Archaeologists have found numerous artefacts at the ancient temple, including more than 50 terracotta plaques inscribed with Buddhist beliefs.

Satyapir Bhita

This Buddhist Tara temple near the centre of Paharpur features numerous ritual stupas.

Aerial view of Tara Temple alias Satya Pir er Bhita or Satya Pir’s Bhita – © Khairul Islam

The plinth of two votive stupas with moldings on upper border and slim projections on the centre, in the vicinity of Tara temple. – © Julfiker Ahmed

A large number of stupas make up the original layout of the Buddhist Tara temple. – © Julfiker Ahmed

It is easy to access the Satyapir er Bhita temple, originally the Tara Temple, which is just behind the museum at the main Paharpur site. – © Julfiker Ahmed

Aerial view of Tara Temple alias Satya Pir er Bhita or Satya Pir’s Bhita – © Khairul Islam

Satyapir Bhita (Satya Pir Bhita) is a Buddhist Tara temple, built in the 9th or 10th century in honor of an incarnation of goddess Tara known as Sitatpatra Tara. Tara is a female goddess and the counterpart of the male Bodhisattva Avolokiteshvara who is a popular deity in Vajrayana faith.

Plinth of the votive (Nivedana) stupas at the temple of Goddess Tara popularly known as Satyapir er Bhita. – © Julfiker Ahmed

The Satyapir er Bhita temple is located about 270 meters east of the main Paharpur monastery. The present name Satyapir Bhita (which means 'the home of Satyapir') appears to originate from the 16th or 17th century when the local population gradually converted to Islam.

The Buddhist Tara temple was originally built on the Paharpur site in the 9th or 10th century C.E. – © Julfiker Ahmed

Archaeologists recovered more than 50 terracotta plaques inscribed with Buddhist beliefs written in an 11th century script, plus figures of the eight-handed goddess Tara. The temple is adorned with 132 ritual stupas (in the form of constructing stupas) of different sizes and shapes.

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