Ajina-Tepe, which translates to «Devil’s Hill» or «Hill Inhabited by Evil Spirits,» is a historic site located 12 kilometers east of Kurgan-Tyube in Tajikistan. This site is home to the remains of a Buddhist monastery dating back to the 6th-8th centuries. Among the well-preserved elements are religious chambers, monastic cells, statues, stupas, and intricate wall paintings. One of the most significant discoveries was a statue of the reclining Buddha.
Historically, the region that encompasses modern Central Asia was part of the Kushan Empire, which included Bactria—a state founded by the descendants of Alexander the Great. Bactria, also known as Tokharistan, was a province of the Persian Empire and spanned areas of modern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. According to Chinese and Persian sources, this period marked the introduction of Buddhism in Tokharistan, where Ajina-Tepe is currently located. Further evidence of Buddhism’s presence in the region was found in 1920 when archaeologists uncovered the ancient Buddhist monastery of Kara-Tepe in southern Uzbekistan.
In 1961, archaeological excavations began around Ajina-Tepe, leading to the discovery of approximately 500 ancient artifacts buried beneath the earth. Alongside sculptures and wall paintings, the excavations revealed reliefs that once adorned a unified architectural complex, which housed both a Buddhist temple and a monastery.
Archaeologists determined that the complex consisted of two main sections, each featuring a rectangular courtyard surrounded by solid structures. One courtyard was home to the Great Stupa, which served as a relic repository and marked sacred locations. Smaller stupas, designed similarly to the Great Stupa, were placed at the corners of the courtyards. The temple-monastery complex was lavishly decorated, with niches filled with statues of the Buddha in various sizes, making him the focal point of the site.
A significant surprise for the archaeologists was the discovery of a statue of the Buddha in Nirvana, crafted from clay and located in one of the monastery’s corridors. Although the lower part of the sculpture was well-preserved, the upper part had suffered considerable damage. Numerous fragments of the statue were found scattered nearby. In 1966, restoration efforts began to return the sculpture to its original form, a process that took 11 years. However, restoration work on the temple complex was halted in 1978 and did not resume until 2000. Today, the Buddha in Nirvana is displayed at the National Museum of Antiquities in Dushanbe, making it the largest sculpture in Central Asia. The deity is depicted lying on his right side.
Local folklore suggests that the area around Ajina-Tepe attracted attention long before historians and archaeologists arrived. According to legend, demons would torment unbelievers who passed through the area at night, leading to the name Ajina-Tepe, which refers to «Jinn» or evil spirits in Islamic tradition. However, historians widely believe that the name stems from the ancient walls of the site, which were painted with images of demons and jinn to deter spiritual enemies of Buddhism.
Ajina-Tepe represents a harmonious blend of Indian and Tokharistan traditions, evident in the architectural forms and interior decorations of the complex. UNESCO has nominated this ancient site for inclusion as a World Heritage Site, recognizing its historical and cultural significance.