THE VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTION OF PAHARPUR VIHARA

Abstract

The monastic development of the Buddhist Architecture had attained an unparalleled height in the 8th century AD through the manifestation of the Sompur Mahavihara, presently known as Paharpur Buddha Vihara. The elaborate creative complex shaped by the local craftsmen from the very earth of Bangladesh remained little understood in terms of its form and morphology. The existing part of the dilapidated structure is deteriorating day by day being subjected to the causes both natural and man made. The structure, in its present form, poses with certain unexplained phenomena, which are worthy to investigate. The study, therefore, attempts to resolve those phenomena into a logical solution and create a basic understanding of the Form and Morphology of this particular organization. In this regard, a technical as well as an architectural perception will be given the utmost priority. An attempt of a conjectural restoration of the whole complex is the final outcome, based on the findings and on certain logical assumptions derived from the study.