. This may suggest a difficult political condition and disturbed law and order situation during the period.