Takht-e-Bhai the buiddist Monastery in Mardan:
The ostentatious structure and imposing relics of the Buddhist Monastery in takht-i-bhai (throne of origin) has captivated a large number of local archaeologist Buddhist Chinese students and other students who have flicked to see the takh-i-bhai Buddhist site which dates back to early 1st century AD.
History Takht Bhai:
Takht-i-bai is located in Gandhara, as a most
important site of Buddhism. Takht-i-Bai was a first center of Zoroastrianism,
while Zoroastrianism has survived into the modern period, particularly in
India, where it has been present since about the 9th century. "Ancient
semi-dualistic monotheist religion of Greater Iran", but after the arrival
of Buddhism it was converted into center of Buddhism.
Decline of old years,
and new beginning of takht bai: Most of the Sassanid Empire was overthrown by
the Arabs over the course of 16 years in the 7th century. Although the
administration of the state was rapidly Islamicized and subsumed under the
Umayyad Caliphate, in the beginning "there was little serious
pressure" exerted on newly subjected people to adopt Islam, its make a new
beginning of the takhth bai.
The discovery of
ancient artifacts, near Mardan in caves, proof the existence of civilization of
stone age, the artifacts are almost 15000 to 18000 year old. The region shows
the influx of Asian culture in "Bronze era", which is so promising
that these people ruled this land from many years, many evidence are being
provided but still not proof the extent of the great gandhara civilization. The
Gandhara was officially known in extended area in era of Archemenian Empire,
the Perisan great empire. In the era of Cyrus the great (558-28 BCE) it
was well known pilgrimage of Buddhism. The historical based year for Gandhara existence is Mid 1st millennium BC to the beginning of 2nd millennium.
Takht-i-Bhai Meaning:
Takht-i-bhai or Takh Bay rare known a s station s a pathian archaeological site in Mardan, KP, Pakistan. It was 1st a Zoroastrian complex which come after the arrival of Buddhism was then converted into Buddhist Monastic complex it is found in 1st century BCE. It was lasted as UNESCO world heritage site in 1980. The word Takht-i-Bhai may have different explanations in Avestan Takht mean capital and bhai means Good so the whole word means Good Capital. In other things Takht means Throne and Bhai means Water or Spring in Persian.
Gandhara Ancient name:
The name of Gandhara
have many meanings, but the most promising theory relevant to the name is the
word "Qand or Gand, evolved from pool or well of water, many names are
appeared with other places name relevant to the water, three of them is (water
mount). Tashkand (Stone walled pool) and Yarkand.x The reason for these names
is that the region is quite rich in water supplies; especially around Peshawar.
Empire ruled over
takht Bai in Gandhara region:
Achaemenids
"First Persian Empire, was an empire based in Western Asia, founded by
Cyrus the Great,"(~600-400 BCE)
Greeks "Bacterian
rule were power over the region for many years until khushans (~326-324 BCE),
Mauryans " Iron
Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Maurya dynasty from 322–185
BCE." (~324-185 BCE),
Indo-Greeks (~250-190 BCE),
Scythians (~2nd
century to 1st century BCE),
Parthians "After
the great perisan empire, Parthians dominated the region (~1st century BC to
1st century CE),
Kushans "In the
Golden age of khushans Gandhara floruished(~1st to 5th century CE),
White Huns
"Dominated for some time" (~5th century CE)
Hindu Shahi " The
Shahi rulers of Kapisa/Kabul who ruled Afghanistan from the early 4th century
till AD 870 Shahi were also known by "Brahmana Hindu"(~9th to 10th
century CE).
Fact: When the Sassanian were defeated by the Muslim Arabs in 644 C.E., Gandhara along with
Kabul was ruled by Buddhist Turks.
Artifacts:
In the nineteenth
century, British soldiers and administrators started taking interest in the
ancient history of the Indian Subcontinent. In the 1830s, coins of the
post-Ashoka period were discovered and in the same period Chinese travelogues
were translated. Charles Masson, James Prinsep, and Alexander Cunningham
deciphered the Kharosthi script in 1838.
