50-489: Eran is an ancient town and archaeological site in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh , India. It was one of the ancient mints for Indian dynasties as evidenced by the diverse coins excavated here. The site has 5th and 6th-century Gupta era temples and monuments, particularly the colossal stone boar with sages and scholars depicted on the body of the sculpture. The inscription stones found at Eran are important to reconstructing
100-486: A few broken statues and most of the torana pillars gone. Next to the Varaha temple remnants are two terraces, one to the south that is 13 feet (4.0 m) sided square, another 13.5 feet (4.1 m) by 9.25 feet (2.82 m). These were likely temples too, but they are lost. The Vishnu Temple is to the north of the Varaha temple. It has a damaged colossal statue of Vishnu that is 13.17 feet (4.01 m) high. This temple
150-406: A late 19th-century archaeologist, states that "copper coins of Eran are the finest specimen" that he found across India, as well "remarkable also for presenting the largest and smallest specimens of old Indian money". The largest coin has measured about 1.1 inches (28 mm) and the smallest about 0.2 inches (5.1 mm) in diameter. Cunningham grouped the found coins in four: The common motifs on
200-399: A sanctum. Cunningham states that there was also a mandapa in front because of the ruins of pillars he saw. He found two carved 10 feet high pillars which were "remarkably fine specimens of Hindu decorative art". About 33 feet (10 m) in front of what is now the Varaha platform, there is another stone 6 feet by 3.5 feet. It is aligned with the temple alignment and set into the ground. On it
250-539: A systematic report, suggested a rectangular shrine. Later scholars such as Catherine Becker suggests that it was likely larger, more along the lines of one found in Khajuraho shrine for Varaha. The Colossal Varaha at Eran is the earliest known completely theriomorphic iconography for the Varaha avatar of Vishnu. The scene shown is the return of Varaha after he had successfully killed the oppressive demon Hiranyaksha , found and rescued goddess earth (Prithivi, Bhudevi), and
300-513: Is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India . The town of Sagar serves as its administrative center. Sagar district is called the heart district of India. Tropic of Cancer (23°3') passes through Rangir Tiraha on NH26 present NH44 in Sagar district. The district has an area of 10,252 km², and a population of 2,378,458 (2011 census), an increase of 45% or by 732,260 inhabitants from its 1991 population of 1,646,198. Sagar district
350-668: Is a month of the Hindu calendar that corresponds to June/July in the Gregorian calendar . In India's national civil calendar , this month is the fourth month of the year, beginning on 22 June and ending on 22 July. In Hindu astrology , Ashada begins with the Sun 's entry into Gemini . It is the first of the two months that comprise the monsoon season. The corresponding month in the Bengali calendar , Aṣaṛh ( Bengali : আষাঢ় "Ashadha"),
400-521: Is a 232-year-old temple dedicated to Parshvantha. This idol is 7 feet in height in Padmasana posture built in Black Stone with three serpent hoods. This temple was built by Seth Radha Kishanjun Shah with the earnings of one day in the business of Cotton in 1782 (V.S. 1839). Mangalgiri is a holy Jain temple located in Sagar. This is the main centre of faith among Jains. The kshetra situated just on
450-426: Is a large shell script inscription that remains undeciphered. It is probably the stone that formed the original temple's entrance. About 15 feet (4.6 m) in front of this entrance stone is the ruined leftovers of a torana (Hindu arched gateway). The gateway pillars are broken, but one of them survives and it is ornamented ("G" in the plan drawings). Cunningham searched for broken parts of the pillars, but only found
500-459: Is also mostly ruined, but shows signs of having a sanctum, a mandapa and all the elements of a Hindu temple. Just like the Varaha temple, the Vishnu temple had intricately carved pillars, but with a different design. Parts of the door jamb before the sanctum have survived, and these show the traditional river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna as flanking the sanctum entrance, but they are positioned nearer to
