Babri Masjid Site was Buddhist

New Delhi: The eminence grise of ancient Indian history, Prof. R.S. Sharma has strongly dismissed the validity of evidence regarding the existence of an eleventh century Ram temple at Ayodhya in an Interview. On the other hand, Prof Sharma draws attention to several historical sources that suggest the existence of Buddhist monasteries in Ayodhya. Prof Sharma cites Huan Tsang, the Chinese traveler, as saying that the number of Buddhist monks In Ayodhya was 3,000 and that of non-Buddhists was small. Huan Tsang spoke of the existence of an old monastery that had long been the center of Buddha’s teaching in the kingdom of Ayodhya (SI-Yu-KI, Vol.I. London 1966 pp.224-25), Huan Tsang suggested the dominance of Buddhism at Ayodhya in the seventh century and states that there were about 100 monasteries and 10 deva (Brahminical or other) temples in the country of Ayodhya, Earlier, in the 5th century A.D ., Fa Hsian spoke of Buddha’s twig tooth-brush (Danta-kashtha) growing to a height of seven cubits at Saket. Fa Hsian said that although the Brahmins destroyed the tree it grew again on the same site (James Legge, a record of Buddhistic kingdoms, Oxford, 1886, pp.54-55). The historical evidence of the flourishing of Buddhism at Ayodhya and the existence of Babri Masjid on a mound, typical of the archaeological remains of Buddhists stupas in Mohenjo-Daro and elsewhere, provides a strong Indication to historians and archaeologists that the archaeological remains in Ayodhya could well belong to Buddhist monasteries that were destroyed by a Brahminical onslaught. The existence of Buddhist motifs like salabharjica (a woman plucking sale leaves) and Danda (staff) even on the pillars on which Dr.S.P. Gupta has erected his archaeological case strengthens the conclusion that the monument in the vicinity of Babri Masjid was Buddhist, noted historians and archaeologists have rejected the interpretation that the Babri Masjid was built on the remains of a Hindu temple. Prof V.N. Mishra, the eminent scholar of pre- history and director of Deccan College in Pune, said that he found the evidence adduced by S.P. Gupta, “inadequate” and “unconvincing” (Times of India Dec.6. 1990).