Ahichchhatra

2021-06-28T09:44:34Z

2405:201:600F:B047:F8A7:98F0:EB80:3850: /* Jain tradition */

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Ahichchhatra
| native_name =
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| image = Ahichchhatra_Fort_Temple_Bareilly.jpg
| image_size = 270px
| alt =
| caption = One of the large mounds at Ahichchhatra.
| map_type = South Asia#Uttar Pradesh
| map_alt =
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| map_dot_label = Ahichchhatra
| relief = yes
| coordinates = {{Coord|28.371|N|79.136|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| region =
| type = Temples
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| built = c. 1500 BCE
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| cultures = [[Ochre Coloured Pottery culture]], [[Black and red ware]], [[Painted Grey Ware culture]], [[Gupta Empire]]
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[[File:Goddess Ganga. Delhi National Museum ni01-11.jpg|thumb|upright=1|[[Gupta art|Gupta]] [[terracotta]] of the personified [[Ganges]], 5th-6th century CE, [[National Museum, New Delhi]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Harle |first1=James C. |title=The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-06217-5 |page=117 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LwcBVvdqyBkC&pg=PA117 |language=en}}</ref>]]
'''Ahichchhatra''' (or '''Ahichatra''', ''Ahi-Kshetra''), near the modern [[Ramnagar, Bareilly|Ramnagar]] village in [[Aonla, Uttar Pradesh|Aonla tehsil]], [[Bareilly district]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], India, was the ancient [[Capital (political)|capital]] of Northern [[Panchala]], a northern Indian kingdom mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]].<ref name=Malik>{{Cite book |last=Malik |first=Dr Malti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMg-DAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA12 |title=History of India |date=2016 |publisher=New Saraswati House India Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-81-7335-498-4 |pages=51–54 |language=en}}</ref> [[Kampilya]] was the capital of the southern Panchala.

Most of the city was half a mile north-east of the modern village, with a large mound, popularly called the fort, two miles west of this. Several significant finds of sculpture, in both stone and (especially) [[terracotta]] of the early centuries CE, have been made at the site and are now in various museums. Excavations have uncovered nine strata, the lowest from before the 3rd century BCE and the latest from the 11th century CE.<ref>Kala, p. xv</ref>

The city appears to have reached its height during the period of the [[Gupta Empire]]. The region lacks sources of good stone and was a centre for making [[Indian pottery]] at various periods, and in the early CE the temples were decorated with unusually large terracotta [[relief]] panels and sculptures, many of very high quality.<ref>Majumdar, 429-430</ref>

==Names==
The word ''Ahi'' means ''snake'' or ''Naga'' in [[Sanskrit]]. [[Nāga|Nagas]] were a group of ancient people who worshiped serpents. The word ''khsetra'' means ''region'' in Sanskrit. This implies that Ahi-kshetra was a region of Nagas.

Ahikshetra is mentioned as ''Shankavai Samkhyavati'' in ''Vividhatirthakalpa''.{{sfn|Subodh Kapoor|2002|p=16}}

==History==
Its history reaches back to late [[Vedic]] times, at which time it was capital of the Panchala kingdom. The name is written '''Ahikshetras''' as well as '''Ahi-chhatra''', but the local legend of Adi Raja and the Naga, who formed a canopy over his head, when asleep, shows that the later is the correct form. The fort is said to have been built by Adi Raja, whose future elevation sovereignty was foretold by [[Drona]], when he found him sleeping under the guardianship of a serpent with expended hood. The fort is also called '''Adikot'''.{{sfn|Subodh Kapoor|2002|pp=17-19}}
[[File:Panchalas of Adhichhatra.jpg|thumb|Coin of the Panchalas of Ahichhatra (75-50 BCE)<br>'''Obv''' [[Indra]] seated facing on pedestal, holding bifurcated object.<br>'''Rev'''. ''Idramitrasa'' in [[Brahmi]], Panchala symbols.]]
[[File:I38 12karshapana Panchala MACW4540 1ar (8486500958).jpg|thumb|A bronze currency of ½ [[karshapana]] of King Indramitra (ca 75-50 BC?) Of Ahichatra of Panchala. '''Obv:''' A inside a rectangle, a line of 3 symbols, under the name of the king. '''Rev:''' Indra standing on a pedestal without pillars. '''Dimensions:''' 15 mm. '''Weight:''' 4.18 g.]]
[[File:Coin-of-Achyuta.jpg|thumb|Coin of Achyuta, the last Panchala king, showing an 8-spoked wheel and the king's name: Achyu.]]
The last independent ruler of Ahichatra was [[Achyuta of Panchala|Achyuta Naga]], who was defeated by [[Samudragupta]], after which Panchala was annexed into the [[Gupta Empire]].<ref>Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). ''Political History of Ancient India'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.473</ref> The coins of Achyuta found from Ahichatra have a wheel of eight spokes on the reverse and the legend ''Achyu'' on the obverse.<ref>Lahiri, B. (1974). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) '', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.182</ref>

