Matha Kunwar

Prominent among the archaeological finds is the statue of Buddha consecrated at the Matha Kunwar Shrine. This magnificent statue measures 3.05m in height dating back to 10th-11th century CE. It is carved out of a single blue stone from Gaya region depicting Buddha under the Bodhi Tree in the Bhoomi Sparsha Mudra. The existing shrine was constructed in 1927 CE to protect the image of Buddha. It is surrounded by ruins of monasteries, stupas and other Buddhist structures.

MATHA-KUAR SHRINE

THIS SHRINE WITH A COLOSSAL STATUE OF BUDDHA FORMS THE  PART OF A LARGE MONASTIC COMPLEX. THE STATUE, 3.05M. IN HEIGHT, IS CARVED OUT OF BLUE STONE OF THE GAYA REGION AND REPRESENTS BUDDHA UNDER BODHI TREE IN THE BHUMISPARSHA MUDRA(EARTH-TOUCHING ATTITUDE). THE INSCRIPTION ON THE PEDESTAL OF THIS IMAGE DATABLE TO 10-11^TH CENTUARY A.D. RECORDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHRINE BY A LOCAL KALACHURI CHIEFF.

THE EXCAVATIONS, CONDUTED IN 1876 A,D, BY CARALLEYLE AND LATER BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS REVEALED THE ORIGINAL SHRINE ON THE WEST WITH THE BUDDHA STATUE SURROUNDED BY AN AMBULATORY PATH AND A MONASTERY ATTACHED TO THE EAST CONSISITING OF AN OPEN COURTYARD WITH ROWS OF ROOMS ON NORTH, SOUTH AND EAST. THE EXIXTING TEMPLE HOUSING THE BUDDHA IMAGE WAS BUILT IN 1927 A.D.

THE ENTIRE COMPLEX ONCE FORMED PART OF A Large GROUP OF SUBSIDiARY MONUMENTS SURROUNDING THE MAIN STUPA AND NIRVANA TEMPLE.

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