THARU DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA : LAURIA-NANDANGARH OF WEST CHAMPARAN (BIHAR)

Sunday, June 23, 2013

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA : LAURIA-NANDANGARH OF WEST CHAMPARAN (BIHAR)

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA :

LAURIA-NANDANGARH OF WEST CHAMPARAN(BIHAR)

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Lauriya Nandangarh is a town located 28 km northwest of Bettiah, the headquarters of West Champaran district of Bihar. Lauriya derived its name from a pillar (Laur) of Mauryan emperor Ashoka, which is located here. Nandangarh is the name of a mound, situated 2 km to the south-west of the Ashoka Pillar. According to many historians, as many as forty pillars were constructed in Lauriya Nandangarh by Ashoka. In the present time, there is only one pillar at this site, which stands in its complete form.

LAURIA

Less than half a kilometer from the village Lauria & 2 KM from the Nandangarh mound stands the well-known pillar of Ashoka. It is a single block of polished sandstone over 32 feet (10 m) high. The top is bell shaped with a circular abacus ornamented with Brahmi geese supporting the statue of a lion.

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The pillar is inscribed with the edicts of Ashoka in clear and beautifully cut characters. The lion has been chipped in the mouth and the column bears the mark of time just below the top which has itself been slightly dislodged. Signs of vandalism over the years are clearly visible.

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

NANDANGARH

Lauriya Nandangarh is also a location for about 20 archaeological mounds arranged in three rows. The excavation of Nandangarh, an 82-feet high mound, yielded the remains of a huge Stupa, which had a circumference of about 1500 ft near the base.

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The discovery of this Stupa has brought to light number of stone beads, terracotta figures, punch marked cast coins, which prove that it was constructed during 2nd century AD. It is believed that the Stupa enshrines the ashes of Lord Buddha.