 The ruins of Nandadirghi Mahavihara | |
  Nandadirghi Mahavihara Shown within West Bengal | |
| Location | Malda district,West Bengal,India |
|---|---|
| Region | Bengal |
| Coordinates | 25°02′33″N88°24′13″E / 25.042423°N 88.403634°E /25.042423; 88.403634 |
| Type | Mahavihara |
| History | |
| Founded | 9th century |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1995–1996, 1996–1997, 1997–98, 1998–1999 |
| Condition | In ruins |
| Ownership | Government of West Bengal |
| Public access | Yes |
Nandadirghi was a Buddhistmahavihara in ancient and medievalBengal.[1] Considered one of the centers of learning in ancient Bengal, it is located atJagjivanpur village, 41 kilometres (25 mi) east of present-dayMalda city by road. The almost square-style mahavihara, Nandadirghi, founded in the 9th century, a similar style was followed in otherviharas ofeastern India, such asLalitgiri in Odisha.
Nandadirghi was founded in the 9th century during the reign of thePala Empire. The mahavihara continued to flourish with the patronage of the rulers of the Pala Empire.
Nandadirghi Mahavihara is a Buddhist monastery complex. Located on the banks of the ancient Tongil River, it is considered one of the Buddhist-religious structures in Bengal.
The Nandadirghi is a combination of the open courtyard—the area surrounding the central building or monastery structure—and the courtyard planned at the center of the central structure. The open courtyard surrounding the central monastery structure was protected by a moat. Thevihara is oriented towards the east, and theVedi (altar) inside is also oriented towards the east and main entrance. The quadrangle of the structure has bastion-cum-cells, this type ofvihara design can also be observed inVikramashila Mahavihara. All these cells had access initially, but were later closed.[2]
Although its excavated ruins cover an area of only 9432 square meters today, the Nandadirghi Mahavihara occupied a much larger area during the medieval period.[3] The mahavihara complex was surrounded by a moat, the ditch of which is extant today. Most of the area of the complex is used as human settlement and agricultural land.[4]
The Mahavihara structure stands on a raised terrace within the compound. It consists of chambers andvedi withvarandas encircling a square courtyard. The structure has only one entrance, which is on the east side.[5] The chambers are unequal in size, measurements of the largest chamber—4 meters by 4.10 meters.[6]
The Mahavihara structure is almost square, and consists of a tower chamber at each corner of the exterior and a square courtyard inside.[7] The courtyard was surrounded by paths adjacent to thevaranda, which was constructed oftiles.[8] At the north-east corner of the courtyard is a circular structure, which is assumed by researchers to be a well. There are two staircases on the eastern and western sides of the courtyard, the staircase on the western side being larger in size. TheVeranda ofVihāra was 3 meters wide.
The main entrance faces the east, and the mahavihara has thevedi (altar) on the west. The entrance begins as a staircase on the outside, and is connected on the inside by two porchs—the front porch and the back porch. The porchs measure—10.20 meters in North-South and 3.50 meters in East-West. The front porch and the back porch were connected to each other by a 2 meter wide door.[5]