The stupa at Maa Bhadrakali Temple in Itkhori on Monday. Picture by Vishvendu Jaipuriar

Chatra (Itkhori), June 13: For decades, Hindu devotees thronging the Maa Bhadrakali Temple in Itkhori may actually have been offering prayers to a Buddha stupa.

A five-feet high structure situated at the eastern corner of this famous temple — which sees a steady stream of around 2,000 devotees from across the state besides Bihar and Bengal daily — has been the subject of interest since its inception some 100 years ago.

According to temple sources, the structure, which devotees so far took to be a shivling, has around 1,008 small idols of Buddha carved on it.

“Before this structure came up, a Buddhist temple apparently existed here. On closer inspection, the structure has been found to be a stupa and not a shivling,” said Ramdeo Keshri, former member of the temple committee.

Keshri, however, does not believe that Buddhists might have inhabited the area. “A five-feet long shivling was unearthed from the area some time ago. The structure had small statues of Lord Shiva, similar to the stupa in our temple, carved on it. This apart, the charan paduka (slippers) of Sheetalanath, worshipped by the Jain community, was also found. This place is unique and requires a detailed study to establish facts,” he said.

Bhante Tisswaro, a well-known Buddhist priest, who had conducted a survey of the area, however, did not agree.

“We believe that a sizeable number of Buddhists lived here. Thousands of pillars and Buddha idols recovered bear testimony to this fact. We want this area to be excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). There might be a temple similar to the one in Bodh Gaya buried underneath,” Bhante said.

The government had sanctioned around Rs 3.35 crore some three years ago to give a facelift to the temple. The Prime Minister’s office had also directed the ASI to conduct a survey and undertake excavation work if necessary.

Sub-divisional officer of Chatra Arun Kumar Ratan admitted that the ASI had sent a report to the Centre and was waiting a nod for excavation.