Indian History and Architecture

Gwalior – Reminiscence of a Metropolis

Saurabh — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:24:47 +0000

Previous Part Gwalior Fort – Palaces Gujari Mahal – This palace is located on the right after crossing the Hindola gate on the eastern entrance. This handsome old palace was built by Man Singh about the end of 5th century CE for his favorite queen, popularly known as Mriganayini. She was a Gujar by caste hence the name of the palace, Gujari Mahal. This palace is built in two storeys measuring 232 feet by 196 feet. This building is now housing the Archaeological Museum where many rare artifacts are on display including the famous Lady of Gyaraspur. The interior...

Gwalior – Reminiscence of a Metropolis

Saurabh — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:31:18 +0000

Previous Part Gwalior Fort M B Garde writes, ‘Midway over all towers the giant form of a massive Hindu temple grey with the moss of ages, altogether, the Fort of Gwalior forms one of the most picturesque views in Northern India’. This imposing and elegant fortress is situated on an isolated sandstone hill which is about 300 feet above the ground. Babur describes it as a ‘pearl in the necklace of the castles in Hind’. Though the foundation of this fort is veiled in obscurity, but Garde mentions that the history of this fort goes back to 5th century CE...

Gwalior – Reminiscence of a Metropolis

Saurabh — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:36:35 +0000

(This article is written in multiple pages, links are provided at the start and the end) Introduction – Gwalior is a major and an important city of Madhya Pradesh state. Gwalior was the largest princely state among the twenty-two such states which formed a union after the independent of India. This union was formed in April 22, 1948 under the name of United State of Gwalior, Indore and Malwa. It was later taken inside the constitution of India under the name of Madhya Bharat. Gwalior used to be the capital of this state from September to April while Indore for...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:57:26 +0000

Previous Part 10. Monasteries Monastery No 36 – Monasteries at Sanchi are built on simple design and familiar pattern of having a square court surrounded by cells on all sides and a verandah supported on pillars around the court. Sometimes we see a raised chamber in the center and sometimes additional chambers outside. This square court plan is known as chatuhshala plan. This monastery was built with two stories, the staircase to approach the upper storey was in north-west corner. The entrance to the monastery was provided on eastern side. Monastery No 37 – This monastery is bigger than...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:17:12 +0000

Previous Part 9. Temples Temple No 18 – Though nothing much is remained of this temple however it would have been a very interesting structure in its pristine glory. This temple was designed with an apsidal end at one point similar to many Buddhist chaitya caves. A nave was formed by usage of pillar, and at present only these pillars are the only survivors of this glorious monument. The pillars are monolithic, 17 feet high, square in section but tapering towards the top. These pillars are not sunken into ground but resting on a foundation of stones. Marshall suggests...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:31:46 +0000

Previous Part 8. Pillars Pillar No 10 – This broken Ashokan pillar is partially standing in situ near the Southern Gateway and the other part is placed inside a shed. As the pillar carries an edict of Ashoka hence it can be assumed that it was erected by emperor Ashoka. It can also be said that he erected it before the start of the construction work at this site as it was customary to erect a pillar before the construction of stupa. Cunningham mentions that probably this pillar was broken by some local zamindar to utilize the shaft in...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:20:22 +0000

Previous Part 7. Other Stupas Stupa No 2 – This stupa is located on the western slope of the hill. It is very similar to Stupa 2 in design, construction and size, the only difference is that no gateway is present in the former. Marshall mentions that it was first opened in destroyed by Captain Johnson in 1822. He further writes, in rather curt manner, that the remaining possible destruction was caused by Cunningham during his digging in 1851 however the latter was able to retrieve the relic box. The relic box was of white sandstone, 11...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:11:47 +0000

Previous Part 6. The Gateways (Toranas) – Western Gateway This gateway has suffered a lot and lost many of its original features. All the uprights which are usually found in between architraves are missing. Ornamentation above the top architrave like tri-ratna motif and dharma-chakra are also missing. The pillars have capital of four pot-bellied yaksha figures standing back-to-back with upraised hands supporting the architraves. North Pillar – Front (West) Face There are only two panels on this face and both depict similar scenes though the second panel is much deteriorated. The top panel shows four different...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangahm

Saurabh — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:44:30 +0000

Previous Part 5. The Gateways (Toranas) – Southern Gateway This would have been the first and the earliest gateway of this stupa as evident from the presence of an Ashoka pillar near it. It was a custom, in the ancient times, to install a pillar at the site where a stupa needs to be constructed. However this pillar was usually removed once the construction starts on the site. It is also evident that it was the main entrance in the ancient times instead of the Northern Gateway which is the main entrance at present. The pillar capitals...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:28:55 +0000

Previous Part 4. The Gateways (Toranas) – Eastern Gateway This gateway is standing in situ, however it had lost many of its ornamentation. The dharma-chakra, tri-ratna and yakshis above the top architrave is missing now. The pillar capitals have four-elephants joined at their hind-parts, and their mahouts carrying goads in their hands. One of the mahout is carrying a banner on a shaft crowned by a tri-ratna symbol. South Pillar – Front (East) Face The topmost panel is identified as Chankama on the basis of similar inscribed panel found at Bharhut. There are two votaries separated by...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:42:46 +0000

Previous Part 3. The Gateways (Toranas) – Northern Gateway The most impressive feature, and for which this stupa is known worldwide, is the gateways, four in number, erected at the four cardinal directions. These are the latest addition to the structure and were erected in first century BCE during the reign of the Satavahanas. Satavahana rulers installed these four majestic gateways at the four cardinal points of the stupa. As per an inscription over one of the gateways, these were installed during the rule of Sri-Satkarni who has been identified with Satkarni II ruling in the first century...

