Takht bahi-Buddhist monastic complex

Takht Bahi (or Takhtbai or Takht-i-Bahi) is a Buddhist monastic complex dating to the 1st century BCE. The complex is regarded by archaeologists as being particularly representative of the architecture of Buddhist monastic centers from its era. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

Takht means "throne" and bahi, "water" or "spring" in Urdu. The monastic complex was called Takht-i-Bahi because it was built atop a hill watered by a spring.

It is located about 15 kilometers from Mardan in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province.^[1] A small fortified city, dating from the same era, sits nearby. The ruins also sit near a modern village known by the same name.

Structure

There are four main areas of the Takht Bahi complex:

• The "Stupa Court", a cluster of stupas located in a central courtyard.
• The monastic chambers, consisting of individual cells arranged around a courtyard, assembly halls, and a dining area.
• A temple complex, consisting of stupas and similar to the Stupa Court, but of later construction.
• The monastic complex, which consists of small, dark cells with low openings, which may have been used for certain forms of Tantric meditation.

Additional structures on the site may have served as residences or meeting halls, or filled secular purposes. All of the buildings on the site are constructed from local stone, and are mortared with lime and mud.

History

The monastic complex likely was founded in the early 1st Century BCE.Despite numerous invasions into the area, Takht Bhai's hilltop location seems to have protected it from destruction, unlike many comparable early Buddhist monastic complexes. The complex was occupied continuously until the modern era, when charitable funding for the site ended.

Archaeologists have divided the history of the complex at Takht Bhai into four periods, beginning in the 1st Century BCE. This first era continued until the 2nd Century CE, and is associated with the Kushan king Kanishka, as well as early Parthian and later Kushana king. The second construction period, which included the creation of the Stupa Court and assembly hall, took place during the 3rd and 4th Centuries CE. A third construction period, associated with the later Kushan dynasty and the Kidara Kushana rulers, occurred during the 4th and 5th centuries. The final construction period, which saw the creation of the so-called Tantric complex, took place in the 6th and 7th Centuries CE, and was overseen by invading Hun rulers.

The first moder historical reference to these ruins was made in 1836 by the French Officer, General Court. Explorations and excavations on this site began in 1864. The site underwent a major restoration in the 1920's.

Nearby Localities

The villages of Lund Khwar, Sher Garh, Charsadda Sehri-Bahlol and Takkar are other historical places in the vicinity of Takht-Bhai. Takkar is a historical village. Sardar Ali Takkar, a well known pashtu-language singer, was born in the village of Takkar. Takhtbai contains the remains of Buddha which has not been properly excavated. The word "Sehri-Bahlol" has been explained by various people in different ways. The local people, claim that this is a word of Hindi Language and means "Sir Bahlol", a prominent political and religious leader of the area. However, the name is not as old as the village of Sehri-Bahlol. The village is located on hillack surrounded by lush green fields where the local people practice agriculture. Economically people are poor with low literacy rates. The local people continue illegal excavation in their homes and land, damaging the historical monuments. Some of the local dealers of antiques misguide the local population and instigate them to involve them in illegal excavation. It requires national and international attention to preserve the remnants at Sehri-Bahlol.