Bhokardan

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Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Map of Jalna District

Bhokardan (भोकरदन) is a city in Jalna district in the state of Maharashtra, India. Bhokardan has been identified by the modern historians as a capital city of an ancient Janapada Bhogavardhana (भोगवर्धन).

Variants

Origin

According to legends, the name Bhokardan is derived from the name of king Bhogvardhan or Bhagdnath, who ruled this city in ancient time. Local legends consider this to be a capital city of Bhoumasura, a mythological demon, who was killed by Krishna.[1]

History

Bhokardan is situated on the bank of Kelana River. Bhokardan has been identified by the modern historians with the ancient city of Bhogavardhana. One of the earliest references of Bhokardan is found in Markandeya Purana, where it is described as a prosperous trading city in Dandakaranya area, located on the trade route from Ujjayini, in central India to Pratishthana, then capital city of Satavahanas. Similar, references were also found in various other ancient literature.[2] In earlier period Bhokardan was a Janapada, which later got status of an independent region. Bhokardan was the third richest city in Satavahana period after Pratishthana and Ter. The inscription records at stupas of Bharhut and Sanchi, mention receiving donations from inhabitants of this city for their construction. There is a reference in an article from 593 AD that, the king of Mahishmati, Raja Shankargan, of Kalachuri dynasty, has donated some land to a Brahmin in Bhogvardan region.[3]

However, the history of this place in the Middle Ages is not known. In later period of Peshwas rule, this city came under control of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Bhokardan was part of Hyderabad State until its annexation into the Indian Union in 1948. In 1960, it became a part of newly form state of Maharashtra from bilingual Bombay state. The ruins of old fortification are still visible around the city; the old fort area now houses the Tehsil office.

Bhokardan cave

At Bhokardan there is an underground excavation comprising of chambers, shrines and a verandah facing a quadrangular court. The sculptures belong to the Vaishnavite cult and the cave may be ascribed to the 8th or 9th century A.D. from the characters of the carved inscription in its verandah. As the cave has been hewn out on the bank of the Kelna River, the waters of the river used to cause constant damage to it, but this has been checked by the construction of a strong masonry dam which has ensured the safety of the cave. There is also a neolithic sire in Bhokardan. [4]

In the same taluq there are Buddhist caves dating from 6th to 7th century A.D. at Ghatotkatch. The Baitalbari fort, also in the Bhokardan taluq, has some remarkable fortifications, bastions and inscriptions. [5]

Excavation at Bhokardan

Excavation at Bhokardan: An ancient site comprising two mounds, about 70 ft high, was discovered by M. N. Deshpande near Bhokardan in 1958.[6] Subsequently, a joint evacuation was carried away by a combined team of Nagpur University and Marathwada University, in 1973-74, during this evacuation two periods of occupation were identified:[7]


Period I

Period Ia - early Satavahana period
Period Ib - late Satavahana period

Period II post Satavahana period.

During the excavations, traces of foundations, brick walls, floors, post-holes, fallen roofs and a ring well were discovered. The artifacts found from the site included punch-marked coins, copper coins of the Satavahanas and the Kshatrapas; a few terracotta bullae with legends in Greek; coin moulds and seals. About 2000 beads made of terracotta, glass, shell and semi-precious stones were also found. A large number of terracotta, iron, copper and ivory objects were found from the site.[8] The other important items found at site compromised: scores of human and animal figurines; ivory and shell bangles; terracotta ear ornaments; saddle querns with Buddhist symbols and burnt grains which compromised wheat, Jowar, gram, ber and rice.

However, the most exquisite of all the find was the lower half of an ivory female figurine, carved in the round with two female attendants. It is reminiscent of the ivory statue of Hindu goddess found at ancient Roman town-city Pompeii near modern Naples in the Italy, which was destroyed and buried under ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Numbers of scholars have argued that the ivory statue of Pompeii had its origin at Bhokardan, which found its way either through ancient caravan based silk route or via ship based spice route to Pompeii in the first century AD.[9] Similar ivory objects were also found at Ter. This statues serves as a testimonial of trade relationships of the ancient world.

During Satavahanas' period Bhokardan was a center for ivory artifacts, which were traded for other items. After the decline of the Satavahanas, Bhokardan lost its importance as a major trade center, leading to its downfall.[10] It seems to have been re-occupied only in medieval period.

The ivory female statue and number of other artifacts which were found during excavation are now preserved and displayed at the history museum, of department of History & Ancient Indian Culture, of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad.

भोगवर्धन

भोगवर्धन (AS, p.679): पुराणों में वर्णित गोदावरी तट पर स्थित प्रदेश. इसका ठीक-ठीक अभिज्ञान अनिश्चित है. मार्कंडेय पुराण 57, 48-49 में इसका उल्लेख है.[11]

भोकरदन

भोकरदन (AS, p.678), जिला जलना, महाराष्ट्र में स्थित है. इस स्थान पर भूगर्भ में बनी गुफाओं में कई वैष्णव मंदिर अवस्थित हैं. जिनका निर्माण काल आठवीं या नौवीं शती ई. है जैसा कि बरामदे में अंकित अभिलेख की लिपि से सूचित होता है. गुफाएं केलना नदी के तट पर हैं. भोकरदन में नव पाषाण युग के उपकरण आदि भी प्राप्त हुए हैं. [12]

External links

References

  1. Degulkar, G.B. "भोकरदन". मराठी विश्वकोश (Marathi encyclopedia). 12. Mumbai: महाराष्ट्र राज्य मराठी विश्वकोश निर्मिती मंडळ.
  2. Degulkar, G.B. "भोकरदन". मराठी विश्वकोश (Marathi encyclopedia). 12. Mumbai: महाराष्ट्र राज्य मराठी विश्वकोश निर्मिती मंडळ.
  3. Degulkar, G.B. "भोकरदन". मराठी विश्वकोश (Marathi encyclopedia). 12. Mumbai: महाराष्ट्र राज्य मराठी विश्वकोश निर्मिती मंडळ.
  4. History And Legend In Hyderabad,p.14
  5. History And Legend In Hyderabad,p.14
  6. Ghosh, A. (ed.) (1959). Indian Archaeology - A Review 1958-59. Department of Archaeology, Government of India. pp. 68–9.
  7. "भोकरदन Bhokardan (Bhogvardhan)". मराठी विश्वकोश (in Marathi). 5 February 2019.
  8. Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Delhi: Pearson Education. p. 398. ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9.
  9. Mariam Dossal and Ruby Maloni. State Intervention and Popular Response: Western India at the nineteenth century. Popular Prakashan private Ltd. p. 220.
  10. Degulkar, G.B. "भोकरदन". मराठी विश्वकोश (Marathi encyclopedia). 12. Mumbai: महाराष्ट्र राज्य मराठी विश्वकोश निर्मिती मंडळ.
  11. Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.679
  12. Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.678