The description has 16 places with some sacredness involved, and a structure big or small built over it. The structures are in straight row. For convenience we group the structures in two groups the one which are lofty as per Xuanzang and the rest can be safely assumed to be smaller structures of different proportions. Spots number 14, 16, 19 and 20 are the lofty structure as per Xuanzang’s “Travel” and 10, 13 & 14 are large structures as per the “Life”. The excavated site has exactly 5 remains which speak about its majesty at its prime i.e. during the Xuanzang’s visit.
click on the image to view largerIf we examine the two descriptions of Xuanzang we observe,
1. In “Travel”, Xuanzang mentions three spots in the south direction starting from “spot no 8”, and 5 spots from “spot no 14” in the north direction. A relation between the spot no 8 and spot no 14 is important link to ascertain the significance of excavated site “temple no 3”
2. In “life” the description of the temple row consists of spots north of Baladitya temple. We will have to establish a relation between the “spot no 14” of “Travel” and “Spot no 10” of “Life”
3. Not much description is available about the “8 halls” and “priests chambers” mentioned in “Life”. We will explore the possibilities.
For a conjecture plan of the Xuanzang description we will try to populate the descriptions which are mentioned in reference to great convent and then try to place the priests’ chambers and 8 halls.
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