550-521: Is carved on the chest of a freestanding 11 feet (3.4 m) high red sandstone boar statue, a zoomorphic iconography of Vishnu avatar, and dated to the 6th century. The inscription names king Toramana , a King of the Alchon Huns , as ruling over Malwa ("governing the earth") and records that a Dhanyavishnu is dedicating a stone temple to Narayana (Vishnu). The fourth inscription is badly damaged, but important. The inscription mentions Bhanugupta and
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#1732766269042600-471: Is dated to 484–485 CE. It is s Vaishnava inscription. It describes that the Gupta kingdom stretched from Kalindi River to Narmada River, that the inscription marks the raising of a column in honour of Janardana , another name of Vishnu . The Eran boar inscription of Toramana is a stone inscription with 8 lines of Sanskrit, first three of which are in meter and rest in prose, written in a North Indian script. It
650-458: Is dedicated to the Varaha avatar of Vishnu. Typically, Varaha is presented in Hindu temples as a man-boar avatar. In Eran, it is a colossal theriomorphic representation of the Varaha legend, which Catherine Becker calls an "iconographic innovation". The boar is made of stone, but the intricate carving of the surface of its body, a goddess hanging by its right tusk, inscriptions and other details make
700-438: Is dominated by Sonis , Jains and Yadavs . As of 2011, it is the third most populous district of Madhya Pradesh, after Indore and Jabalpur . Bina Sagar is the second largest city and important industrial city of the district. Bina has Bina Thermal Power Plant , Bina Refinery , Railway MEMU shed and a major railway junction of Madhya Pradesh state. Firstly, Sagar was under the rules of Ahir-Rajas and their capital
750-564: Is from Samvat 1361 (1304 CE). The Bhanugupta inscription does not use the word sati or equivalent and the inscription was interpolated by Fleet in the first edition, later revised in the second edition: Line 7 (actual surviving inscription): bhakt=anurakta cha priya cha kanta bhr=alag=anugat=agirsim Line 7 (Fleet's interpolation): bhakt=anurakta ch priya cha kanta bh[a]r[y]=a[va]lag[n]=anugat=ag[n]ir[a]sim Fleet's translation (1st edition): and (his) devoted, attached, beloved, and beauteous wife, in close companionship, accompanied (him) onto
800-641: Is inscribed on the reverse of the Sridharavarman pillar. It also mentions the death of chieftain or noble Goparaja in a battle the 191st year without mentioning calendar system. This is generally accepted as Gupta era 191, or 510 CE. It also mentions the cremation of Goparaja, and his wife also cremated herself on the funeral pyre. This, states Shelat, is one of the earliest recorded instances of Sati . Cunningham did not comment on this Bhanugupta-Goparaja inscription, but did comment on three Sati stones he found and stated that earliest Sati stone monument he found
850-467: Is located in the middle of the state. The tropic of cancer passes through Sagar district. It is surrounded by Ashoknagar , Vidisha , Raisen , Narsinghpur , Damoh and Chhatarpur districts. Total area of Sagar district is 10,252 km2. Sagar is situated in Vindhya mountain ranges and eastern part of Malwa plateau. Sunar , Dhasan , Bina , Bewas, are the major rivers of the district. According to
900-541: Is now a small town surrounded by many mounds, likely archaeological remains of its distant past. The archaeological site nearby Eran has revealed several Gupta Empire era inscriptions . The town of Eran has a museum with a collection of archaeological relics. The first epigraphical evidence of sati (immolation of widow) is found in an inscription at Eran, the Inscription of Bhanugupta (510 CE). The following sequence of cultures have been obtained and carbon dated at
950-559: Is the third month. In lunar religious calendars, Ashadha begins on a new moon and is usually the fourth month of the year. Rath Yatra that is dedicated to Jagannath is held in the month of Asadha every year in Puri and other places. Guru Purnima , a festival dedicated to the Guru , is celebrated on the Purnima (Full Moon) day of the month. Prior to it Shayani Ekadashi , is observed on
1000-462: The 2011 census , Sagar District has a population of 2,378,458, This gives it a ranking of 188th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 232 inhabitants per square kilometre (600/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 17.62%. Sagar has a sex ratio of 896 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 77.52%. 29.80% of
