Magadha and Mahabharata : Archaeological Indications from Rajgir Area

1

• Magadha and Mahabharata Archaeological
  Indications from Rajgir Area
• 
  By
• 
  B.R.Mani

2


Magadha in Early Days

• In his map prepared for understanding the extent
  of Magadha, Cunningham has shown its northern and
  southern areas adjoining the land of the Kikatas
  who were non-Vedic ancient tribes of the region.
• Tradition takes back the political excellence of
  Magadha to the time of the Mahabharata War,
  sometimes in the middle of the second millennium
  BC, if not earlier when it was under the rule of
  Jarasandha.
• Archaeological evidence from many of the
  excavated sites of the region suggest the
  beginning of culture in the neo-chalcolithic
  times. Evidence from Chirand, Taradih, Sonpur,
  Chechar, Maner, Oriup, Manjhi, Senuar etc.
  suggest cultural developments in Anga-Magadha
  area at least in the second millennium BC.
• Recent excavations in and around Rajgir have
  further confirmed existence of the earlier
  culture, making a bridge between tradition and
  archaeology.

3


Magadha in Early Days

4

Rajgir (Ancient Girivraja or Rajagriha)

• Rajgir was known in ancient times with different
  names, such as Vasumat in Ramayana ,
  Barhadrathapura in Mahabharata and Puranas and
  Girivraja in Mahabharata, besides Kusagrapura in
  some Jaina and Buddhist texts. Girivraja was the
  most popular name of the capital city in
  Mahabharata.
• The names of the surrounding hills are also
  found in Mahabharata, Buddhist and Jaina texts.
• Some structures in Rajgir such as
  Jarasandhaki-Baithak and Jarasandha-ka Akhara
  are still connected with the name of Jarasandha,
  the king of Magadha in the time of Mahabharata
  War.
• Buddhaghosha, a Pali commentator mentions two
  fortified parts of city inner and outer (
  antarnagara and bahirnagara ), having 32 large
  and 64 smaller gates. The fortifications are
  still visible.
• The capital city lost its status in the time of
  Udayin (c. 459-443 BC) when the capital was
  shifted to Pataliputra.

5


Rajgir

6

Rajgir

Jarasandh ki Baithak(Size at surface 25m x 23.5m,
Top 24m x 21.50m, maximum height 8.25m), Rajgir
Jarasandh ka Akhara (dual ground), Rajgir

7


The Tradition

• A.D. Pusalkar, in his Book IV (Historical
  Traditions) in the R.C. Majumdar edited The Vedic
  Age (Bombay, 1971) has described The Krishna
  Period (c. 1950-1400 B.C.) and the Bharata War in
  C. 1400 B.C.
• Barhadratha dynasty ruled over the kingdom of
  Magadha with its capital at Girivraja (Rajgir) at
  the time of the Bharata War and Mahabharata
  describes legends connected with the birth and
  also about the death of its ruler Jarasandha who
  was son of Brihadratha.

8


The Storey

• The two wives of Brihadratha gave birth to two
  halves of a boy and horrified royal family threw
  them away. A female man-eating demon named Jara
  picked them up and put them together to carry
  them off. On their coming in contact a boy was
  formed and the father gave him the name of
  Jarasandha, because he had been put together by
  Jara.
• Jarasandha became an ardent worshipper of Lord
  Siva and prevailed over many kings and married
  two of his daughters with Kansa, the maternal
  uncle of Krishna. He attacked Krisna 18 times but
  was often defeated. He had many kings in
  captivity who were freed when Krishna went to his
  capital along with Bhima and Arjuna and got him
  killed by Bhima.

