History

The Dathavamsa states that after the Mahaparinibbana of Lord Buddha, Arahat Khema gave Dantdhatu (Left Tooth Relic) of  Lord Buddha to Kalingaraja Brahmadatta. Brahmadatta named his capital Dantpur after making a place of worship on that Dantdhatu. Kashiraja; the son of Brahmadatta, Sunanda; the son of Kashiraja, and Guhashiva; the son of Sunanda, continued to worship Dantdhatu from generation to generation. Hemlata, the daughter of Guhashiva, was married to Dantakumar, a prince of Ujjain. Realising the lack of safety of Dantdhatu, Guhashiva sent his daughter Hemlata and Dantakumar with the Tooth Relic to Cylon through the port of Tamralipta.

The two major trans-regional routes of the Mauryan times were known as the Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha (these terms were also sometimes used to refer to regions). The Uttarapatha was the major trans-regional trade route of northern India. It stretched from the north-west, across the Indo-Gangetic plains, up to the port of Tamralipti on the Bay of Bengal. According to the Mahavamsa, Emperor Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Ceylon through the port of Tamralipta to spread Dhamma with a branch of the Bodhi Tree, the right eye-tooth relic and the right collar-bone of the Buddha at the invitation of Ceylon king Devanam Piyatissa. Tamralipti was an important Buddhist centre during the time of Emperor Ashoka.

Chinese traveller Fa-Hien recorded his travel, which is known as ‘Fo-ko-king’, he spent six years in India, the last two years (411–412 AD) of which he spent in Tamralipti. Where he has mentioned the existence of 22 Buddhist viharas with residing monks. Another Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang (638 AD), recorded his travels in ‘Si-Yu-Ki’. He saw 10 Sangharams with one thousand Buddhist monks at Tamralipti. He also has mentioned a Buddhist Stupa built by King Ashoka in that area and by the side of it are traces where the four past Buddhas sat and walked. But unfortunately none of these Monasteries could be discovered except the Monastery at Mogalmari. 

Mogalmari, an otherwise insignificant village on the south -west  border of Paschim Medinipur in West Bengal, which gained instant recognition with the unearthing of a Buddhist Monastery, dating back to the 6th century CE, believed to be the oldest historical site of the state, thus gaining an immense importance. The excavation opened a new chapter in the history of Bengal in general and that of  the roots of Buddhism in Bengal in particular. This Mogalmari was rediscovered by Prof. Asok Datta of Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta in course of his research project of Indigenous navigation and he took up the excavation of this site in 2003-04. But what people do not know is that site was first reported by the famous Nagendranath Basu during one of his surveys of  MAYURBHANJA District on the basis of which he wrote a book  called ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF MAYURBHANJA. He first reported the Mound of Mogalmari which is now well known as SakhisenarDhibi and for its associated archaeological features. Historians and researchers  assumed  that the  site was  a learning  centre of Sakhisena, the daughter of the feudal chief Bikramkeshari.  

After its rediscovery by Dr. Datta, who started excavation in 2003-04 and continued for six years till 2012.  The excavation unearthed the structural remains of two Monasteries, the first evidence of  this kind in any part of Bengal where we have two monasteries within a single premise covered by a common boundary wall and several Archaeological artefacts which are unique in themselves. On 7th March 2013, the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal designated Sakhisena Dhibias a state protected monument. The excavation is now going on at this site. Excavation unearthed a Buddhist Monastery, Votive Stupa & Votive Seal, Mixed metal coin of King Samachar Deva, Gold Pendent & Crown, Bronze images of Buddha, Bodhisattva & Buddhist goddess, decorated Stucco plaster wall & images, Seal & Sealings.

An interesting event occurred during the ninth phase of excavation (2015-2016). A three-day Buddhist Heritage Festival was organised from January 24 to 26, 2016, witnessing a convergence of Buddhist monks from different parts of the world at the site. While the monks chanted, ‘Buddham Saranam Gacchami…’,  the archeologists discovered 95 bronze images, out of which around 40 were of the Buddha! and others were of the Bodhisattva & Buddhist goddess. Out of the many archaeological sites across Bengal, Mogalmari is a vast site of Post Mauryan Buddhist settlement having a gigantic Buddhist monastery. It is one of the oldest Buddhist sites of Bengal.  Many more features could be unearthed in the course of further excavation. This could be treated as a fine model of a typical Buddhist monastery found in Bengal. 

The religious importance of this place is immense as this site reveals itself as an important seat of religious learning, inhabited by the monks in the pursuit of the path shown by the Buddha. This place has the aura of learning, discussing, chanting and simply the fact of residing by the learned and the knowledge thirsty individuals awaiting a noble goal. A rich museum displaying the priceless artefacts dug out of the vestiges of a once thriving centre of learning would add to the wider understanding of the place. This monastery did not stand in isolation. It was also connected to the other monasteries like Nalanda, Thakshashila (Taxila), Vikramashila, etc.

Very recently, some astonishing findings came to light through a research work, which previously suggested the existence of a Mahavihara at Mogalmari. But after a thorough and detailed interpretation from the inscription it was found that there were two major Learning Centres. The first was the Mahavihara called ‘Yajñapipdika mahavihara’, and the second one was ‘Mugalayika viharika’ by name.  It can be claimed that the name Mogalmari is most likely to come from the Moglayik Monastery. It is clearly established here that this area had already been a Buddhist centre. Because of its historical importance it is more expedient that Mogalmari was named after an important famous and eminent Buddhist figure. The name inscribed on the seal, found in the excavation itself makes it clear that this monastery may had been named after the famous monk Mahamoudaggalayana (Moggalayan) lived during the Buddha’s times or Mogliputttissa, the famous Buddhist monk of Emperor Ashoka’s period.  

On the other hand Anathapindaka was one of the richest merchants in the time of Gautam Buddha. His real name was Sudatta. He was the Buddha’s favourite disciples. He sacrificed everything for the propagation of Buddhism. His trade was conducted through the port of Tamralipta. He may have sponsored the construction of a monastery now excavated at Mogalmari village. There is a strong possibility that Anathpindaka has a relationship with ‘Yajñapipdika mahavihara’. That demand should be made clear after deciphering the monastery Seal. Since the huge area of Mogalmari is yet to be excavated, only after the complete excavation will the complete history of this ancient Buddhist region be revealed.

Bengal takes pride in unearthing and exposing her rich intellectual distant past in this representative great site called Mogalmari. Looking at the intriguing history of Mogalmari and its unique monastic culture, it is evident that the place has every possibility to become a tremendous attraction for Buddhist Tourists from all over the World. The place has already become an interesting Buddhist spot for Archaeologists and Historians. Further research and excavation can open a new chapter of Buddhist history in World. The place has all potentials to attract Buddhist tourists and researchers from all across the World, specially from nearby Buddhist countries.

Mogalmari Buddhist Site can easily attract a huge number of Buddhist tourists who visit India each year. The proximity of the place with Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport can easily bring Buddhist tourists from South East Asian countries. Tourists who travel along the existing Buddhist Tour Circuit can easily visit Mogalmari during the course of their pilgrimage tour. But for this to happen, Mogalmari must be published and promoted. So there is a need to develop a “Tamralipta, Mogalmari and Dantapur Buddhist Tour Circuit” and should be marketed widely in the Buddhist countries.  This circuit would cover the Buddhist places in West Bengal and Odhisa too, which once was part of Kalinga. Udayagiri, Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Pushpgiri were the Buddhist Places which flourished at the same time. These places too can be the part of this circuit, because they are not far from Tamralipta region.