Vadnagar’s Link with Buddhism

In Context

• Recently, Prime Minister said that Vadnagar in Gujarat’s Mehsana district had been a great centre for Buddhist learning centuries ago.
  • There are relics being recovered from there and the excavation work is still on.

About Vadnagar 

• It is a small town in Mehsana district of north Gujarat.
• It is mentioned often in the Puranas and even in the travelogue of the great Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang (7th century), as a rich and flourishing town”. 

Vadnagar’s ties with Buddhism

• The Gujarat state archaeology department began excavations in Vadnagar in 2006.
• In 2014, the excavation work was taken over by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the combined efforts have thrown up Buddhist relics and around 20,000 artefacts, some dating back to the 2nd century.
• There is an elliptical structure and a circular stupa along with a square memorial stupa of 2×2 metres and 130 centimetres in height with a wall enclosure. 
• It is like a platform which has a chamber in the centre that resembles a pradakshina path.
• The bowls said to be used by monks have been found during the excavations, which have a terracotta sealing with inscriptions of namassarvagyaya and a face-shaped pendant with tritatva symbol.

• In Taranga, nearly 30 km from Vadnagar, the ASI has found around 64 natural rock shelters modified into a dwelling place for monks, around 40 votive stupa, a large stupa found on the top of a hill, and another six stupas found near Taran-Dharan Mata shrine.

• In another excavation site in Vihar village in Mansa taluka, temple remains dating back to 10th-11th century have been found.

Governments Efforts 

• The push for Vadnagar as a historical and cultural destination began during Narendra Modi’s time as chief minister, when the Gujarat government launched the Tana-Riri annual music festival at Vadnagar.
• The PM of India first mentioned the connection between Vadnagar and Buddhism in 2014 ahead of Chinese Premier Xi Jinping’s visit to Gujarat.
• The Ministry of Culture is helming a project along with the Gujarat government to develop Vadnagar as a “Landmark Heritage Destination”.

Source:IE