9
The Tradition

• Jarasandhas son Sahadeva became an ally of the
  Pandavas and was killed in the war.
• Somadhi became king of Girivraja, at the foot of
  which Rajagriha (modern Rajgir ) , the ancient
  capital of Magadha grew up. Ripunjaya, the 21st
  in descent from Somadhi was the last ruler of
  the dynasty, killed by his minister Pulika who
  installed his son Pradyota on the throne.
• According to the Puranas, the dynasty of Pradyota
  ruled for five generations covering a period of
  138 years and was supplanted by Sisunaga.
  Bimbisara (c. 543-491 BC)and his son Ajatasatru
  (c. 491-459 BC), the contemporaries of Buddha
  and Mahavira were 5th and 6th kings of the new
  dynasty.
• It is possible that many historical facts and
  genealogical details have been wrongly jumbled
  together and placed in false sequence. In spite
  of this, it is quite evident that there must have
  been more than 25 generation of rule if not of 33
  generations between the Mahabharata War and the
  time of Buddha and Mahavira which could be placed
  towards the second half of the second millennium
  BC.

10


Rajgir The Cyclopean Wall

• A. Ghosh says At a very early stage in the
  life of the city the natural defences were
  substantially re-inforced by a fortification
  consisting of a high rubble wall running at the
  top of all the hills, with a circuit of about 25
  miles and the natural gaps between the hills were
  utilised as gates in the fortification. Inside
  the valley were other defencive walls built in
  different periods.. (AI, No.7).
• Attributing constructions to Jarasandha, it
  has been opined Such Cyclopean fortification
  walls have been found in ancient Greece
  (Mycenaean city and Tiryns) and placed in the
  later half of 2nd millennium B.C. (1400-1300
  B.C.). (S.C.Saran in Purabharati, Delhi, 2006,
  Vol.1, p.27).

Cyclopean wall near southern gateway(Old Rajgir)

11


Rajgir

• Construction of buildings of new Rajagriha and
  its fortification belong to the time of Bimbisara
  and Ajatasatru as also indicated by literary
  texts.

12

Rajgir

Chariotswheel mark/impression near Banganga
Pass, Rajgir
Sankh Lipi (Shell Script) near the spot of
Chariots wheel mark/impression near Banganga
Pass , Rajgir

13


Rajgir Excavations 1950

• A small scale excavation was carried out at
  Rajgir by A. Ghosh in 1950 ( Rajgir 1950, Ancient
  India, No.7, ASI,1951, pp.66-78).
• The cultural sequence as mentioned by A. Ghosh
  is as below
• Period I earlier than the fifth
  century B.C.
• Period II fifth century B.C. (or
  earlier) to second century B.C.
• Period III first century B.C.
• Period IV first century A.D.
• Period I was characterised by about 1.20m
  deposit having rolled rare sherds, burnt earth
  and charcoal pieces. Period II with a deposit of
  about 2.40m having three phases is characterised
  by the presence of NBPW.
• An interesting feature noticed in the limited
  excavation was the evidence of ten post-cremation
  burials, previously unknown.
• The conventional date of NBPW believed by the
  excavator, needs revision in view of the large
  number of scientifically determined dates from
  many recent excavations and accordingly the
  chronological sequence could be pushed back to
  several centuries.

14



15



16


Southern Gateway of New Rajgriha

17

Rajgir 1950


18


New Evidence of Early Cultures from Rajgir Area

• Habitational deposits from two of the recent
  excavatios in the Rajgir area by the Excavation
  Branch, Patna of the Archaeological Survey of
  India have indicated the beginning of culture in
  the area in the middle of the second millennium
  BC.
• Both of these sites have yielded some sherds
  of Painted Grey Ware (PGW), generally associated
  with the Mahabharata.
• These sites are
• 1) Juafardih, near Nalanda (2006-07)
• 2) Ghorakatora, near Giryak in Rajgir
  (2007-08)

19

• Juafardih
• A potential Stupa Mound, with Pre-NBPW Remains
  in Nalanda excavated by ASI

