Topic

BHARAT BHAYNA
Submitted to

Dr. Ashit Boran Paul (ABP1)

Lecturer, Department Of History and Philosophy
North South University
Submitted by

Section: 18

Name ID
MD. Jamiur Rahman Bhuiyan 1520813633

Md Maruf Hasan 1521207642

1|Page
 Table of contents
Introduction 3

Study area 4

a) Historic values 4

b) Archaeological, Architectural and 5

Aesthetic Values:

c) Social Value: 6

Previous works 6

a) Criterion 6

b) Integrity 6

c) Authenticity: 7

d) Protection and management 8

requirements:

Objectives 8

Methodology 9

Conclusion 9

References 10

2|Page
 Introduction
Bharat Bhayna, locally known as Bharater (Rajar) Deul, is said to be an early Buddhist
historical temple founded between the 5th and 6th centuries AD. According to historians and
archeologists, Bharat Bhayna had been under the soil for centuries. The Bangladesh
Department of Archeology excavated the mound for the first time in 1985. The work was
resumed in the 1995-96 season after a decade, and since then, up to 2000-2001, with the
exception of 1996-97, excavations have taken place every season. The work is not yet
completed.

The site is located in a remote village called Bharat Bhayna in Jessore's Keshabpurupazila. It
is believed that the temple in Naogaon is about 200 years older than PaharpurBoudha Bihar..
The site is covered by a fence designed by the Department of Archeology (DOA). The
monument's significance was first shared by archaeologist KN Dikhsit in the Archeological
Survey of India in 1922-23. Banglapedia, quoting Dikshit, said this was one of the 30
Sangharamas of Samatata mentioned by Hiuen-Tsang.

Ground plans of Bharat Bhayna

3|Page
 Study Area
Historic Values:

Under Gaurighona union,Agarhati Bharat Bhaina village is one of the well-known parts of
Keshabpur upazila because of Tidal river management . Also, no major move was taken in the
past to excavate to reveal its secret, archaeologists say. Bharat Bhayna sits on the western bank of
Buribhadra River flowing from south to north. The circumference at the base of the fairly conical
mound is about 250m. It is reported that a modem temple was built close to this mound by
removing large quantities of bricks from the latter. Some deep, irregular trenches near the crest
testify to the vandalism.

Some of the bricks here measure 16 inch*13inch*3inch, which bespeaks a high antiquity of the
stupa. Comparing with this dimension with the dimensions of bricks of known periods found in
the excavations at the Saheth–Maheth,. Yet it remains to be a little known archeological site
among the common people for a lack of publicity. Local people believe that it was built by the
surmised that the stupa at Bharat Bhayna dates back at least from Gupta period, roughly the fifth
century AD, said Dikhsit.

Architectural remains of Bharat Bhayna, Jessore

4|Page
Archaeological, Architectural and Aesthetic Values:

Of these few antiquities, fragments of two terracotta plaques deserve special mention due to
their huge dimension. One represents probably a female figurine along with her counterpart on
her proper right and a drummer on her left. Only lower portion of legs of the main figurines
and from leg to neck of drummer survive. The size of the existing portion' (55 ' 40cm) of the
main figurines indicates most probably the entire plaque was around 1.40 m tall and 96 cm
wide. The other terracotta fragment represents the middle part of a standing male figure
(probably) wearing decorated clothes. The fragmented portion measures 34 ' 27cm. It indicates
that the complete plaque might be around 1.5m tall. So it can be surmised that both the plaques
recovered from Bharat Bhayna are the largest plaques had ever been founded not only in of
Bangladesh but also in Eastern India.

A Terracotta Female Head

Social Value:
The supposed ancient temple is said to have been built by a mythical king named Bharat.
Remains of another ancient site locally known as Bharat Rajar Badi (house of king Bharat) are
located on the river Buri-Bhadra in the village of Gaurighona about 2 km south of this mound.
Another mound known as Dalijhara is located in the adjacent village of Kashimpur. Local
legends describe it as the residence of an official of that king.

5|Page
 Previous works
Criterion
The Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh first excavated the mound in 1985. The work was
resumed after a decade in the 1995-96 season, and since then excavations have been going on
every season upto 2000-2001 except 1996-97. The excavation work is not yet complete.

Intregity:
Bharat Bhayna was a high (12.20 m) extensive mound within a plain land before excavation
(Plate 107). The mound was badly damaged by brick hunters. Several structural remains of
bricks have been exposed in very much damaged condition through excavations (Plate 108).
The excavation work is not yet complete. However, these exposed structural remains (Plate
109) are sufficient to suggest that it is a shrine of cruciform floor plan (99.40 m × 95.40 m)
(Figure 24).57 The structure has a series of blind cells of different shapes.

