Buddhist Caves of Khambhalida

Buddhist Caves of Khambhalida / Image Credit

Located in a spectacular landscape between Gondal and Virpur in the Rajkot district of Gujarat, Khambhalida is a famous archeological site containing 15 Buddhist caves dating to 4th-5th century AD. Out of these three are in good condition. The caves are cut in the limestone rock nestled in the both sides of a spring. The main cave features a chaitya. Two large size sculptures of the Bodhisattvas on both sides of the chaitya are the masterpieces of Khambhalida.

These Bodhisattvas are: Avalokitesvara (the Lord who Looks Down), also called Padmapani (the Lotus –Bearer) on right and Vajrapani on left. Vajrapani is considered the foe of evil and sin in Buddhism. Both the figures are surrounded by attendants.

The Khambhalida caves were discovered by famous archeologist P. P. Pandya way back in 1958.

 

 

Nelakondapalli- Buddhist Site in Telangana

Erradibba Buddhist Stupa Khammam, Telangana / Image Credit 

22 km from Khammam town in the state of Telangana is situated the famous Buddhist destination of Nelakondapalli which boasts an imposing Maha Stupa. The place, where Buddhism was in a flourishing state in the bygone era, attracted scholars and philosophers from across South Asia in the ancient times.

In the ancient times, Nelakondapalli was known for producing images of Buddha. Excavations at the site in 1970s, 80s and 90s have unearthed viharas, bronze idol of Buddha and other Buddhist relics dating back to 3rd and 4th century AD. A 3rd century Buddha statue from Nelakondapally was exhibited in Early Buddhist Art exhibition at The Met, New York, in 2023. This limestone Buddha statue in Abhaya Mudra  was unearthed during the 1977 excavation in a locality known as Erradibba between Nelakondapalli and Mujjigudem villages in Khammam district. 

Fort Aguada

Fort Aguada / Image Credit

Attractions of the diminutive state of Goa lie not solely in its natural aspects. In addition to the stunning beaches, the state offers attractions that are a magnet for history buffs. Fort Aguada in the sate is one such monument that entices tourists and history lovers alike.  

18 km from Goan capital of Panaji, Fort Aguada offers evocative glimpses of the past. Spectacular views can be enjoyed from the fort. Situated on Sinquerim beach, the Aguada fort was built in the early 17^th century by the Portuguese power in India to safeguard their dominions against the foreign invasions.

Portuguese were the common enemy of the English and the Dutch when the last two entered the East. 

Portugal was the first European power to establish factories and trading settlements in India in the early 16th century. Portuguese were followed by Dutch, British, Danes and French. 

The Aguada fort in North Goa takes its name from ‘agua’ meaning ‘watering place” in Portuguese.

Chauhans of Ranthambore

Founded by  Govindaraja IV (son of Prithviraja III) in 1194, Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Ranastambhapura (Ranthambore) was an Indian dynasty.  Govindaraja was succeeded by his son Valhana.  Valhana's son and successor was Prahlada who died of injuries sustained in a lion hunt. 

Vira Narayan was the next ruler who was poisoned to death by Slave sultan Iltutmish. After Vira Narayan, Balhana's younger son Vagabhata ascended the throne. He recaptured Ranthambore during the reign of the Delhi ruler Razia, daughter of Iltutmish. Vagabhata successfully defended the fort against the Delhi Sultanate's invasions in 1248 and 1253 CE dung the reign of Nasiruddin Mahmud who later on became Sultan Balban in Delhi. Vagabhata has been described as a powerful king in Tabaqat-i-Nasiri by Minhaj-us-Siraj. 

Vagabhata was succeeded by his son Jaitrasimha who ruled for 32 years till 1282. After Jaitrasimha Hammira ascended the throne. Hammira was the last and most famous of the Chauhans of Ranthambhor, who was defeated and killed in 1301 in a siege of his capital Ranthambhor by Khilji Sultan Alauddin Khilji (reigned 1296 – 1316).

Hammira Mahakavya by Nayachandra Suri

One of the latest famous important works of Sanskrit literature, Hammira Mahakavya is an epic poem written in 15th-century by a Jain monk Nayachandra Suri. The poem deals with the life of Hammira, the last and most famous of the Chauhans of Ranthambhor, who was defeated and killed in 1301 in a siege of his capital Ranthambhor by Khilji Sultan Alauddin Khilji (reigned 1296 – 1316).

Nayachandra extols Hammira for his generosity to Brahmanas and respect for all schools of Indian philosophy including Jainism. According to the text, he was a patron of the poet Bijaditya.

Gita Govinda By Jayadeva

Gita Govinda 

Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) is a Sanskrit poem written by the 12th century Bengali poet Jayadeva who adorned the court of Lakshman Sena of Sena Dynasty. Divided into 12 sections, Gita Govinda is a series of dramatic lyrics intended for singing, and describes the love of Krishna for Radha and milkmaids. The poem is still sung at the festivals of the Bengali Vaisnavite sects. Its singing is especially prominent at an annual spring fair in the village of Kenduli in West Bengal's Birbhum dıstrict. According to one school of thought, Kenduli in West Bengal is identified as the birthplace of Jayadeva.

Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) Manuscript / Image Credit

Gita Govinda begins with an invocation to the ten incarnations of Vishnu. As a matter of fact, the poem contains one of the earliest lists of incarnations of Vishnu. According to Gita Govinda, Vishnu became Buddha out of compassion for animals in order to put an end to bloody sacrifice.

By the fifteenth century, the Gitagovinda was sufficiently popular in Puri to be incorporated into the ritual of the Jagannatha temple. An inscription located on the left side of the Jayavijaya doorway, written in Oriya language and script and dated A.D. 1499, prescribes the performance of the Gitagovinda in the temple.  

Gita Govinda was translated into English by Orientalist Sir William Jones in 1792 and was published in the Transactions of the Asiatic Society in Calcutta. The poem has also been translated into many Indian languages and many other modern European languages. 

Mughal Empire Quiz

Q.1. Salimgarh Fort, lying adjacent to the Red Fort in Delhi, was built by

(A) Jahangir

(B) Shah Jahan

(C) Islam Shah Suri

(D) Bahadur Shah Zafar

Answer

(C)

Jalal Khan who ascended the throne with the title of Islam Shah after the death of Sher Shah Suri, the founder of Sur dynasty. Islam Shah is more popularly known as Salim Shah. The fort he built in Delhi is also known as Salimgarh Fort, lying adjacent to the Red Fort. 

Before India got Independence from the British Rule, prisoners from the Indian National Army (INA) were also imprisoned in this fort from 1945 until India's independence in August 1947. Hence, Salimghar Fort is now renamed as Swatantrata Senani Smarak in memory of the prisoners who died in this fort prison.