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Lost Mythological Cities of India Urmila Verma I » I • Lost Mythological Cities of India I Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Public.Resource.org https://archive.org/details/lostmythologicalOOvarm LOST MYTHOLOGICAL CITIES OF INDIA Urmila Verma PUBLICATIONS DIVISION MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING GOVERNMENT OF INDIA B 2010, Saka 1931 3 ISBN : 978-81-230-1595-8 !• HIST-ENG-OP-031-2009-10 Price : Rs. 70.00 Published by Additional Director General (Incharge) Publications Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India, Soochna Bhavan, C.G.O. Complex Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003. http://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in Editor : Rajendra Bhatt, Maneesh Singhal Cover design : R.K. Tandon Sales Centres : • Delhi - Soochna Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003 • Hall No.196, Old Secretariat, Delhi - 110054 • Mumbai - 701, B - Wing, 7th Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai - 400614 • Kolkata - 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata - 700069, • Chennai - 'A' Wing, Rajaji Bhavan, Besant Nagar, Chennai - 600090 • Patna - Bihar State Co-operative Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna - 800004 • Thiruvananthapuram - Press Road, Near Govt. Press,Thiruvananthapuram - 695001 • Lucknow - Hall No.l, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Bhavan, Sector H, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226024 • Hyderabad - Block 4, 1st Floor, Gruhakalpa Cpmplex, M.G. Road, Nampally, Hyderabad - 500001 • Bangalore - 1st Floor, 'F' Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bangalore - 560034 • Ahmedabad - Ambica Com¬ plex, 1st Floor, Palli, Ahmedabad - 380007 • Guwahati - House No.7, New Colony, Cheni Kuthi, K.K.B. Road, Guwahati - 781003 Typeset at : AAR Reprographics, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi-110 024 Printed at : Personal Graphics & Advertiser Pvt. Ltd. Contents 1. Kausambi. 1 2. Bhubneshwar. 13 3. Indraprastha.22 4. Nagarjunakonda.29 5. Kashi.35 6. Badri - Kedar.50 7. Mathura.59 8. Avantipur.68 9. Tirupati.74 5 10. Shri Shailam.80 11. Ayodhya 85 " -'■ :i - sN: vr. si.}30 iv>?-«.„ ?jTra}0'.T,>-' .-'•^ ’■ i*j’ tif -*.. ■'. < ... , I T »*• f I '^rr • jT . p ajuf - X ^ '^'^''' — * ■ ^ 1 •*> - ?»«•*«•«*«•• Mm M M t » • m 9 0m edi/CTifiiboI '\ "-yCi: ;■ ■. • . ? ► ••••>•■•»• •’W{ . t •-•••*■••■—t ..^ iTvii 1. - ^ViWJ 4 ■iV .'r - I ► % « *ml>3>f ^ iibca P•”?*.• • * “4 ^0 ♦* • • •4%*- - ♦ - •« « «»4 # • • • • 1» t « * 4 ♦ • -•-•l- T« ♦ •! 4 |«4l « 4 '■*.1 - » .#'»■ iMlii uu« -*.ii COC CoTS^w.,^, irfcat. - Hoxii, '.V ‘•k' , t >! 1 I'j .*■?.; i 4j4. ' 'Mii.. 'm>. --^ V-^ 'l .. ^*111 . U ■% • * «r«-y4*W»>i4t4t»*»r44'< - 4^^ »%^»4r^rf4 «4t^«4.«««44*««* •■*#«•'J fc4 Jl % X. ■•va-.* -•■“^ ^.- k.-rt iinnb, ^ - T* . N*4/ OoV? ..ffiiifmil® hil8i ^‘i>l^ ,'it^f^C' |M I - A- V.; 19 & 4a« ^ ■ -4*^4 ‘'>• . M C- Ko^tl. [ijfc..-? ^*- &iV <r , T. . — -j-* : .' A^WsCiwh 4I»; 4?' . frrr* ■ r .v*»i*a'’ - u,atie k«.t. i? -• .,: ' ^ u •-'P .2r» .-A f ,;?^«i?;iji«. ^ u •■»• " 3W» r<<! f'J if-i fWb 4^ .. . -p V (f r': :i.. , , -.- % A Preface This book is an endeavour to present the origin, history and the development of those ancient Indian cities which have not only been a witness to the divine drama but have also progressively contributed to the evolution of Indian mind, character, personality and thinking. Just as we cannot understand the Greek without their myths, we cannot understand India without her mythology. This book tries to present the evocative and hallowed stories of the cities like Kausambi, Indraprastha, Bhubaneshwar, Avantipur, Kashi, Tirupati, Mathura and Ayodhya. Besides, legends related to Badri-Kedar region and Shri Shailam Shrine have been added in this work. These places, though may not be defined as cities, nevertheless, possess the same aura and pulsating divinity which have greatly influenced the Indian mind. Their evocative serenity has been the tempting reason for their inclusion in this book. With the passage of time, the origin and true shape of the cities have altered and their topography together got wrapped up in the multiple layers of earth. To know the correct position, it is essential to probe and research to find out when, where and why these cities and surroundings originated. The outcome of such a research, though time-consuming and demanding, is immensely rewarding as well. The list of such places is long because India has been a country where highly evolved sages explored and discovered the cardinal truth and basic purpose of human life. In the process of the highest quest of life, the attributes of nature and the contribution of physical surroundings significantly assumed an important place. The spot. the area or the surroundings where a cardinal principle, a truth or a law of nature was discovered, perceived and internalized, spontaneously acquired a place of prominence and the cities were founded and developed. The places with such supreme purpose certainly need to be remembered and preserved for posterity. The cardinal principles symbolized by these places found expression in our religious and mythological texts, as also in folk literature. This evocative, sublime as well as pragmatic knowledge makes us aware of the eternal cycle—the old yielding place to the new. We perceive cities and human habitations turning ancient and some mingling in dust. While some of these, either wholly or partly, maintain their identity, making it easier to explore and locate. The old cities which got buried under the deep folds of earth often have a distinctive feature as very often new habitations crop up on the same ground. Only change is eternal. The cities and kingdoms which had once enjoyed glorious days are reduced to the state of mere dusty villages and cry for identification and exploration. That is the moment when the science of archaeology comes to the rescue. Well-known archeologist Alfred Cunningham conducted various excavations and contributed in a major way in exploring many significant mythological sites and cities. Out of the long list of such places in Indian mythology, only a few have become totally extinct without having left any visible trace behind. Most of such places have left permanent imprint on the sands of time. Some of such lost sites were retrieved by archaeologists. These mythological places vibrate with serene beatitude and spiritually. The pure and peaceful surroundings lead