An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.331

v2.c45.331

From 1907 and sporadically thereafter J. Marshall and other officers of the ASI continued excavations at Sarnath (*ASI—AR 1906-7*, p. 68; *1907-8*, p. 43; *1914-5*, p. 97; *1919-20*, p. 26; *1921-22*, p. 42). The Dharmarājikā Stūpa was found to have a circular base made of wedgeshaped bricks and to have undergone enlargements several times afterwards, the last integument being of the 12th century. Among other structures was a brick temple, the Main Shrine, probably representing the ruins of the 60 m high Mūla-gandha-kuṭī, raised on the spot where Buddha had resided and which had been seen by Hiuen Tsang. It dated from Gupta times and had rectangular chapels on three sides of the square base, the fourth having steps leading to the shrine. The long passage leading to the shrine from the gate has rows of votive *stūpas*. The monasteries, ranging in date from the 4th-5th to the 12th centuries, conform to the general plan of this class of buildings [14.12], but unlike NĀLANDĀ they are not arranged in a row.