4/5 Latif Ur Rehman (. 1 year ago on Google
The
oldest
and
largest
Buddhist
complex
of
Dharmarajika
stupa
or
locally
known
as
Chir
Tope,
is
located
on
an
eastern
route
along
the
Tamra
stream,
south
of
Hathial,
about
three
kilometers
from
Taxila
Museum.
The
origin
of
the
name
Dharmarajika
lies
in
the
fact
that
the
stupa
was
erected
over
the
body
relics
of
Gautama
Buddha,
the
true
Dharmaraja.
Taxila
was
one
of
the
many
cities
in
the
Maurya
Empire
which
received
a
share
of
the
holy
relics
from
Ashoka.
The
Dharmarajika
Stupa
was
erected
by
Ashoka
himself
to
enshrine
the
relics
share.
The
Dharmarajika
complex
covers
almost
the
entire
period
of
the
history
of
Buddhism
in
Taxila
from
3rd
century
BCE
to
7th
century
CE.
The
main
stupa
was
constructed
during
the
Mauryan
period
but
suffered
after
an
earthquake
in
40
CE.
It
was
rebuilt
twice
in
the
Kushana
period.
The
whole
complex
at
the
Dharmarajika
falls
into
two
parts;
the
first
part
comprises
a
medley
of
constructions
of
several
types
and
is
called
the
stupa
area;
and
the
second
part,
which
is
located
to
its
north,
is
called
the
monastic
area.
The
main
stupa
is
built
in
a
circular
plan,
with
a
131
feet
wide
diameter
and
a
45
feet
high
drum.
The
stupa
is
constructed
in
solid
masonry
and
has
a
raised
terrace
around
its
base
which
was
ascended
by
four
flights
of
steps.
The
structure
is
surrounded
by
an
open
paved
passage,
which
served
in
ancient
days
as
a
procession
path.
The
courtyard
of
the
stupa
area
is
further
bordered
by
numerous
other
chapels
and
several
votive
stupas,
erected
by
the
pilgrims
and
visitors,
dating
from
1st
century
BCE
to
1st
century
CE
and
from
3rd
to
5th
century
CE,
respectively.
These
stupas
were
decorated
with
Buddha
images
and
figurines.
To
the
north
of
the
great
stupa
lie
the
monastic
area
which
formed
the
living
quarters
and
workspaces
for
monks.
Several
objects
have
been
excavated
from
Dharmarajika
Stupa,
all
of
which
have
been
preserved
and
displayed
at
Taxila
Museum.
Among
these
the
most
remarkable
finding
was
that
of
a
reliquary
in
one
of
the
side
chapels
containing
a
silver
scroll,
which
records
the
enshrinement
of
Buddha
relics
at
Dharmarajika
Stupa.
In
1917
a
casket
was
found
here
which
contained
the
relics
of
Lord
Buddha.
This
was
presented
by
the
then
viceroy
of
British
India
to
the
Buddhists
Community
of
Ceylon
and
has
since
been
enshrined
in
the
Temple
of
Tooth
at
Kandy
city
in
Sri
Lanka.
Dharmarajika
was
excavated
in
1912
-
1916
by
Mr.
Ghulam
Qadir
under
the
directions
of
Sir
John
Marshall
and
in
1934
-
1936
by
Mr.
A.D.
Siddiqui.
In
1980,
it
was
included
in
the
World
Heritage
List
by
UNESCO
for
having
cultural,
historical,
scientific
or
other
form
of
significance.
