Important Facts For Prelims
Second Tallest Statue of Gautam Buddha
- 13 Jan 2020
- 2 min read
- The world's second tallest statue of Gautam Buddha is proposed to be built in Dev Ni Mori, Sabarkantha district, Gujarat.
- The proposed statue (108m) would be second in the world after the Spring Temple in China (153 meters).
- Relevance of Dev Ni Mori
- Dev Ni Mori was excavated by the state archaeology department in 1953.
- The remains of a Buddhist monastery belonging to 3rd-4th century AD have been unearthed from Devni Mori.
- The most important discovery from the site however was a 1,700 year old casket which has bodily relics of Buddha.
- The inscription clearly mentions that the casket contains bodily relics of Buddha.
- The presence of a stupa and monastery has reconfirmed a strong presence of Buddhists in Vadnagar during the early centuries of Christian era.
- The recent excavations have brought to light a Buddhist Monastery belonging to the 2nd-7th century AD, within the fortified area of Vadnagar, Gujarat.
- The monastery had two votive stupas and an open central courtyard around which initially nine cells were constructed. The arrangement of cells around the central courtyard creates a swastika-like pattern.
Note
- The Statue of Unity is the world's tallest statue at 182 metres (597 ft) located in Narmada Valley Kevadiya, Narmada district, Gujarat.
