Stone Sculptures
A large number of stone sculptures have been discovered from the site. Of them loose sculptures are very few whereas sixty-three have been found in situ in the basement of the temple. The Only one of the latter is a Buddhist image; a Bodhisattva and the rest represent Brahmanical faith. It appears rather strange that such a large number of Brahmanical deities were installed in a Buddhist establishment. The occurrence of Brahmanical sculptures in this temple indicates that probably they were collected from earlier monuments at the site or in the neighborhood and fixed up in the main temple.
These sculptures belong to different periods and on stylistic grounds they have been divided into three groups. The first group distinctly represents the traditions of the later Gupta sculptures. The number of such sculptures is few; as the majority of them represent an indigenous trend. This group shows a distinct original tendency and may be regard as the product of the initial stage of a new school of art, which subsequently flowered into an exuberant Pala School. These sculptures show variability in their subject matter too. Many of them depict Krishna legends and others of Siva. Apart from these, there is representation of Dikpalas- Agni, Indra, Yama, Kuvera, Ganesa, Brihaspati, Manu, Chandra and of Devapalas, of dancers etc. Scenes from Mahabharata and Ramayana and various other incidents from daily life of the rural folk are also represented in some sculptures. Amongst the loose sculptures the worth mentioning are Hevajra-Sakti, Uma-Mahesvara, Manasa, and Vidhyadhara.
Metal Images
Among the very few metal sculptures the most important one is a life size Buddha in bronze of 9th-10th century AD discovered from the cell No. 37 of the eastern wing of the monastery in 1982. Unfortunately, the lower part measures roughly 1.27m. Others were collected during pre-liberation excavation. They include Hara-Gairi, Buddha ( in the attitude of protection), standing nude Tirthankara, seated Kuvera, Ganesha etc.
Stucco Figurines
Some small sculptures made of stucco were collected from the corridor located in the southwestern part of the monastery. These include four heads of Buddha. Their facial expression, half closed eyes, long ear lobes, urna, usnisa and sacred ridge on the neck the represent Pala traits.
Copper Plate
Among other finds the most important and significant ones are the copper plate grant dated 159 Gupta Era (4778 AD) and stone inscription. The copper plate was found in the verandah of the north-east corner of the monastery. The plate records the purchase and grant by a Brahmin couple of a piece of land for the maintenance of the worship of Arhats and a resting place at the vihara, which was situated at Vatagohali in the 5th century AD, must have been an establishment of local celebrity. It is worthquoting here that the same name Vatagohali is found on a mutulated copper-plate found at Baigram dated 128 G.E (448 AD) i.e. 31 years earlier than the Paharpur plate. The mention of the name Vatagohali in a record from Baigram, which is about 30 km north of Paharpur indicates that the two places, Baigram and Vatagohali, must not be far distant from each other.
In the 7th century AD, when anarchy reigned supreme it appears that the Jainism gradually disappeared in Bengal. The Guhanandi Vihara at Vatagohali must have shared the fate of other Jaina establishments in this region. Dikshit belived that there was originally a Jaina vihara at Paharpur of which no traces had survived. This jaina nstitution would then have been succeeded by the Somapura Mahavihara founded by King Dharmapala in the end of 8th century when peace was established. He also expressed that the monks in the new Buddhist Vihara might have obtained the royal permission to appropriate the land belonging to the Jaina Vihara and kept the original charter in their possession. According to him “this supposition can alone, explain the find of the plate among the ruins of the Buddhist Vihara”.
Stone Inscriptions
Only four stone pillars containing inscriptions were found. These pillars record the names of some Ajayagarbha, Srigarbha, Dasavalagarbha and a Arkanandin who have donated the pillars referring to either Buddha or three jewels. Amongst them two belong to 10th century A.D and the other two to 11th and 12th century AD, monks belonging to some Garbha and Nandi lineages lived in this monastery. It is worthquating that a stone pillar inscribed the name ‘Nandi’ has recently been discovered from Jagaddal Vihara located in Dhamurhat Upazila of Naogaon District which is 12km north of Paharpur.
