Lauriya Nandangarh

Lauriya Nandangarh Lauriya Nandangarh: The site is situated in northern Bihar, is an extensive archaeological site encompassing an Aśokan pillar, several earth mounds, and a colossal terraced brick stūpa. According to Falk, in 1758–1769, while Padre della Tomba was a resident Capuchin missionary at Bettiah, he visited two pillars, copied some of their inscriptions and sent them to the Hindu Academy of Benares. Although later he seemsto have reconstructed their situation erroneously, there can be no doubt that theNandangarh pillar was one of those seen by him. A second eye-copy was produced by one George Rind in 1797.The pillar was also first brought to notice of Scholars by B.H Hodgson.This pillar is also a single block of polished sandstone. Mr. B.H Hodgson had called it as Mathiah pillar. It bear the first six edicts of Aśoka , the first four on the east face and the last two on the west face.The pillar has figures of peacocks engraved on it. It has a single lion capital. Besides the Aśokan edicts, the pillar bears a record of the emperor Aurangzeb and a few modern scribblings. It is now worshipped as a symbol of Śiva, and it's erection is ascribed to the Pandava Bhima.