Part of the temple before the recent excavation

The main structure is 11.88 m in height and gradually raised by cross walls of different
dimensions and orientation. The square cellular structure consists of four cells at the centre of

6|Page
the mound measuring 11.30 m × 11.30 m. There are three rows of blind cells surrounding the
central block. All together these cells create a rectangular shape with projected arms containing
3-4 cells that create the cruciform shape. At the base of the cruciform structure, there is a
pradakshina patha surrounding the cruciform configuration

Authenticity:
The authenticity of the property in terms of materials and substance and character has been
compromised by interventions, including consolidation, substantial repair and reconstruction
of the facial brickwork of the walls, which have prioritized presentation. Focus mainly on the
stabilization of the monument to ensure that it is preserved in its present form. To ensure that
authenticity is not further compromised, conservation policies need to be developed and
implemented, to ensure that structural conservation meets current standards and promotes the
use of traditional materials and local craftsmanship. On its south, an earthen walkway goes
deep inside the neighborhood while cropland and settlements occupy its western and northern
side. A fence constructed by the DoA keeps the site protected.

Protection and management requirements:

The whole complex lies within an area protected by the government and supervised regularly by
the local office. National legislation includes the Antiquities Act (1968, amended ordinance in
1976), Immovable Antiquities Preservation Rules, the Conservation Manual (1922) and the
Archaeological Works Code (1938).
Management and conservation of the World Heritage property and other related monuments in
the vicinity is the responsibility of the Department of Archaeology. Besides, for the regular
maintenance of the site, the responsibilities of the site management is carried by an office of
the custodian under the overall supervision of a regional director guided by director general of
the Department of Archaeology, People´s Republic of Bangladesh

7|Page
 Objectives
Historically and archaeologically Bharat Bhayana is very important. A number of explorations
had been conducted prior to every exploration. Some sites already have been excavated. To re-
explore the site found in former exploration and investigate new site is one of the main reason
of this selection. Using modern technology to analyze the material remains found in this
exploration to build real history of this area.

There are some objectives behind every exploration. People have conducted the exploration
work to fulfill some objectives. These objectives are:

 To identify new site in the selected area.

 To learn how to collect data-information as they are very new in this field.
 Recording the nature of the explored site.
 To understand the historical and archaeological importance of the sites.
 Seeking scope for further work on these sites.
 Finally, to publish an analytical report.

8|Page
Methodology

In this investigation a blended research approach has been utilized on the grounds that here both
subject and quantitative information have been gathered and examined.

A subject methodology has been utilized to investigate the general social examples Bharat bayna
on the ground that the subjective examination is especially reasonable mythology for managing
basic inquiries brought up in research period and improving the information base of different
perspectives

Additionally information has been gather through a wide range of locales and perception

For making this undertaking we utilized various locales books, web, news articles. As we couldn’t
gather information on account of time and separation limitations. We have finished the means of
gathering the optional information which are promptly accessible from different sources. We
gathered information from the source given below

 Articles (Daily Star)

 Wikipedia
 Bangla-pedia
 New Papers
 Books

Conclusion:
So, it can be surmised that both the plaques recovered from Bharat Bhayna are the largest
plaques had ever been founded not only in of Bangladesh but also in Eastern India. Since the
major portion of both the plaques is missing other features of these figurines could not be
examined. The Bharat Bhayana acted as a node, not only for Historical evidence, but also for
transfer of architecture and esthetic ideas across Asia

9|Page
References:
1. Rahman, M., Zulkernine, S. M., & Hasan, M. A. A. (n.d.). ASW Kurny. Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Archaeology_of_Bangladesh.

2. Bharat Bhayna, an archaeological site in south-western Bangladesh. (n.d.). Retrieved

from http://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/75980.

3. Bangladesh, T. to. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tourtobangladesh.com/Monuments-

Bharat-Bhayana-Jessore.php.

4. Bharat Bhayna, an archaeological site in south-western Bangladesh. (n.d.). Retrieved

from http://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/75980.

5. Bangladesh, T. to. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tourtobangladesh.com/Monuments-

Bharat-Bhayana-Jessore.php.

6. Bharat Bhayna, an archaeological site in south-western Bangladesh. (n.d.). Retrieved

from http://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/75980.

7. EXPLORE THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS - SEE BANGLADESH. (n.d.).

Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/mzfmis1052/explore-the-archaeological-
wonders.

10 | P a g e