1050-752: The Peshwa's possession. In 1818, the greater part of the district was ceded by the Peshwa Baji Rao II to the British Government, while the remainder of the present district of Sagar came into the possession of the British between 1818 and 1860. Thereafter in 1861, the Saugor and Nerbudda territories (along with the Nagpur state) formed a Commissioner's Province called Central Provinces. Sagar was
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#17327662690421100-538: The back, each looking over their 180 degree space, one with the temples, the other towards the town. Near the platform, on the side facing the temples, is a Sanskrit inscription. It mentions the year 165 and the Hindu calendar month of Ashadha , and dedication to Vishnu- Janardhana . The Gupta year 165 implies that the pillar was dedicated in 484/485 CE. The pillar is sometimes referred to as the Buddhagupta pillar or Bhima pillar. The most unusual and remarkable temple
1150-799: The biggest hotel in Sagar, the Paradise Hotel, many CBSE and MP board schools, as well as a government engineering college. Many army bases are located in Makronia. Also Makronia Nagar Palika, there are many Engineering Colleges in Makronia, as there is a shortage of space in the City, development is moving towards the Makronia Region. Ashadha Ashadha or Aashaadha or Adi ( Hindi : आसाढ़ Āsāṛh or आषाढ Āṣāḍh ; Assamese : আহাৰ ahar ; Odia : ଆଷାଢ଼ Āṣāḍh ; Bengali : আষাঢ় Āṣāḍh ; Nepali : असार asār ; Gujarati : અષાઢ )
1200-475: The chronology of Gupta Empire history. Eran or Erakina was the capital of Erakina ( Airikina ) Pradesha or Airkina Vishaya , an administrative division of the Gupta Empire . The ancient name of Eran ( Sanskrit : ऐरण ), Erakaina , Erakanya or Erakina (as mentioned in the inscriptions); Airikina ( Sanskrit : ऐरिकिण , as mentioned in the inscription of Samudragupta ) or Erikina (as mentioned in
1250-454: The coin include goddess Lakshmi seated with two elephants flanking her as if spraying water, horses, elephants, bull, trees (probably Bodhi), flowers particularly lotus, swastikas, rivers, Buddhist symbols such as dharmachakra and tri-ratna, triangles. Almost all coins, states Cunningham, show an unusual symbol consisting of a cross with circle in four sections. One of the coins found in Eran with
1300-467: The eleventh lunar day ( Ekadashi ) of the bright fortnight ( Shukla paksha ). " Aadi amavasai " is an important festival in Tamil Nadu and auspicious for Amman. In many parts of Nepal , the arrival of monsoon marks a special time for cultivating rice. This occasion starts with farmers, men and women, planting rice ( Nepali : राेपाइँ ) while singing plantation songs. The farmers then participate in
1350-528: The excavations. The Saka ( Indo-Scythian ) king Sridharavarman , who ruled in Central India circa 339-368 CE, made an inscription of a small pillar at Eran, together with his Naga military commander. Bhanugupta later also wrote his inscription on the same pillar, circa 510 CE. It seems that the inscription of Sridharavarman is succeeded chronologically by a monument and an inscription by Gupta Empire Samudragupta (r.336-380 CE), established "for
1400-470: The first one to the reign of Sultan Mahmud Khilchi of Mandugar-durg and Chanderi, the second to 1664 CE during the reign of Patisahi Sahi Jahan who Cunningham speculated was likely a jagir and noble in court of Shah Jahan, and a third stone he dated to 1774 CE during the rule of Pandit Balwant Rau Govind and Balaji Tuka Deva. Sagar district 23°48′N 78°40′E / 23.800°N 78.667°E / 23.800; 78.667 Sagar district
1450-419: The floor like late Gupta era temples. Cunningham dated this temple as probably built in 5th or 6th century, about two or three centuries after the neighboring early Gupta era Varaha temple. The remnants of the entrance, wrote Cunningham, are "lavishly decorated", with the surviving reliefs showing daily life and rites-of-passage scenes. Near the temple are ruins of a gateway and other monuments, including one which
1500-439: The funeral pyre. Fleet's translation (2nd edition): and (his) devoted, attached, beloved, and beauteous wife, clinging (to him), entered into the mass of fire (funeral pyre). Eran site has yielded additional sati stones. Alexander Cunningham mentioned three inscribed Sati stones in and around the Eran site including villages across the river in his archaeological survey report for 1874–1875. With inscriptions on them, he dated
