Magadha and Mahabharata :

Archaeological Indications from Rajgir

Area

By

B.R.Mani

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.

Magadha in Early Days

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 Jarasandha–ki-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.

Rajgir

Rajgir

Jarasandh ka Akhara (dual

ground), Rajgir

Jarasandh ki Baithak(Size

at surface 25m x 23.5m,

Top 24m x 21.50m,

maximum height 8.25m),

Rajgir

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.

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.

The Tradition•

• Jarasandha’s 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.

Rajgir : The Cyclopean Wall

Cyclopean wall near

southern gateway(Old Rajgir)

• 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).

Rajgir

• Construction of buildings

of new Rajagriha and its

fortification belong to the

time of Bimbisara and

Ajatasatru as also indicated

by literary texts.

Rajgir

Chariots’wheel

mark/impression

near Banganga

Pass, Rajgir

Sankh Lipi (Shell Script) near

the spot of Chariots’ wheel

mark/impression near Banganga

Pass , Rajgir

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.

Southern Gateway of New Rajgriha

Rajgir 1950

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)

JuafardihA potential Stupa Mound, with Pre-NBPW Remains in Nalanda excavated by ASI

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.

Juafardih Excavations 2006-07

Ghorakatora, Near Giriyak

•

•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.

•Ghorakatora (Lat.25 01’57”N; Long85

31’31”E) 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.

Recent findings from the excavations at Ghorakatora

• The archaeology of Ghorakatora has pushed back thechronology of Rajgir and its neighborhood to the stage ofemergence of the early farming as was done for Nalanda by thefindings at Jufardih.

• The site is located below the foothills of Giriyak, spreadbetween the flood plain of Panchane and Goithawan.

• The location of the site provides natural resources for metaland minerals and stone, besides games of wild animals andsituation for agro-pastoral subsistence.

• The excavation has reported following sequence: earlyfarming stage of neolithic/chalcolithic nature; Iron age; NBPW(Mauryan); Sung, Kushan; Gupta and Post Gupta denotingassemblage of Pala period.

• From the post Gupta levels a number of storage jars havebeen reported in situ suggesting surplus production ofagricultural produce and their storage and marketing.

GhorakatoraPrevious 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.

GhorakatoraRecent 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

Period I : Chalcolithic culture (c1500 B.C.-800 B.C.)

Period II : NBPW Period (c800 B.C.-200 B.C.)

Period III : Sunga – Kushana Period (c-200B.C.-300 AD)

Period IV : Gupta & Post Gupta Period (300A.D. to 800A.D.)

Period V : Pala Period (c800 A.D. to 1200 A.D.)

Chalcolithic GhorakatoraStructure:

• 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 wareBlack 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

Hop scotches

Wheel

Bone points

Fragments of copper Antimony rod

Ghorakatora

Brick wall with storage jars, B2 x ISection facing east A4 x

IV

Ghorakatora Excavations

Ghorakatora

Grains and charcoal recourse recovered

through floatation process (chalcolithic

period)

Stone celts (chalcolithic period)

Ghorakatora

Kauri

Burnt clay showing evidence of wattle &

daub structures, Chalcolotic period

Chalcolithic

Ghorakatora

NBPW, Red Ware, Black-

and -red ware sherds

Chalcolithic Ghorakatora

Chalcolithic Ghorakatora

Terracotta objects, chalcolothic period

Storage jars, chalcolothic period

Ghorakatora

Ghorakatora

Historical Ghorakatora

Historical

Ghorakatora

Ghorakatora

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.

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.