Influence over gandhara:
As a result of
long periods of cross-cultural fertilization and dialogue, the various Kingdoms
of Gandhara became centers of learning and education in the ancient world. In
particular, Gandhara was noted for its distinctive Gandhāra style of Buddhist
art, a consequence of merger of Greek, Syrian, Persian, and Indian art
traditions
Jewish king Afghana in
the Gandhara near takhth bai: Afghana or Avagana born in 1000 BC
according to common folklore, Afghana is considered in old Asian folklore a
tribal chief or prince of Bani Israel (Israelite) origin and back then for
India a Jewish King of Gandhara. He was either buried or his ashes were burned
in
Gandhara or Ghor.
The Destruction by White Huns and flourishing
of Buddhism:
The Kidarites managed to maintain strong hold
over the region, carrying on the traditions of their predecessors the Kushans
up to the middle of the 5th Cent CE when the White Huns, invaded the region. As
Buddhism and by extension the Gandhara culture was already at an stronger by
this time, the invasion caused both physical destruction and, due to the Huns
adoption of the Shivite faith cause the Buddhism to boost in the region, while
on the another hand there was the existence of Great Gupta Empire, which was
already immersed in Buddhism.
Geological
Locations of Buddhist Monastery in Mardan:
The north western frontier province (NWFP) (now renamed kyber pakhtunkhwa k.p) has
been I vastly bestowed with various precious
resources such as snow covered mountains,
thick forests, gas resources, vast gemstone deposits and other minerals . Mardan the kp second largest city after Peshawar
is called the land of gandhara as it was the heart of of the ancient civilization.
The takht-i-bhai archaeological site is
one of the most significant amazing site in Pakistan .it is situated on the Mardan-swat
road some 13kilometers north of the city the that-i-bhai site is located 2 km
east of takht-i-bhai bazaar , this Buddhist complex stands 500 feet above the ground
.
Nearby Places:
The
village of “thordher” (old name said ghani kalae ) “ghafe, lundkhwar, shergarh,
sarooshah,sehri-bahlol,pathai mazdoorabad ,fazle-e-abad
,gangai,hathian,pirsaddiand takkar” are other historical places in the vicinity
of takht bhai. This Buddhist monastery is situated on takht-i- bhai.
Sahri-i-bahol:
The second component the neighboring city remains
at sahr-ibablol is located approximately 5 km
away
in a fertile plain . the sahri-bahlol ruins are the remnants of a small ancient
fort.
Field town of the kushan period. The town is
set on an elongated mound up to 9 meters high and
surrounded by
portions of the first two or three centuries AD. The area covered is 9.7
hectares.
Strong building and structure:
takht-i-bai building is
still believed to be strong, and can maintain for many years.
A person who found his
fortune: There is old tail that once a time there was a poor person, ruled by a
tyrant business owner. A day came when he found his fortune, due to the hidden
wealth of takht bai.
Famous thing of takht-i-bai: The most famous thing of takht-i-bai is "Kabbab and sugarcane, while
kabbab is a dish from Arabs land.
Structure:
There are four main areas of the takht-i-bhai complex
The stupa court, a cluster of stupa located in the central
courtyard.
The monastic chambers, consisting of individual cells
arranged around a courtyard assembly halls and a dining area.
A temple complex consisting of stupa, and same like to the stupa court,
but of later construction
The Antarctic monastic complex , which consist of small ,
dark cells with law openings which may have been used for certain forms of
Antarctic mediation.
The historical site is an archaeological wonder consider to be significant because of its unique design the architecture design of Buddhist Monastery is liked Italian architecture designing. The valley and houses are made of stones in that time in the of Italian architecture designing.
Frontier Sugar Mill Takht-i-Bhai (1939):
A sugar mill was build in
takht-i-bai area, which was second largest sugar mill in khyber pakhtunkhwa
"KPK". The sugar mill was closed due to the high taxation, and
shortage of Electricity While Pakistan is still facing the shortage of
Electricity it is being believed that the shortage will last until 2019 because
Pakistan is building Nuclear reactors. The closing of sugar mill caused many
problems "financially and socially". The ANP government was also
failed to solve this problem, but due to lacks of spirit and concentration, ANP
government almost failed the project forever.
Museums:
In 1907-1908 the curator
of Peshawar muses “Dr. DB Spooner” systematically 1910-11 “Mr. Hargeaves”
another curator discovered the famous and thin Siddhartha in three parts a large
number of stone and stucco sculptures have been excavated since then which are
now on display in Peshawar and Mardan museums many however were wasted due to which are
stolen. According to 2008 many precious things of gandahara were put in Mardan museum
in their government of (Awamy national party).
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