The monastery or Sangarama exposed at Paharpur is a quandrangle measuring externally 281m on each side. This gigantic monument is the second biggest single monastery that was ever erected in the south of the Himalayas. In plan the monastery consists of rows of cells facing in each direction opening on a spacious verandah round, and approached from the inner courtyard by flight of steps provided in the middle of each of the four wings. In the middle of each wings except north there exists a special block, consisting of three cells and a passage around them.
In the middle of the northern wing exists the imposing gateway complex with pillared exterior hall, interior hall, strong rooms and staircases set in a grand front facade projecting outwards. There was a subsidiary gate on the same side in between the main gateway complex and the north-east corner. In all there are 177 cells excluding the cells in the central blocks in each wing. Each cell measures 4.6m X 4.11m in average. The exterior wall is about 5m thick and survives from 3.5 to 4.5 m in height. The massive wall indicates that the structure was storeyed commensurate with the lofty shrine, in cell No. 96 three floors have been discovered. here the level of the last one (upper) is within 30cm from the ground level, that of the second 1m, while the third (lowest) is about 1.5m from the surface. It appears that this sequence has been generalized in all the cells of the monastery. In the original monastery the cells were used as living room by the monk, but in later period at least 92 cells were converted into private worship or ceremonial chambers by providing each of them with an ornamental brick pedestal. Some of the other cells were provided with niches resembling to receptacles on their walls The discovery of everyday use from many cells indicates that those cells were used as living rooms in later period monastery.
Apart from the central shrine in the courtyard, there are many other ancillary building remains which were built in different phases of occupation. Most of them are located in the eastern half of the courtyard The important ones are a number of votive stupas, a model of central temple, five shrines ( Panchavedi), kitchen and refectory, masonry drain and wells, there are some other structures whose features are not precisely known, The miniature model of the central shrine is located on the south of the central block of the eastern wing. In this model the plan has been perfected and made more symmetrical. Another important structure in this area is a flight of stairs 4m in width projecting for a distance of 9.75m towards the courtyard of the frontage of the central block of the eastern wing. The last 6 steps are covered with stone block.
The votive stupas were built either a group or as a single unit. In plan too they show variations: rectangular, roundish, cruciform and star-like. One group of such votive stupas is locally called Panchavedi > a group of five of five pedestals. It is located near the south-east corner of the open courtyard. In its close vicinity, on the north-west, is a masonry well of medium size.
The kitchen and the long refectory hall (bhojasala) of the monastery are also situated in this area. A masonry drain in between the refectory and the kitchen has been traced to a length of over 46m northward. To its west, there are three large wells in a row, which might have served both the kitchen and refectory. There are some important structures enclosed within a regular brick wall that runs from the verandah against rooms 162 to 174 ( in the north-east part of the courtyard. There are rectangular weep wholes at regular intervals in the enclosure wall, so that the eater may flow out from inside the enclosure. The most important structure in this area is a brick structure in which the lower part consists of three channels separated by walling and closed on the top by corbelled brick wall. The largest votive stupa has been exposed in the adjoining area on the north-east corner of the central temple which appears as another model of the central temple.
THE MONASTERY
Central Shrine
In the centre of the vast open courtyard of the monastery stands a lofty shrine, the remains of which still 21m high and covers 27sqm area. It was built on a cruciform plan that rises in three gradually diminishing terraces. The shape of the terminal structure is not yet precisely known. A centrally placed hollow square right at the top of the terraces provides the moot point for the conception of the whole plan of the spectacular form and feature of this stupendous monument. In order to relive monotony and to utilize the colossal structure to serve its basic purpose, provision was made in the second as well as in the first terrace for a projection, consisting of an antechamber and a mandapa on each face, leaving out a portion of the whole length of the square at each of the four corners. The ambulatory passage with the parapet wall was made to run parallel to the outline of this plan. This arrangement resulted in a cruciform shape with projecting angles between the arms of the cross. An enclosure wall strictly conforming to the basement plan, with only a slight deviation near the main staircase, runs round near the main staircase, runs round the monument. There is ample evidence that this complete plan, from the basement to the top, along with different components belonged to a single period of construction, but the later repairs, additions and alteration did not fundamentally affect the general alignment and plan.
The basement wall of the temple is embellished with 63 stone bas reliefs which were inserted at most angles of the projection and at intervals in specially built recesses in the middle. They represent mostly cult deities belonging to Hindu pantheons as well as Tantric order of pre-Pala period. The walls of the temple were built of well-burnt bricks laid in mud mortar. The plainness of the walls is relieved on the outer face by projecting cornices of ornamented bricks containing twisted rope, stepped pyramid, lotus-petal, dog-tooth, dog-tooth, floral, chain, and chess-board pattern. Below the cornices bands of terracotta plaques, set in recessed panels, run in a single row all around the basement and in double rows around the ambulatory passage in the upper terraces. As a well planned drainage system each juncture of the crosses and angles is provided with an exquisitely beautiful stone gargoyle representing roaring lion face.
The monastery was built mainly in bricks of different sizes and in mud bonding material. Sandstone blocks were used as lintel, doorjamb, doorsill, pillar, pedestal and for some other purposes. The bricks are of roughly cut well-burnt variety. The sandstone is of fine Chunar variety and at place appears to be of reused class. For joining two pieces of stone together, iron fasteners ere used. Traces of lime in case of floor are not all together lacking
STRUCTURAL REMAINS OUTSIDE THE MONASTERY AREA
In the surroundings of the monastery, there are a number of sporadic structural ruins. They vary in nature, type and function.
Open Platform
At a distance of 27m from the outer wall of the southern wing stands an open platform which measures 32×8m and runs parallel to the monastery. It is about 3.5m high from the adjoining ground level and is accessible from a raised 5m wide gangway across cell No. 102. Beneath the gangway and close to the wall of the monastery there is a vaulted channel running parallel to the wall probably for the free passage of people outside the back wall of the monastery from one side to another and for smooth drainage of water too. Its vaulted construction is of much importance as it proves that vaults were known in the region before the advent of the Muslims. The entire southern face of the platform is marked with a series of water-chutes, each 30cm wide and 1.30m long, occurring at 1.2m intervals. The water-chutes are provided with fine jointed brickwork. Some of them were subsequently blocked and new ones were built. The platform was used probably for the purpose of both ablution and toilet.
Bathing Ghat
There is bath bathing ghat at a distance of 49m to the south-east of the south-east corner of the monastery. On the either of it there is a parallel wall paved brick-on-edge and concrete. The head of the ghat laid with huge stone blocks along with brickworks, 3.69m in length. It descends in a gradual slope to 12.5m, where occurs a band of lime stone slabs. The bed of the ghat was covered with sand which indicates the existence of a stream near by. A tradition in association with the ghat is still n current among the local people Sandhyabati, the daughter of King Mahidalan, used to bath at the ghat everyday and she is supposed be the mother of Satyapir through Immaculate Conception.
