Deorkothar

INDIA, Madhya Pradesh, Rewa

This Buddhist complex is situated on the ancient southern trade route between Bharhut and Sanchi, two major Buddhist centers established in the 3rd century BCE. Based on excavation work carried out at the site, some archaeologists maintain that Deorkothar predates Sanchi. The remains were discovered in 1982, with further excavations carried out in 1999.
The site includes four brick stupas, 30 stone stupas, a water channel system, and an ancient pathway. Around the site there are 63 rock shelters used by monks as meditation cells. Many of these have artwork dated to the 1st century BCE. A sandstone pillar, which had been broken into more than 50 pieces, has a Dharma wheel depicted on the capital. There is a Brahmi inscription which refers to a teacher named Dharamdev and his three disciples, who erected the pillar in honor of the Buddha. A number of artifacts have been found at the site including fragments of a canopy, pieces of caskets, remnants of terracotta objects, beads, and coins. It has been suggested that Deorkothar may have been an active trade center or an early pilgrimage site.