Hindustan Times (Delhi)

What you need:

-

A sock

A piece of recycled cereal box

A pair of shoelaces Stuffing (from old newspapers/cotton)

2 googly eyes

A piece of ribbon Scissors

Hot glue and glue gun four equal pieces. Fold the pieces in half, then hot glue the pieces (at the fold) inside the bottom of the sock. Glue the sock opening closed.

You can substitute any other string-like item in place of the shoelaces, such as ribbon, felt or yarn.

Use the glue to attach googly eyes and a ribbon loop on the back of the octopus.

Your cute socktopus is ready!

Th e 8 t h c e n t u r y m o n a s t e r y, S o m a p u r a M a h av i h a r a , i n Naogaon in Bangladesh is one of the largest Buddhist monasterie­s in the Indian subcontine­nt with the complex covering more than 20 acres. T he Vajrayana trend of Mahayana Buddhism was practised at this Mahavihara which was also a renowned intellectu­al centre until the 12th century.

Built by Dharmapala Vikramshil­a (770-810 AD), the king of VarendriMa­g adha, the architectu­re of the Mahavihara is simple with harmonious lines and has a profusion of carved decoration.

The planning and the constructi­on of the vihara also influenced Buddhist architectu­re in Cambodia.

The quadrangul­ar structure of the monastery consists of 177 cells and a traditiona­l Buddhist stupa in the centre. The rooms were used by the monks for lodging and meditation.

The monastery compound is dominated by a central temple that bears similariti­es with Buddhist temple architectu­ral patter ns of ter raced structure with interposed chambers, crucifor m basement and gradually declines to a pyramid-form.

The main central shrine has a crucifor m ground plan and a terraced superstruc­ture that rises in three terraces above the ground level to about 70 feet. At the base of the shrine, there are over 60 stone sculptures which depict a variety of Hindu Gods.

The main entrance to the monastery was through a fortified gate on the northern side of the central temple. The majority of the ancillary buildings, such as the kitchen and the refectory, were located in the south-east corner.

Epigraphic records testify that the cultural and religious lives of this great vihara were closely linked with the Buddhist centres at Bodhgaya and Nalanda.

Somapura received the Unesco world heritage site status in 1985.

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 ??  ?? The quadrangul­ar structure of the monastery consists of 177 cells and a traditiona­l Buddhist stupa in the centre WIKIPEDIA
The quadrangul­ar structure of the monastery consists of 177 cells and a traditiona­l Buddhist stupa in the centre WIKIPEDIA

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