DEORKOTHAR
: A MILESTONE OF HISTORY
Dr.
P.K. Mishra *
Deorkothar,
on the threshold of being a world-renowned place, has been a singular
site in recent times, that was surmised, predicted and actually
found on exploration. Plain logic dictated the high probability
of Buddhist sites being found in the triangle marked by Sarnath
(where Buddha gave his first sermon), Kausambi (a town visited
by Buddha) and Bharhut, again a historical site. A painstaking
survey was undertaken in the plain lands surrounding the river
Tamas. The reconnaissance yielded the richest bounty an archaeologist
can dream of. The predictions based on probahbilities proved right-not
commonly seen even in pure science. The discovery of this site
in 1982 brought to light a cornucopia of four Mauryan brick stupas,
thirty stone stupas and many monasteries spread over half a km
area, 4 km north-west of Katra on the Rewa-Allahabad road in Madhya
Pradesh.
In the year 1999-2000
further excavations revealed a panorama of unique and lesser known
finds in Stupa No. 1 and 2. The Stupa No.1 was encompassed and
surmounted by stone balustrades. Remarkably, different parts of
the ground balustrade had differently designed pillars albeit
conforming to the overall dimensions. Apparently, standardization
as of the shape of pillar, a conventional pre-requisite, was not
taken into account at the planning stage by the possibly different
groups of artisans executing the job. In the realm of art also,
the craftsmen were struggling to find expression. The simple ornamentation
and paucity of animal and human figures betray this as one of
the earliest attempts at art on stone railings. Motifs such as
lotus with drooping petals, lotus buds with conical apex and lotus
bud with partial opening are marked by characteristic simplicity
being carved out from stencil drawings. One of the earliest art
motifs on railings of Deorkothar is that of the lotus with seed
pod shown amidst drooping petals. No attempt appears to have been
made to give the motif a natural look as seen in the later depictions
at Sarnath. Sanchi, Satdhara, Khandagiri, Mathura and Amravati.
Again one sees that the lotus buds with conical apex, half lotuses,
lotuses and partly opened lotus buds are more often with petals
marked out separately unlike the curvilinear, disposition in later
depictions elsewhere. Similarly, the tiered pedestal motif here
is simple with faint, unsure lines.
Deorkothar today
stands as the singular site showing the earliest evidence of transition
of craftsmanship from wood to stone. It is the first known chapter
of the people’s art movement within the later part of the Mauryan
period that gave rise to the full blooming of the artistic endeavours
in Sunga-Satavahana times (186 BC - 318 AD).
Historically,
the art at Deorkothar receives corroboration to be the earliest
of the type executed well within the Mauryan period. The outstanding
discovery of the year, namely, the colossal Mauryan pillar which
alludes to the times of Asoka in the 3rd century B.C. having Chakra
on the abacus and many alphabets of the inscription carried over
from his time is one shred of evidence. This Mauryan pillar lay
in more than fifty pieces directly on the flagstone flooring along
with the balustrades broken into smithereens. Even the chhatra
(umbrella) lay in the rubble of systematic annihilation. The devastation
continued on the brick body of the stupa which is understood by
the brickbat debris uniformly overlying the fragments of the balustrade.
This wanton destruction has been temporarily assigned to the first
quarter of the 2nd century B.C. Deorkothar has all the characteristics
of teething trouble in art portrayal. It is earlier than those
at Bharhut dating back to about 150 B.C. Deorkothar has the unique
distinction of showing the genesis of people’s art movement in
the later part of the Mauryan period.
The excavations
this time were primarily undertaken in the western part of Stupa
No. 1 – this emphasis being to know the chronological aspect of
the site regarding the earliest anthropogenic remains that can
throw light on the primeval human endeavours that saw the genesis
of the Great Stupa at Deorkothar. The western direction was taken
up due to the existence of the Mauryan pillar being erected near
the Western gateway hinting towards the prominence of this direction
in the ancient pilgrimage town planning. For the first time in
Central India two concentric circles in stupa architecture came
to be noted.
Towards the west
of the Stupa No.1 a large rectangular brick structure came to
light in the course of excavations. A host of interesting antiquities
came to light on and around this structure. Towards the eastern
part of the structure the yielding of several pieces of Mauryan
polished chhatra with evidence of radial ribs is significant.
Some other stone pieces of caskets and bangles with exquisite
polish are really marvellous. Some copper objects in a spatter
form were also found. Towards the west of the structure several
iron slag and an iron ore lump besides pure white nodules of lime
were suggestive of an iron smelting furnace within the structure.
Other antiquities included legs of terracotta animals, a lead
strip coiled ear stud, iron nails and clamps. A few coins were
also found.
The discovery
of pieces of terracotta toys, beads, ear stud and coins hints
that the site was an active centre of trade. Perhaps, the genesis
of this pilgrimage site occurred amidst a vibrant mercantile community.
Curiously, the
ancient tradition of lime technology noticed from some Harappan
and post-Harappan sites besides Kausambi has now been observed
at Deorkothar. The excavations have thrown significant light on
the art and technological excellence of Deorkothar.
*
Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India,
Nagpur
