Tapodarama in due course of time was adopted by the popular religion of the time, Hinduism and transformed into a centre of Hindu pilgrimage as the Laxmi Narayan Temple. As with the many other places of the region, the sacredness of the place was maintained although the identity of the place was revamped, the number of Sadhu and devotees taking early morning bath here never declined and a typical start of a usual winter morning still lives on just like 2500 hundred years ago when the Buddha and his monks followed this ritual.
The physical clues provide an insight into the religion but the words and stories that have filled in the gaps are from the prevalent religion, after so many years of convolution, it is tough to segregate where one ends and the other starts. The stream from the hot springs is called Vaitarni and makes a gully through the middle of Veluvana. These days the water from the stream is put to use for irrigation further south but at the time of the Buddha when the population density did not demand so, the stream must have been a source of water for the monks residing at the Veluvana. There are some more Buddhist remains close to the Hot water springs but the story that connects it the Tapodarama is lost. The popular Octagonal basalt stone platform with foots prints indicate a strong tie to the Buddhist past but some Hindu structures have been built over the remains further making it impossible to decipher the clues. The bricks and Chuna-shurkhi floorings are also very ancient and could be from Pala or Gupta period.
Next Post : Medicinal value of Hot Springs
Nothing has changed since the time of Buddha the place is still …….Holy dip in the Brhamkund
The physical clues provide an insight into the religion but the words and stories that have filled in the gaps are from the prevalent religion, after so many years of convolution, it is tough to segregate where one ends and the other starts. The stream from the hot springs is called Vaitarni and makes a gully through the middle of Veluvana. These days the water from the stream is put to use for irrigation further south but at the time of the Buddha when the population density did not demand so, the stream must have been a source of water for the monks residing at the Veluvana. There are some more Buddhist remains close to the Hot water springs but the story that connects it the Tapodarama is lost. The popular Octagonal basalt stone platform with foots prints indicate a strong tie to the Buddhist past but some Hindu structures have been built over the remains further making it impossible to decipher the clues. The bricks and Chuna-shurkhi floorings are also very ancient and could be from Pala or Gupta period.
Ancient remains south of Hot water springs
The chuna surkhi base of the modern temple south of hot water springs
The saraswati/vaitarni river course recently …earth work done..
Rich pottery from very ancient period found around saraswati river bed
Next Post : Medicinal value of Hot Springs
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