On Evidence of Vedic vis-a-vis Harappan Sepulchral Structures. Dr B.R.Mani

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1 On Evidence of Vedic vis-a-vis Harappan Sepulchral Structures Dr B.R.Mani

2 Cremation was the most accepted last-rite during the Vedic age, though other types were also performed as mentioned in the Pitrimedha Sūkta of Atharvaveda where the dead ancestors have been invoked who were either buried, left in open air and secluded place or cremated. Ye nikhātā ye paroptā ye dagdhā ye choddhitāḥ l Sarvānstānagna ā vaha pitrin havishe attave ll

3 The origin of the Buddhist relic stupas can be traced in the Vedic age. Ṛgveda mentions stūpa in description of flames (7.2.11) or tree (1.24.7) and also as the part of the name of son of Angiras as Hiraṇyastūpa (pile of gold). As it is clear from the word itself, the original stupas were constructed by pilling mud over the stone based platform and the structure taking the shape of a semi-circular bubble or aṇḍa with its flat top over which the harmikā was constructed as the place for gods (deva-sadana). In the concept of Vāstu the top part becomes identical with dyaus with the harmikā and chhatrāvalī enclosed within a railing at the ground level with its four gateways or toraṇas at cardinal points making the shape of the svastika suggests the earthly world with sumeru as its centre.

6 At Lauriya Nandangarh where there is a series of stupas noticed by Cunningham, one of them has a wooden column in the middle of the top part. On the basis of this it has been identified by V.S. Agrawala as a smasana-chaitya and on the basis of evidence of Sabhāparva of Mahābhārata (22.20) he has called the wooden column as placed at the top of the stupas and was called sthuna which rested over the corporeal remains of the ancestors and whose top part suggested the place of god Yama (Yama-sadana).

7 Muhammad Nagar Sealings

8 An early Stupa, Rajgir

9 The bricks, whether they come from Lauriya Nandangarh or from newly exposed stupa at Rajgir, believed to be of the period of Ajātaśatru, were of the same dimension which is mentioned in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ( ) according to which the chitis may have three lines on bricks of the size of foot, hand and the largest one of the size of the thigh bone. The average length of bricks of the size of thigh bone is around 52 cm. This is size of bricks available at both the two places - Lauriya Nandangarh and Rajgir. In a recent excavation at a Harappan necropolis site Sinauli or Sanauli near Delhi, a ritualistic platform enclosures has been exposed with its one out of four walls with five course of brick work, partially extant which has bricks of the same size.

10 Sanauli 2006

12 The walls of the altar with five courses or layers of brick work are mentioned in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa at a number of places. Interestingly, a wall of 5 courses of bricks of the size also mentioned in the text connected with a ritualistic platform has been found at Sanauli necropolis. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa also mentions Then these three (materials), sour curd, honey and ghee, are poured together, either into a dish, or a pot with a wide mouth; and he puts a handful of sacrificial grass thereon. ( ).

13 Such pots and dishes-on stand are found in the Harappan burials and their residual analysis may bring to light the evidence of material contained by them.

14 Harnol Bricks 72 x 45 x 9 cm

16 Mohenjodaro

17 Giovanni Verardi from the Oriental Institute at the University of Napoli (Italy) has suggested in early 1980s in the Interim Reports Vol. 2 on field work carried out a Mohenjo-daro that the stupa at the top of the mound does not belong to the early historical period but it is Harappan in origin. This requires further investigation. The stone circles with heaps of stone which were sepulchral structures and sometimes earlier than the sixth century BCE were also a type of chaitya or stupa having their origin in the Vedic age.

18 Hirebenkal Megaliths

19 Koddumanal Megalith Sengalur Megalith

20 An interesting evidence of a hemispheric tumulus in the cemetery area of the Harappan site of Dholavira has been excavated in which is quite akin to the stupas with hemispherical aṇḍa with spokes. It is circular in plan; the circular platform is made of bricks with white or pink plaster on the outer face of the structure. Over it a structure of radial walls, running towards the centre and the intervening spaces being filled up with earth mixed with some stones, was raised. In its central portion evidence of three pits cut in different times was noticed and the excavator believes that rituals of last rights were probably performed at the spot on different occasions and the structure seems to be a later Vedic Sārarathachakrachiti. Some gold objects were also found while exposing the structure later.

22 Dagdhāh Human charred bones have occasionally been reported from several Harappan sites including Kalibanga as informed by Mr. A.K. Sharma (Personal Communication) who noticed them from the section near the dried course of the river. This indicates the practice of cremation amongst Harappans which is also inferred at the necropolis of Sanauli. It can also be suggested that the burials which do not yield skeletal human remains and are generally called symbolic burials might have been the pits where offerings were put for the deceased before cremation.

saints were buried It is a domical structure erected on the ground or on a platform At a later date a

23 Stupa is an object of veneration in its own right as a replacement of Lord Buddha himself, became very popular Stupa Stupa is, in fact, a sepulchral monument, in which ashes of the cremated bodies of the saints were buried It is a domical structure erected on the ground or on a platform At a later date a railing (Vedika) was erected around it Stupas were also constructed as memorial structures or votive structures

24 Stupas Sarnath Nagarjunakonda Ambaran

25 Ambaran : Kushan structures- stupa-1 & votive stupas

26 The Relics Reliquary

27 Reliquary Gold leaves Copper casket with lid

28 Contents of the Reliquary Relics in gold and silver caskets Beads

30 A Possible Inspiration in Rock Cut Architecture Ajanta Cave 26 Persepolis Tomb of Artaxerxes III

Mauryan art and architecture ; All important facts(upsc PRELIMS 2017,Ancient History )

Mauryan art and architecture ; All important facts(upsc PRELIMS 2017,Ancient History ) Mauryan art and architecture We have tried to summarize all the important aspects related to Mauryan art and architecture,