Buddha temple find sheds light
on life 2 millennia ago
ABC ONLINE 30/5/2002
Archaeologists in eastern India have discovered the remains of an ancient temple where the
Buddha used to preach.
The discovery of the 2,000-year-old shrine at Shravasti, the capital of the ancient Koshal
kingdom in what is now Uttar Pradesh state, was reported by a team from the state
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Birendra Nath, a superintending archaeologist of the ASI, says the find has shed light on
life at the time of the Buddha two millennia ago.
He says the Buddha stayed for four months at Shravasti and delivered most of his sermons
there.
"The excavation sites have unveiled one of the most important cities of ancient India
called Shravasti, which was the capital of the Koshal kingdom of King Premjit - a
contemporary of Lord Buddha," Mr Nath said.
He says the Shravasti site was first identified by Sir Alexander Cunningham, a British
archaeologist, in 1861.
A large number of terracotta earthenware, human figurines, beads, plaques, seals, copper
and silver coins and objects of bone and ivory were discovered.
Mr Nath says the temple hints at the existence of a well-planned town with good drainage
and brick-layered wells.
The Buddha, an Indian prince born as Gautama Siddharta, is believed to have lived from
about 563 BC to 483 BC.
END OF REPORT
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