KUTILA MURA, OR KOTILA MURA

Kuila Mura kotila Mura
COMILLA

Kutila Mura site is located about three miles north of Shalban Vihara (location). In 1956 continuous excavations here for few seasons have completely exposed an interesting stupa-complex. The whole area is enclosed by a massive wall decorated with lower-level panels. On top of the mound, within the enclosure, three stupas are found side by side on a common plinth. These stupas are surrounded by other stupas and structures spread over an area, measuring about 280 feet from north to south and about 225 feet from east to west. The main stupas are approached from the east by a wide staircase that ascends in three stages across the massive boundary wall and leads to three rectangular entrance hall.

The square bases support circular drums and hemispherical domes. The central stupa is still 10 feet high from the plinth. The three stupas possibly represent the Buddhist trinity or the three jewels, i.e.

• The Buddha,
• The Dharma and
• The Shangha

It is from a unique group of monuments rarely met elsewhere in the subcontinent. The ground plan of the central stupa is in the shape of a dharma chakra or the wheel of the law. The hub is represented by a deep central shaft and the spokes by brick wall which have formed eight cells or box chamber. For these cells a number of broken pieces of stone sculpture in the soft grey stone have been salvaged. These depict, in high relief, figures of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas seated on lotus throne and attended by lay worshipers. Hundreds of miniature clay votive stupas containing minute terracotta seals, inscribed with the Buddhist creed, have also been found in the cells and inside the central shaft. The other two stupas, representing the Buddha and the Sangha are made of solid brick masonry, each with a deep central shaft which also contained a large number of clay miniature stupas and terracotta sealing. The outer face of the drums of these stupas is relieved with a number of small corbelled niches, intended perhaps, as receptacles for oil lamps. On the west of the Tri-Ratna stupas, remains of nine brick stupas have been exposed.It should to be noted that the temple of kutila Mura show three distinct phases of repairs and rebuilding. the three oblong halls in front of the stupas were also extended in the second period. There is also an antechamber at the back of southern most halls which indicate that hall also served the purpose of temple and images of buddha or bodhisattvas ere once installed therein for worship. Remain of the period of the shrines are visible only in the oblong hall in front of he middle stupa and in the estern boundary wall. 

A number of fire places could not be explained satisfactorily. Perhaps those were built later for cocking food for large gahering. from the remains of different periods we may conclude that the temple at Kutila Mura was in active use for long period, beginning from seventh century to at least thirteenth century A.D. the Mainamati excavation have thrown a flood of light on he history of south-east bengalfrom 7th to 13th centuries. The antiquities unearthed so far from kutila Muraare not only large in number but also include of important object like a gold coin of Abbasian khalifa, terracotta objectes, sculpture etc. Which have greatly helped us to reconstruct the history of the area

Finally, we may recommended that all various objects of art and articles of daily use discovered from the Kutila Mura at Mainamati sites have also provided us with the material evidences of the contemporary people's socio economic and cultural condition of the region.