Bharatwiki Socrates at 01:25, 14 January 2024

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{{short description|Archaeological site in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}

{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Deur Kothar
| image = Ancient Stupa East Deur Kothar MP Jan24 A7C 08870.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption = Stupa at Deur Kothar
| map_type = India
|relief=yes
| map_size = 250
| location = {{flag|India}}
| coordinates = {{coord|24.932388|81.663045|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]]
| rite =
| region =
| state = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| province =
| territory =
| prefecture =
| sector =
| district = Rewa
| cercle =
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| status =
| functional_status = Preserved
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[[File:Recent Stupas South Deur Kothar MP Jan24 A7C 08859.jpg|thumb|Reconstructed stupas at Deorkothar]]
[[File:Deorkothar painting.jpg|thumb|Rock paintings in caves at Deorkothar]]
'''Deorkothar''' ([[Devanāgarī]]: also '''Deur Kothar''') is a location of [[archaeological]] importance in [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Central India]]. It is known for its [[Buddhist]] [[stupa]]s and was discovered in 1982.These stupas are credited to the [[Mauryan]] emperor, [[Ashoka]].

==The discovery and excavations==
P.K. Mishra ([[Archaeological Survey of India]]) discovered Deorkothar in 1982 along with Ajit Singh, [[sarpanch]] of village Barhat. It was declared a monument of national importance in 1988 by the Govt of India and is being preserved and conserved by Archaeological Survey of India, [[Bhopal]].<ref name=MishraCIAA2001>{{Cite journal |last=Mishra |first=P.K. |date=June 2001 |title=Excavations at the Buddhist site of Deorkothar, Madhya Pradesh, India |url=http://mc.dlib.nyu.edu/files/books/isaw_ciaa000013/isaw_ciaa000013_lo.pdf |journal=Circle of Inner Asian Art Newsletter |issue=13 |pages=3-13}}</ref>

Realising the importance of the site, and its likely international bearing on Buddhism, the Archaeological Survey of India decided to carry out extensive, but controlled, excavations at the site. The excavations were started at the site in 1999 and continued up to 2000. The site is marked by four stupa mounds built out of brick out of which two stupas No. 1 and 2 were subjected to archaeological excavations. Stupa no. 1 is about {{cvt|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} high. There are remnants of 30 stupas made of stones or bricks. In the surrounding area there are 63 rock shelters with old [[rock painting]]s. Some rocks have [[inscription]]s in [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]] language.<ref name=MishraCIAA2001 />

==Deorkothar inscription==
The six line [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]] [[inscription]] on the Deorkothar pillar is considered to be the earliest evidence of the historic Buddha.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170523093259/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=165331 Deur Kothar, the earliest evidence of Buddhism, The Island, May 19, 2017 ]</ref> It is given below, transliterated into [[Devanagari]] script.<ref>P.K. Mishra: Deorkothar (Barhat), Rewa, A Unique, Recently – Excavated Buddhist Site in Central India; Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal.</ref>
<poem>
भ ग व तो बु ध
उ त र मि त्रो उ त र मि त्र स अ
भ ड्‍ भ ड्‍ स आ ते वा सि ना दि नु
उ पा स क स आ ते वा सि स व ज य स व
ध म द वे न के क डी के न ब स ति ये
उ स पि तो भं भो आ आ च रि ये न क सि </poem>

The [[inscription]] mentions [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] on the first line. The gist of the inscription, pertains to the erection and dedication of stone pillar by an unnamed [[Upasaka]] and his disciples in memory of the Buddha, the enlightened one. The inscription speaks about an [[Acharya]], named Dharamdev, and his three disciples – Uttarmitra, [[Bhadra]] and [[Upasaka]], who used to reside in the monastery. They installed this pillar, dedicating it to the Buddha.

==See also==
* [[Decline of Buddhism in India]]
* [[Buddhism in India]]
* [[Buddhist architecture]]
* [[Bharhut]]
* [[Sanchi]]
* [[Bharhut#Recently found Buddhist remains in region near Bharhut and Sanchi|Recently found Buddhist remains in region near Bharhut and Sanchi]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2003/ffeb2003/f040220031.html DEORKOTHAR : A MILESTONE OF HISTORY, Dr. P.K. Mishra]
*[https://www.discover.com/issues/jul-01/rd/breakbuddha/ The Buddha Bounces Back By Eric Powell: DISCOVER Vol. 22 No. 07 | July 2001]{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buddhist temples in India]]
[[Category:History of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Mauryan art]]
[[Category:Stupas in India]]
[[Category:Rewa, Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Rock shelters]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Rewa district]]

Deorkothar - Revision history

Bharatwiki Socrates at 01:25, 14 January 2024