Buddhist Rock Cut Cave Temple, Assam

Address

Buddhist Rock Cut Cave Temple, Dubapara, Assam 783101

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

The Buddhist rock cut cave temple is Located, about 12 km southeast of Goalpara town and about 136 km northwest of Guwahati, the ruins are significant yet relatively unknown archaeological site in Assam, India. This Buddhist rock cut cave temple is located inside the Surya Pahar hills. There are as many 25 votive stupas of different shapes and sizes spreading across the area on its northern side. Situated at higher altitudes, one requires climbing several stairs to reach these stupas. All the archaic stupa structures in Surya Pahar are examples of early Buddhist influence in the region dating as far back as the 1st century CE. The upper portion is semicircular with a flattened top. There are remains of square harmikas ( a small platform with a railing on top of a stupa) with spaces to support the chhatris, the crowning elements are however missing. In one area, find a huge granite boulder carved with three gigantic monolithic stupas in a row, facing the east. These are representative of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Puranic Significance

According to the Archaeological Survey of India, the archaic shape of the carvings shows that the stupas at Sri Surya Pahar were hewn during the Hinayana phase of Buddhism of early Christian era. An interesting feature of the stupa complex is that in the 9th-10th century A.D. the Pala Dynasty, when the area was pre-occupied by the followers of Hindu pantheons, attempts were made to carve Siva Lingas along with Younipith and channel spout on fallen boulders. Altogether half a dozen Siva Lingas exist there .