Indian History

After Muhammad Shah 's  death in A.D. 1445, his son, Alauddin Alam Shah (reigned 1445–51), succeeded him to the throne of the Sayyid Dynasty, the fourth in the line of five dynasties that comprised Delhi Sultanate that ruled from 1206 to 1526. Alauddin Alam Shah was more inefficient than his father. Such was his fondness for gratification and aversion to work that he abdicated the throne in favour of Afghan Buhlul Khan Lodi (reigned 1451–89), the governor of Lahore and Sirhind, in 1451 and retired to Badaun (now in Uttar Pradesh), where he died in 1478.  Alam Shah’s only claim to fame lies in the field of architecture. He constructed his father’s tomb which is located in the Lodhi Gardens in central Delhi. He lies buried in a tomb in Badaun in Uttar Pradesh where his mother was also buried.  The tombs of Alam Shah and his mother are an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument. 

Lord Mahavira Vardhamana, known to his followers as Mahavira, was the last of the 24 Tirthankaras (Ford-makers),  saviors and spiritual teachers of the dharma, in Jainism.  He is regarded as the founder of Jainism.  A contemporary of The Buddha, Mahavira was born in village Kundandagrama near Vaishali in Bihar in a kshatriya (the warrior class) family about 599 BC. His father Siddhartha was the chief of the Jnatrikas clan and his mother Trishala was sister of Chetaka, the Licchavis king of Vaishali. Mahavira was also related to Bimbisara, the ruler of Magadha, who was married to Chellana, the daughter of Chetaka. Mahavira was married to Yashoda and had a daughter whose husband, Jamali, became the first disciple of Mahavira. Though Mahavira was educated in all branches of knowledge he shied away from materialistic life. At the age of 30, when his parents were dead, he renounced his family, became an ascetic, and proceeded in search of truth. For over twelve years, he went ...

Throughout most of ancient Indian history, the role of women was more or less confined to the home. Though there are instances where women wielded power and authority, this did not imply the common lot of the women in ancient India. A woman was under the patriarchal authority of her parents, husband and sons. Even under Buddhism which boasted of liberal rules, a nun would be treated as subordinate to her male counterpart. The status of women in ancient India kept on changing at different stages. During the Rig Vedic Period, women were treated equal to man.   During the Vedic period women participated in the public sacrifices alongside men. Some Vedic hymns are attributed to women.  During this period, there were women rishis, and they were treated  with respect and dignity . However with the passage of time the status of women declined.  Manu , one of the famous lawgivers of ancient India, declared that wife, like the slave, has no right to property. He dictated...

After the Buddha's death, Buddhist councils were convened over the period of time to recite approved texts of scriptures and to settle  doctrinal and disciplinary  disputes.  First Buddhist Council Soon after the Buddha’s death in the fifth century BC the first Buddhist Council ( sangiti ) was held at  Sattapanni  cave near the Magadhan capital of Rajagriha (modern Rajgir, Bihar state of India). It was convened to compile the  dhamma  (religious doctrines) and the  vinaya  (monastic code).  Rajagriha, which once served the capital of Bimbisara of Magadhan Empire, is sixty miles to the south-east of the modern Patna, the capital of Bihar.  This council was held under the patronage of the king Ajatashatru with the monk Mahakasyapa, who  presided over the assembly. The council was participated in by five hundred monks. At the council,  Upali , one of the Buddha’s chief disciples, recited the  vinaya pitaka , or Rules of...

Brahma Jinalaya Temple, Lakkundi, Karnataka / Image Credit Karka II , the last ruler of the   Rashtrakuta   dynasty of   Manyakheta   (modern Malkhed in Gulbarga (modern Kalaburagi) district in Karnataka), was overthrown in AD 974 by   Tailapa or Taila II , who started a new line of Chalukyas known as the Chalukyas of Kalyani   (modern day Basavakalyan in the present Bidar district of Karnataka) .  Chalukyas of Kalyani, also known as Western Chalukya dynasty, produced some of the greatest rulers though the genealogy of the rulers of the dynasty is still in the realm of debate. The kingdom established by Tailapa is known as Later Chalukya or the Chalukyas of Kalyani (The earlier Chalukyas being the   Chalukyas of Badami ). There were many Chalukya dynasties. Of them, the four most important were: the Chalukyas of Badami or Vatapi (also known as early western Chalukyas), the   Chalukyas of Vengi   (also known as eastern Chalukyas), t...

The Dragon Palace Temple is a Buddhist temple at Kamptee in Nagpur. 2024 marks the  25th anniversary of Dragon Palace Temple.  Built in 1999 by the contribution from the Japan-based Ogawa Society, Dragon Palace Temple is a pilgrimage site for the Buddhists. 

Bodh Gaya Temple India is  the cradle of Buddhism.  The country is home to many sacred shrines of Buddhism.  Lumbini (in Nepal), Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Sarnath and Kusinagar in Uttar Pradesh, where the four key events of the Buddha’s life, namely birth, attainment of enlightenment, deliverance of the first sermon and death took place respectively, are looked upon with great reverence.  Meditation At Sarnath To these are added four other places which were also intimately associated with the Buddha’s life. These are Shravasti, Sankasya ( Sanskisa) , Rajagriha and Vaishali . These eight places have all along been considered as the eight holy places (ashtamahasthanas) and are well-known pilgrimage destinations. A major centre of Buddhist pilgrimage, Sravasti in Uttar Pradesh is known for being the place where the Buddha spent the major portion of his missionary life.  Jetavana Vihara  Sravasti Donated to Buddha by his devotee Sudatta or Anathapindika, a ric...