An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c44.84

v2.c44.84

**Rajbaridanga**, Dt Murshidabad, on the Bhagirathi, one of the series of mounds near Chiruti, a railway station on the Howrah-Farakka line, about 12 km s.-w. of Murshidabad, the findspot of many stone sculptures and coins, the mounds provisionally identified as Raktamṛttikā monastery seen by Hiuen Tsang in the 7th century near the capital of king Śaśāṅka. Apart from many previous explorations one of the mounds, Rakshasidanga, was excavated in 1929-30 by K.N. Dikshit of the ASI who found Buddhist relics there (*ASI—AR 1929-30*, p. 143). The Dept of Arch., Univ. of Calcutta, extensively excavated Rajbadidanga in 1962 and onwards and brought to light structural remains, largely disturbed by brick-robbing, divisible into three Pds: Pd I, *c.* 2nd-3rd century to 4th-5th century; Pd II, *c.* 5th-6th to 9th-10th century, overlying a deposit of silt; and Pd III, 9th-10th to 12th-13th century. Of these Pd II is rich in cultural equipment and is distinguished by a large number of sealings [3.2], one class of which gives the name of Rakta-mṛttikā-mahā-vihāra, thus confirming the identification of the ruins with the establishment of that name seen by Hiuen Tsang. While no complete plans are available, that the structures belong to a Buddhist establishment is obvious. The pottery of Pd I is relatively crude but that from Pd II is polished and fine. Other objects include terracotta figurines, handmade and moulded, handmade animal figurines coming from Pd I. Ornamental stucco mouldings including human heads come from Pd II. Bangles and rings of copper/bronze and an eight-spoked *cakra* on a floral pedestal of the same material, iron objects like nails, knives, a nutcracker and a chisel and shell bangles constitute the other reported finds. A solid deposit of burnt wheat and rice in a granary is noteworthy.