1550-400: The goddess is back safely. The Eran Varaha statue is significant for several reasons: The temple was built by king Dhyana Vishnu. Cunningham and others found it in ruins with pillars broken that suggest its destruction at some point rather than natural erosion. The boar stood on. It is 13.83 feet (4.22 m) long, 11.17 feet (3.40 m) high and 5.125 feet (1.562 m) wide. It was inside
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1600-545: The headquarters of the Sagar Commissionership for a short period until 1863–64 when this district was incorporated with Jabalpur Commissionership. In the year 1932, the district of Damoh was added to the Sagar district and was administered as a Sub-Division. In 1956, however, Damoh Sub-Division was again separated from the district to form a separate district and the Sagar district consisted of four tehsils viz, Sagar , Khurai , Rehli , Banda . Sagar district
1650-625: The inscription of Toramana ) is derived from Eraka . The word erakā probably refers to a tall grass commonly called the Elephant cattail, botanical name Typha elephantina , which grows at Eran in abundance. Eran is located on the south bank of Bina River in Madhya Pradesh. It is about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north-northeast of the ancient Vidisha-Sanchi-Udayagiri site, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) west-northwest of Sagar, and about 160 kilometres (99 mi) northeast of Bhopal. At
1700-449: The last few centuries of the 1st millennium BCE through the 7th-century have been discovered here. Over 3,000 coins found here have been dated to between 300 BCE to 100 CE. Square coins were Eran's specialty and these predominate in excavated discoveries. According to Brown, the ancient Erakina or Eran mint innovated the "die-method" a far more perfect technique to make coins than "punch-marked coins", thereby distinguishing itself. Cunningham,
1750-583: The mud festival, throwing mud at each other and welcoming the monsoon season. The festival ends with people sharing " dahi chiura ( Nepali : दही चिउरा )" (literally "beaten rice with curds") with each other. Kakkada month in Kodava calendar in Coorg, is considered one of the significant and auspicious days. Aati soppu , kakkada paayasa are the delicacies prepared on this day. In many parts of Gujarat , Dashamaa Vart dedicated to Dashamaa or Momai maa
1800-540: The name 'Erakannya' or 'Erakana' in the Brahmi script have also been found at Eran. Cunningham proposed that the symbol of the river represent the river Bina on which the village stands. He also surmised that the semi-circle on the coins was representative of the old Eran town. Which was probably so shaped. Bronze coin of Eran of the 3rd Century B.C was found at Sulur , in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu in one of
1850-585: The name Dharmapala stamped on it is in Brahmi script. This copper coin is presently displayed in the British Museum, in London. This, stated Cunningham in 1891, is among the earliest inscribed coins in India. On the paleographic grounds this coin has been assigned to the late 3rd century BCE. Another circular lead piece bearing the name of another ruler "Indragupta", assignable to the same period has been discovered at Eran. Several inscribed copper coins bearing
1900-410: The outskirts of Sagar has the distinction of having the heaviest idol of Lord Mahavir weighing 9 MT made of brass and 11.25 feet high. A former Dr H. S. Gour University started from Makronia's SAF Campus so many historic events are connected through Makronia . This region is developing as the suburban region near Sagar City. It is just 5 km away from the city. It has its separate railway station,
1950-560: The population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Tribes made up 21.09% and 9.33% of the population respectively. Languages of Sagar district (2011) At the time of the 2011 Census of India , 55.38% of the population in the district spoke Hindi and 42.93% Bundeli as their first language. There are 8 Constituencies in the district. Neminagar Jain Tirth is in Banda tehsil located 30 km from Sagar on National Highway NH-86. It
2000-538: The remnants on the plinth confirm that they once did. The broken pillars found at the site among the ruins, and who dimensions match the leftover plinth profile, show that the pillars were intricately carved. The sanctum had a 7 feet (2.1 m) high Narasimha statue, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu. Old Temple of Lord Hanuman, About 750 CE. Eran was likely one of the ancient mints for Indian kingdoms, along with Vidisha, Ujjain, and Tripuri. A large number of antique coins, of different styles, shapes and inscriptions spanning
