GOL PATHAR CHOWK, GAYA AND ITS RELATION WITH THE ASHOKAN PILLAR AT MAHABODHI TEMPLE COMPLEX

Sujata Stupa or Sujata Garh, Bodhgaya 

Many of us from Gaya might have visited Gol Pathar chowk or are aware of it. I have always been curious why it has been named so. There is nothing 'Gol' (round) at the chowk. Here is the answer.

 

Mr. Boddam, a British officer at Gaya was in search of good quality red burnt brick for the construction of his bungalow in Sahibganj at Gaya. This led him to visit Bakraur, where he found a large heap of bricks covered with mud. He procured many bricks from the site for his building at Gaya. While digging for the bricks, he found an Ashokan Pillar which was round in shape and hollow. He transported the piller to Gaya and erected it in Sahibganj area at a prime location (at a road intersection). Due to the round shape of the pillar erected at the intersection, it came to be known as Gol Pathar Chowk.

 

Ashokan Pillar At Mahabodhi Temple Complex

Later, when Cunningham as the first DG of ASI started excavation and research at Bodhgaya, it was found that the heap of the brick in mound shape was a stupa dedicated to Sujata named as Sujata stupa.

 

Since the Ashokan Pillar has its Buddhist origin it was later transferred from Gaya and erected in Mahabodhi Temple complex near Muchalinda Sarovar. From then the pillar is intact in the Mahabodhi campus.


Author: Abhishek Kumar, Dated 15th day of January 2022.

Copyright @ Abhishek Kumar

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