Ghoshitaram Monastery, Archaeological Survey of India’s excavation site, Koshambi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
After seeing the Ashoka Pillar and the ruins of ancient houses and roads located near it, I reached Ghositaram famous Buddhist Vihara which is about 1 kilometer away from this place.
Being a wanderer, I was curious, what would be the living arrangements of Buddhist monks who used to live like wanderers for the propagation and spread of religion because these Viharas were built for this purpose.
Ghoshitram Vihara was built by a wealthy merchant Ghoshit or Ghoshil who was the treasurer of King Udayan for the residence of Buddha and his followers. This merchant along with his friends visited Shravasti and invited the Buddha to Koshambi. Buddha resided at this place and also gave many discourses, due to this its importance is famous as a Buddhist pilgrimage.
It is said that a stupa was built by Emperor Ashoka near this Vihara. Around the 4th century AD, the great Buddha Canonist, also known as the second Buddha, named Vasubandhu, composed famous Buddhist texts during his residence in this Ghoshitaram Vihara and was an expert in debate. His elder brother Bodh Acharya Asanga also resided in this monastery. It was also a famous Buddhist religious center. The remains of buildings excavated in this monastery show that apart from the Buddhist monks, enough houses were built for the Buddhist religious leaders to reside here.
Some differences also arose about the teachings of the Buddha in this vihara. In Vaishali, when the Sangh also disapproved, Ghoshitaram became the center of the Mahasadhak sect of Hinayana means spiritual practioners with lesser capacities. This monastery was meant for the practice of devotion and a vihara. Many incidents of Buddha’s visit are mentioned in the Budhhist texts. This thriving monastery was destroyed by Huna King Toramana in fifth century AD. The artefacts which were collected by Allahabad University’s ancient history department exploration team are preserved in the Ancient History Museum of Prayagraj University. This site is visited by many historians including the daughter of Ex PM Manmohan Singh. It has lots of opportunities to explore the ancient history and connections with Mahabharat. Some important inscriptions, Dimension Plate, engraved with eight lotus petals shapes and lamp pillar and engraved seal of Vihar which were found during the excavation, definitely prove the identities of Ghoshitaram Vihar and the city of Kaushambi. Inscription on the engraved seal is as follows:
''Kausambyan Ghoshitaram Vihare Bhikshu Sanghasya Shilakarapita".
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