An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.743

v2.c45.743

**Sirpur** (21°20'; 82°11'), Dt Raipur. Well-known for its 8th-century Brāhmaṇical temple, known as the Lakṣmaṇa Sirpur (Śrīpura) was the capital of the Pāṇḍuvamśī rulers of S. Kosala in the 6th-8th centuries. The existence of a large Buddhist establishment within 700 m of the temple was known long ago through the discovery of the head of a large Buddha image (*ASI—AR*, 7, p. 168) and the subsequent discovery of a hoard of Buddhist bronzes. The Buddhist remains were excavated by M.G. Dikshit on behalf of the Univ. of Saugar in 1954-56 (*IAR 1954-5*, p. 24; *1955-6*, p. 26), and thus a large monastic establishment was brought to light.