20
Excavations at Juafardih

• Juaffardih at 2 km south-west of Nalanda has
  been excavated during 2006-2007 by the Excavation
  Branch, Patna (ASI) under S.C.Saran.
• The mound as identified by the author as a stupa
  in 2005-06 and after excavations has revealed
  remains of a mud stupa of Mauryan period(c.3rd
  century BCE) which was constructed in the last
  phase of the habitation of Period II of the
  site, marked with the presence of NBPW and other
  related ceramics lying over the layers of
  chalcolithic habitational deposits.
• The excavator has identified it with Kulika, the
  place of birth and nirvana of Mahamoggalana,
  desciple of Lord Buddha.
• A rich deposit of 10.61m belonging to the Period
  II (NBPW Period) having three phases has 4 C14
  dates , as 857 BC,1002 BC, 1562 BC and 1259 BC,
  comparable to early dates of NBPW from Ayodhya,
  Agiabir, Rajdhani, Gotihwa and Jhusi.
• The single C14 date from the cultural deposit of
  Pre-NBPW (Chalcolithic Period) is 1354 BC which
  has been found to be consistent.
• .

21
Juafardih Excavations 2006-07
22

Ghorakatora, Near Giriyak

• Ghorakatora (Lat.25 0157N Long85 3131E) is
  located near Giriyak on the bank of river
  Panchane in district Nalanda .
• It is located about 19 Km south-east of Nalanda .
  It is further located 8 Km east of Rajgir.

• The mound- It is a massive one with an area of
  22.74 acres of land.
• It measures about 800 m X 500 m.
• The approximate height of the mound is 7 mtr.

23


Recent findings from the excavations at
Ghorakatora

• The archaeology of Ghorakatora has pushed back
  the chronology of Rajgir and its neighborhood to
  the stage of emergence of the early farming as
  was done for Nalanda by the findings at Jufardih.
  
• The site is located below the foothills of
  Giriyak, spread between the flood plain of
  Panchane and Goithawan.
• The location of the site provides natural
  resources for metal and minerals and stone,
  besides games of wild animals and situation for
  agro-pastoral subsistence.
• The excavation has reported following sequence
  early farming stage of neolithic/chalcolithic
  nature Iron age NBPW (Mauryan) Sung, Kushan
  Gupta and Post Gupta denoting assemblage of Pala
  period.
• From the post Gupta levels a number of storage
  jars have been reported in situ suggesting
  surplus production of agricultural produce and
  their storage and marketing.

24

Ghorakatora

• Previous Archaeological works
• F. Buchanan (1811-12) for the first time noticed
  the mound .
• During the survey he had found a good number of
  Hindu and Buddhist sculptures.
• He also referred to about a small square fort
  with bastions at the corners , veneered with
  bricks.
• Major Kittoe in 1847 visited the site and
  described this mound as a citadel which is
  parallelogram in shape.
• Broadley in 1872 mentioned it ruins of a fort.
• Alexander Cunningham in 1861-62 mentioned a
  small mud fort at the centre of the mound. He
  further noticed several sculpture at the northern
  end of the mound. One of which may be assignable
  to 11th century A.D.
• John Marshall along with his team carried out
  archaeological investigations in 1905-06 in some
  areas of Rajgir and A. Ghosh in 1950, but
  Ghorakatora was not investigated by them.
• K.K. Sharma in 1987 reported about NBPW, Grey
  ware, Black slipped ware, Red ware, Glazed ware.
  He also observed the remains of the brick
  structures having the brick jsize of 41x28x61
  cms.