2050-650: The sake of augmenting his fame", who may therefore have ousted Sridharavarman in his campaigns to the West. The Eran Inscription of Samudragupta (336-380 CE) is presently stored in Kolkata Indian Museum . The inscription, in red sandstone, was found not far to the west of the ruined temple of the boar. Though damaged and much of the inscription is missing, this was a significant find, states Cunningham, because on it are numeral scripts, with at least "2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7" preserved. The Budhagupta inscription
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2100-399: The shape of a reeded bell of 3.5 feet (1.1 m) height and 3 feet (0.91 m) diameter. On top of the capital is an abacus of 1.5 feet (0.46 m) height, then a cube of 3 feet (0.91 m) and finally 5 feet (1.5 m) double statue of Garuda holding a snake in his hands, with a chakra wheel behind his head. Garuda, the vahana of Vishnu, is depicted as two fused people, sharing
2150-445: The site of Eran Period I: Chalcolithic (1800 BC-700 BC) Period II: Early historic (700 BC-2nd century BC) Period IIB: 2nd century BC - 1st century AD Period III: 1st century - 600 AD Period IV: late medieval (16th century AD - 18th century AD) The complex initially consisted in a twin temple dedicated to Vāsudeva and Saṃkarṣaṇa , and guarded by the 13 meter Garuda pillar. A group of ancient Hindu temples are located to
2200-493: The site, the river makes an inverted "U" turn, surrounding it with water on three sides, which Cunningham stated made it "a very favorite position for Hindu towns". The terrain is forested and hilly, with high grounds shielding the south of the Eran town. Eran is an ancient city, one that finds mention as Erakaina or Erakanya in Buddhist and Hindu texts, on ancient coins and inscriptions nearby and distant sites such as Sanchi. It
2250-411: The statue a symbolic narrative. The Eran site is in ruins, but there is enough remnants that suggest that the site was far more complex and developed. Currently, the boar stands in open, but the foundation and stumps around it confirm that around it were walls and mandapa that formed a complete temple. Scholars debate what the shape of the temple would have been. Cunningham, the first archaeologist to write
2300-408: The temples have a rectangular or square plan and they are in a row. Pillar: It is exactly 75 feet (23 m) in front of the line of temples. The 43 feet (13 m) high monolith pillar stands on a square platform of 13 feet (4.0 m) side. The bottom 20 feet (6.1 m) of the pillar are of square cross-section (2.85 feet side), the next 8 feet (2.4 m) is octagonal. Above it is a capital in
2350-445: The west of the Eran town. These are not aligned to the east or any cardinal direction, but to 76 degrees, or about 14 degrees off towards north from east. This suggests that they likely date to the Gupta period. According to Cunningham, this deliberate shift for all the temples and some other Gupta era Hindu temple sites may be to match the one nakshatra measure (lunar movement in one day), or one twenty-seventh part of 360 degrees. All
2400-499: Was at Garhpehra . The history of the town of Sagar dates back to about 1660 AD, when Udan Shah, a descendant of Nihal Shah, built a small fort where the present one sits and founded a village close to it called Parkota Sagar. The present fort and a settlement under its walls were founded by Govind Pant Bundele, an officer of the Peshwa Bajirao I , who controlled Sagar and the surrounding territory after 1735 when it came under
2450-472: Was built in the name of Aacharya Shri 108 Nemisagar ji maharaj by the blessings of his disciple aacharya 108 shri dayasagar ji maharaj. This temple has one choubisi (24 tirthankars god on 24 different altars), one levitated trikal choubisi (Lords of time passes, the time now and time to be), and a navagraha mandir (Lords of nine planets). Shri Parsvanath Digamber Jain Atishaya Kshetra, Pateriaji
2500-458: Was likely a Vamana temple. According to Cunningham, one of the smaller shrine monuments had a man-boar sculpture which he located in the town of Eran. The Narasimha Temple is the northernmost substantial structure ruins in the group, though there were additional temples according to excavations by Cunningham. The Narasimha temple was a single room of 12.5 feet by 8.75 feet with a mandapa in front on four pillars. These pillars are now missing, but
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