== Archaeology ==
The site was briefly explored by Sir [[Alexander Cunningham]] in 1871, and then excavated by the ASI from 1940 for "about five years".<ref>Kala, p. xv</ref> The excavations found brick fortifications and continuity of occupation from a period before 600 BCE to 1100 CE.<ref>Lahiri, Bela (1972). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.170-88</ref> During the first excavations in 1940–44, the [[Painted Gray Ware]] pottery were found at the earliest level. Ruins of this city could be identified from the remote sensing imagery of IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) satellites. The ruins reveal that the city had a triangular shape. Recent excavations in Ahichchhatra showed it was first inhabited by the middle of the second millennium BC with [[Ochre Coloured Pottery]] culture people, followed by [[Black and Red Ware]] culture. Around 1000 BC, it reached at least 40 hectares of area, making it one of the largest [[Painted Grey Ware]] culture sites. Evidence of construction of early fortifications were discovered around 1000 BC indicating first urban development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.educationtimes.com/article/290/20130917201309171524062507304cdb3/What-Lies-Beneath.html|title=What Lies Beneath|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>http://www.educationtimes.com/article/290/20130917201309171524062507304cdb3/What-Lies-Beneath.html What lies Beneath, B. R. Mani 2013</ref> Near Ahichchhatra, 2 km to its west there is a big pond which is said to trace its ancestry to the time of Mahabharata. The pond, located in the village of Jagannathpur is said to have been made by the pandavas at the time of their forest dwelling ([[vanvas]]).

In the early Gupta period a section of the city set aside for pottery contained very large firing pits, some 10 or 12 feet deep.<ref>Majumdar, 430</ref>

== Jain tradition ==
Ahikshetra is an important religious place for the followers of [[Jainism]] in India.{{dubious|date=June 2021}} Jain literatures cites this as a place where [[Parshvanatha]] attained [[Kevala Jnana]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jainteerth.com/uttar-pradesh-u-p-jain-teerth/shri-ahichchhatra-parshvanath-atishaya-kshetra-ramnagar/|title=Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra, Ramnagar {{!}} JainTeerth.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-22}}</ref>

==Means of approach==
From the Revati Bahoda Khera Station on Chandosi – Bareilly Line, vehicle of Kshetra and other vehicles are available.
Road: - Buses are available from Delhi, Meerut, Aligarh, Lucknow, Kasganj & Badaun.
Train: - Trains are available from Delhi, Bareilly, Agra, Muradabad, Aligarh to Revati Bahoda Khera Station and vehicles are all time available for Ramnagar from Revati Bahoda Khera Station.
Airport: - Delhi 250 km

==Nearby Places==
Nainital – 180 km
Hastinapur Atishaya Kshetra – 200 km
Kampilji Atishaya Kshetra – 180 km
Manglayatan (Aligarh) – 180 km
Bareilly – 55 km

==Sculpture from Ahichchhatra==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Seated Buddha.jpg|Stone Buddha, c. 1st Century CE, Kushan Period
File:The Hindu God Shiva LACMA M.69.15.1 (2 of 3).jpg|Sandstone Shiva, 3rd century
File:Architectural Panel with Goddess LACMA AC1993.239.6 (cropped).jpg|Terracotta architectural panel with Goddess, Gupta period, 5th century
File:Goddess Yamuna. Delhi National Museum ni01-10.jpg|Gupta period terracotta [[Yamuna]], pair to the Ganga above

</gallery>

==Notes==
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==References==
* Kala, Satish Chandra, ''Terracottas in the Allahabad Museum'', p. xv, Abhinav Publications, 1980, {{ISBN|0391022342}}, 9780391022348, [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Ha_C1ofYmxoC&pg=PR16-IA2 google books]
* {{citation |editor-first=Subodh |editor-last=Kapoor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43Fzt-G_-XYC |title=Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography |volume=1 |publisher=Cosmo Publications |year=2002 |isbn=81-7755-298-8 |ref={{sfnref|Subodh Kapoor|2002}} }}
*Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra, ''Vakataka - Gupta Age Circa 200-550 A.D.'', 1986, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., {{ISBN|8120800265}}, 9788120800267, [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OswUZtL1_CUC&pg=PA429 google books]

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[[Category:Ancient Indian cities]]
[[Category:Places in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:History of Jainism]]
[[Category:Jain temples and tirthas]]
[[Category:Indo-Aryan archaeological sites]]

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Ahichchhatra