Sanchi – Buddham Dhammam Sangham

Saurabh — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:14:19 +0000

Previous Part 2. Monuments Monuments at Sanchi are located over a red sandstone hillock, about 90 m high. There are evidences to suggest that some monuments existed at the site in the pre-Ashoka period. However the major construction was carried out during Ashoka’s reign. As per a legend, Ashoka gathered all the Buddha relics from the original seven out of eight stupas and redistributed those among the 64000 stupas which he himself is said to have built. Though this number is pretty far-fetched however it can be inferred that Ashoka provided a good deal of patronage towards Buddhism. ...

Chanderi – A Stone-kissed Town

Saurabh — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:40:11 +0000

Introduction – First reference of Chanderi is found, probably, in Mahabharata where it is mentioned as Chedi country ruled by Shishupala. An another legend says that when Nala left Damayanti in the forests of Narwar, the latter wandered around and reached Chaidnagar. Inscriptions found at Budhi Chanderi mention a Pratihara branch ruling over this region during the eleventh century CE. Budhi Chanderi is mentioned as Chandrapur in these inscriptions. The present town of Chanderi, little far from Budhi Chanderi, was first settled Kirtipal, a king of the Pratihara lineage. After the rule of the Pratiharas, Chanderi went into the Kachchwa...

Nibiya Khera – Brick Temple Complex

Saurabh — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:21:24 +0000

Introduction – Nibiya Khera is a village in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh. Not much is known about the antiquity of the village as no inscription was found from the place which could have helped in understanding the history of the place. At present, it is just another village like many other small villages of India where life appears standing still for a while. Inscriptions – No inscription has been reported from this place till date. Monuments – There is only one monuments of interest, the brick temple complex. Brick Temple Complex (9th-10th century CE) – This brick...

Bhitargaon – The Glory in Terracotta

Saurabh — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:19:59 +0000

Introduction – Bhitargaon (भीतरगांव ) is small village in Kanpur district and is famous for an ancient brick temple of the Gupta period. As per a local tradition, there was a city named Pushp-pur (Foolpur) in olden days The middle part of that city was known as Bhitargaon, which literally means the inner village. The external part of the city is known as Barigaon (which literally means the outer village), which is adjacent to Bhitargaon separated at a distance of about a km. Inscriptions – No inscription has been found from this place till date. Monuments – There is only...

Surwaya – A Monastery Fortified

Saurabh — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:38:27 +0000

Introduction – Surwaya was a major center of the Mattamayura sect of the Shaiva tradition. It has been identified with ancient Sarasvati-pattana and Shankhamathika. An inscription at Surwaya mentions it as Sarasvati-pattana while Shankhamathika is mentioned in the Ranod Inscription (Epigraphia Indica vol I). As per the Ranod inscription, Shankhamathikadhipati (the lord of Shankhamathika), was the immediate successor of Kadambaguhadhivasi, the first Acharya who started a disciple lineage and paved the way to a prominent Shaiva sect, Mattamayura. Even though Kadwaha (ancient Kadambaguha) continued to be the main center of the Mattamayura cult but soon many branches of this faith...

Mahua – A Tradition of Shaiva-Siddhantikas

Saurabh — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:39:55 +0000

Introduction – Mahua is a village in Shivapuri district and famous for its temples which are of considerable antiquity. Mahua, like Kadwaha, Ranod and Terahi, is associated with the Mattamayura sect. It has been identified with ancient Madhumati which is mentioned in the Ranod inscription (Epigraphia Indica vol I). An inscription at Gurgi (Epigraphia Indica vol XXII) mentions Madhumati as the abode of the Shaiva Saiddhantika believers. Chandrehe inscription (Epigraphia Indica vol XXI) of 973 CE mentions a certain Sikhashiva as the lord of Madhumati. These inscriptions provide enough support to suggest that Madhumati was an important center of the...

Terahi – The Goddess, the Ghostrider

Saurabh — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:03:01 +0000

Introduction – Terahi is a small village in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, situated at the banks of Mahwar river and located very near to Mahua. Present Terahi has been identified with ancient Terambi, which is mentioned in the Ranod inscription (Epigraphia Indica Vol I), by F Kielhorn. However V V Mirashi does not fully agree with this identification. Ranod inscription mentions that the king of Avanti brought Purandara from Upendrapura. Purandara was second in the disciple lineage of Terambipala, mathadheesh of Terambi. Mirashi identifies the phrase ‘king of Avanti’ with the Chalukyan king Avanivarman hence he suggests to look...

Kadwaha – The Vestiges of the Mattamayuras

Saurabh — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:05:13 +0000

Introduction – Kadwaha is a small village located in Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh. This site was a very important Shavite center during the eighth-ninth century CE as it is supposedly believed that the foundations of the Mattamayura Shaivite sect were laid here only. An inscription discovered at Ranod (Epigraphia Indica vol I) mentions two towns, Kadambaguha and Mattamayurapura, F Kielhorn identifies Kadambaguha with Kadwaha, however he did not propose any identification for Mattamayurapura. Few scholars like Sulochana Ayyar and M B Garde suggest Mattamayurapura should be Kadwaha only. Religious centers played a major role in imparting education among common...

Bhedaghat – The Secret World of the Yoginis

Saurabh — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:29:24 +0000

Introduction – Bhedaghat is famous for its marble rocks which soar in glittering splendor to a height of about hundred feet on either side of the Narmada. Alexander Cunningham refers it as a bathing-place on Narmada whereas the village is situated at the confluence of the Narmada and a small stream locally known as Saraswati but known as Banganga at Karanbel. Because of the sangam (confluence) of two rivers, this place is considered holy. Cunningham mentions that King Gaya Karna took bath at this place with his queen, son, prime-minister, commander-in-chief etc at the occasion of granting a land to...