25

Ghorakatora

• Recent Work Excavations in 2007-08
• Important finds are
• Remains of burnt bricks structures
• About a dozen of ring wells
• Pottery Black and Red Ware
• Black Slipped Ware
• NBPW
• Red ware
• Shapes include bowls , lipped bowls, vases with
  narrow mouth, spouted vases and basing.
• Antiquities Terracotta beads of Areca nut
  shape and barrel shape.
• Terracotta bangle
  pieces, sling balls, fragments of rattle.
• Terracotta plaque of
  Sunga period.
• The excavation was conducted by P. K. Mishra,
  Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Patna Circle
  and Excavation Branch I
• Trenches were laid out by following the
  principles of Horizontal excavation.
• The mound was divided into grids, each measuring
  10x10m.
• Altogether 24 numbers of trenches were excavated.
• Tentative Chronology of the site

26

Chalcolithic Ghorakatora

• Structure
• Period I representing 1.4m cultural deposit
  exposes remains of chalcolithic period resting on
  the natural soil.
• The structure are found from this level are
  wattle and daub structure. The people of that age
  were living in huts made of reeds, frame and mud
  plaster over it. Finding of some burnt daubs
  revealed from excavation substantiates the facts.
• Pottery
• Period I (1500B.C.to 800B.C.)-Ceramic assemblage
  of chalcolithic period in this sites classified
  as
• Black and Red ware
• Black ware
• Black slipped ware
• Red ware
• Black and Red ware pottery from excavations may
  be compared with that of Chirand (Dist. - Saran)
  and Sonpur (Dist- Gaya). The fabric of this ware
  varies form coarse to fine variety. The types
  include dish-on- stand vases, bowls, dish, basin,
  lipped basin, storage jar, handi with carination
  on the shoulder, long necked jar, suspended jars
  and perforated basins.
• The important shapes are vases, bowls, dish, lid
  cum bowls etc. Deep bowl, basin and dish are the
  common types in B R ware which belong to the Pre
  NBPW phase. Paintings have been observed in Red
  ware and Grey ware. The painted motifs. Some of
  them are treated with Red slip. The fabric
  ranges from coarse to medium. The the types
  include vases with narrow mouth vases with wide
  mouth, carrinated handis, bowls, Ramps, lids,
  basins and storage Jars.
• Antiquities
• Polished stone celts.
• Fragments of stone Quern
• Pestle
• Sling ball
• Terracotta beads

27

Ghorakatora

Brick wall with storage jars, B2 x I
Section facing east A4 x IV

28


Ghorakatora Excavations

29

Ghorakatora

Stone celts (chalcolithic period)
Grains and charcoal recourse recovered through
floatation process (chalcolithic period)

30

Ghorakatora

Burnt clay showing evidence of wattle daub
structures, Chalcolotic period
Kauri

31


Chalcolithic Ghorakatora
NBPW, Red Ware, Black- and -red ware sherds

32


Chalcolithic Ghorakatora

33

Chalcolithic Ghorakatora

Storage jars, chalcolothic period
Terracotta objects, chalcolothic period

34

Ghorakatora


35


Ghorakatora

36

Historical Ghorakatora


37

Historical Ghorakatora


38

Ghorakatora


39


To Sum up.....

• The event of Mahabharata War could be placed
  in the second half of the second millennium BC as
  indicated by genealogical calculations as well as
  archaeological evidence from Mahabharata related
  sites and distribution of certain ceramics
  including Painted Grey Ware.
• The event is tentatively put around 1400 BC
  although another view takes it back to about 3102
  BC as per tradition of Yudhishthira era.
• Girivraja or Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) is
  mentioned as capital of Magadha and ruled by
  Jarasandha at the time of the great war.
• Archaeological evidence from recent
  excavations in and around Rajgir and other parts
  of Anga-Magadha region confirm cultural
  activities in the middle of the second millennium
  BC and possibly even earlier.

40


And finally.....

• Detailed study in future at Rajgir is
  required to understand
• The period of Cyclopean Wall and other
  fortifications and
• structures
• The period of chariots wheel marks
• Tradition of female demons Jara of
  Mahabharata and Hariti of
• the time of the Buddha
• Tradition of naming of kings such as
  Brihadratha (the first of the
• Barhadratha and the last of the Maurya
  dynasty
• Tradition of special archaeological
  evidence of perforated and
• curiously made multi-spouted ritualistic
  jars at Maniyarmath
• and post-cremation burials
• Nature of earlier settlements etc.

41
Thanks