The ancient Buddhist remains discovered at Devnarayanpur and Sirpur in Chhattisgarh provide archaeological evidence that which major religious tradition flourished in Dakshina Kosala during the early medieval period?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Excavations at Sirpur reveal that Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism thrived under the patronage of the Somavamshi kings, notably King Maha Shivagupta Balarjuna, alongside Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang also recorded the presence of numerous Buddhist monasteries and monks in the Kosala region during the seventh century. Sirpur possessed a famous monastery presided over by the Buddhist scholar Ananda Prabhu.