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Jagjivanpur is situated at about 30 km from Malda town towards south
east on Habibpur Block. The discovery of a Copper Plate Charter of 9th
century in Malda has revealed that the Pala ruler Mahendrapala, who
claimed himself as the son and successor of Devapala, granted a piece of
land to Mahasenapati Vajradeva to build a monastery there.
The
archaeologists found five major mounds viz. Tulabhita, Akhridanga,
Nimdanga, Maibhita in and around the village of Jagjivanpur.
The most
significant findings from this site include a copper-plate inscription
of Pala emperor Mahendrapaladeva and the structural remains of a
9th-century Buddhist Vihara, Nandadirghika-Udranga Mahavihara. |
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During the excavation a brick-built monastery with its sanctum,
bastion-cum-cells, varandah, toilets, steps complex, well, courtyard,
entrance has been discovered.
The archaeologists claim that the monastery bears resemblance with the
great Vikramsila Mahavihara.
The importance of this site was first indicated by the chance discovery
of a copper plate inscription of the Pala emperor Mahendrapala on 13
March 1987 who was not known from any other sources till the date of
this discovery. Later, the excavation by a team of the Directorate of
Archaeology & Museums, West Bengal Government led by Sudhin De began in
1992 at Tulabhita mound, followed by an extensive excavation at the same
site in 1995-96 under the direction of Amal Ray of the same directorate.
The excavations resulted in discovery of a part of the brick built
Vihara, stupas, cells with corbelled niches, verandah and a large number
of antiquities, which include terracotta plaques, terracotta seals &
sealing, an inscribed potsherd, beads and other objects for daily use.
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