Seals and Sealings
A large number of small clay seals and sealing were found in the open courtyard of the monastery. Some of them contain either verses from Tripitaka. The only scriptures of the Buddhist or a legend Srisomappure Sridharmapaladeva Mahaviharariabhikshusanghays. These objects provide us ample information of identity of the monastery.
Coins
Only five circular pieces of copper were found in a cell located on the east of the main gateway complex of the monastery. In many respects they appear to be ancient coins. On the obverse, each of them bears a model of a seated bull along with the legend Sri Vigraha whereas the reverse shows three fishes. So in all probability it indicates it that these coins were issued by Vigrahapala I (850-55AD), one of the successors of Dharmapala. Of the rest one belongs to Khalifa Haruno-or-Rashid, while the others belong to Mughal rulers excepting one which was issued by Sher Shah.
Minor Objects
This group includes earthen inkpots, stone pestles and mullers, stone and earthen dabbers, dices, beads, weights, votive stupas of baked and unbaked clay, stone architectural members, terracotta beads, toys, small figurines, spindrel whorls etc. Besides these, a large number of ornamental bricks representing stepped pyramid, lotus petal, chess-board, wavy and straight lines etc. were found loose while many, are still set on the temple wall.
Pottery
A large number of earthen wares were collected from the excavation. They are divisible into a few categories in terms of their fabric, texture and ornamentation. They show a large variety in terms of shape, size and function too, which include storage jars of different sizes, saucers, goblets, dishes, pots, tumblers, sprinkler-heads, spouted water-pots, bowls etc.
Paharpur Museum
A museum established at Paharpur in 1956-57 was too small to display all types of cultural objects recovered from the site and the vicinity. So as per proposal of the Master Plan a new museum building (Pl.18) consisting of 4 galleries was constructed near Satyapir Bhita in 1993 with the financial help of NORAD. Objects from Paharpur monastery and Tara Temple and other sites likes Mahasthan, Mainamati, Gaur are being displayed in this museum.
The central gallery of the north-facing museum building presents a short introductory note of Paharpur monastery both in Bengali and in English to its visitors. Apart from this a bronze image of circa 9th-10th century AD collected from Paharpur monastery along with images of Visnu, Khadirbani Tara and a stone inscription have also been displayed in the same gallery.
The first, the second and the third gallery is situated on the east, south and west of the central gallery respectively. Of them the first and second galleries display the objects collected from Pharpur monastery. In the showcases of the first gallery various images, sculptural fragments, house-hold objects, semi-precious stone beads etc. are being displayed. In one showcase the photograph of one of the stone images of Krisna killing Asura, Balaram, Indra, Yama, male figure and stone inscription have been installed clockwise on pedestals.
In the corridor between the first and second galleries stone sculptures representing amorous couple, Ganesa and male figure have been displayed. In the showcase of the second gallery ornamental bricks, earthenwares, terracotta plaques, toys, lamps, net-sinkers, votive stupas, balls, seals, inkpots, weights etc. have been kept. Siva linga, Suvadra kidnapped by Arjun, woman with child and Kirtimukha (all made of stone) along with big earthen storage jars and stone panels have been installed on the pedestals. Dwarf Vishnu, Vishnu and Garura have been displayed in the space lying between the second gallery and the third gallery. In the third gallery objects from Paharpur as well as from other sites have been displayed. Its showcases display terracotta images in round from Mangalkot (near Mahasthan), bronze jar, fossilized wood and stone images of Narasingha, nine planets, Mahismardini, Loknath, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva-Parvati, Uma-Maheswar etc. One showcase contains replicas of bronze miniatures representing Loknath, Tara, Padmapani, Yogesvari, Buddha etc. On the pedestals, there is Sarakhari Lokeswar. Surya, Uma-Mahesvar, Parvati and a wooden door frame.
