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                                      Vasu Vihar

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Vasu Vihar is another ancient Buddhist heritage situated nearly six kilometers to the west from Mahasthangarh. After this Vasu Vihar village, the village Bihar is situated. Famous Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang (mid part of the 7th century) described in his travel account that he saw a “Po‐shi‐po” monastery four miles away from Mahasthangarh. Sir A. Cunningham definitely marked Vasu Vihar as the remains of “Po‐shi‐po” Vihar. Hieun Tsang descrideb this temple a famous one for its area, hight etc. At least seven hundred monks of Mahayana tradition stayed in this monastery and many scholar monks and intellectuals would assemble here.

A bit far away from this monastery, Emperor Ashoka built up a stupa in a place where Buddha explained his teachings to the gods and goddesses. Very near to that place there was a rest house for Buddha. Still there is a footprint of Buddha. Hieun Tsang also described that a bit far away there was a statue of Avalokiteswar. It would express divine power by its extra mundane events. But there is a controversy about the location of Ashoka Stupa. According to Cunningham at Vasu Vihar Village “The Narapatir Dhap” bears the testimony of the remains of Ashoka Stupa.

Cipon Barua