DAWN BREAKS BEHIND TORANA [ARCH]

VADNAGAR is an ancient city in Gujarat, India. Its known history goes back to 2,500 B.C. Archeological excavations have established that the settlement of mainly agricultural community existed in the place more than 4,500 years back. Pottery, textiles fragments, ornaments, tools, etc., were found during these excavations from various sites around the present lake Sharmishtha. Some archaeologists suggest that it was one of the many Harappan sites.

SUN RISES OVER LAKE SHARMISHTHA

THE early settlement was on the bank of river Kapila flowing from the hills of Aravalli. It fed water to a lake, known as Sharmishtha, at the site and the settlement extended around it. Over a period of time the settlement grew into a city of considerable size.

THE PRESENT CITY SITS ON A MOUND

The present city, which appears to be situated on a hill of a height varying from 7 to 30 meters, is actually sitting on a very large artificial mound. This mound is created by a number of layers of buildings built and destroyed in earlier periods. Diggings done for archaeological excavations or construction of houses in recent times show no end to these layers till one reaches to the level of farmland surrounding the city. These layers speak of a very interesting history of several thousand years.

CHAMATKARPUR – THE MAGICAL PLACE

More than four thousand years back, this city was known as Chamatkarpur. The name it earned from a king who was cured of leprosy by bathing in the magical waters of its Shakti Tirth. In gratitude the king built the city anew, replete with temples and palaces. Chamatkarpur was the home of the famous rishi Yagyavalkya or “knower of the Vedas”. It attracted great many scholars and acquired fame as a center of learning.

CAPITAL OF ANARTA PRADESH

In the later period, it grew up further as an important manufacturing and trading center. Now it came to be known as Anartapur. Soon, it became the capital of Anarta Pradesh. The city of Aanartapur seems to have risen to considerable glory by the beginning of the Mahabharata War.

PARTICIPATION IN THE MAHABHARATA WAR

There are several references about Anarta in Mahabharata. The Anarta warriors fought on both the sides of the Great War. Satyaki, chief of Anartas, was the great general in the Pandava army. Kritavarma, a great Anarta warrior, was a general in the Kaurava army. Anarta Kingdom lost so many of its warriors in that war and its aftermath that its military power weakened considerably.

GREAT CULTURAL CENTER

All the same, by the first century the city enjoyed great prosperity, brought by industry and commerce. It grew in size. It nourished arts like music, sculpture, architecture, dance, painting, and so on. It became a hub of cultural activities. Religious and cultural festivities went on round the year and the place acquired yet another name, Anandapur - the city of joy.

TORANAS [VICTORY ARCHES]

Toranas or Victory Arches are the most outstanding historical monuments of Vadnagar. These magnificent arches, standing on the western shore of Lake Sharmishtha, are believed to have been erected by the Solanki rulers (942-1242A.D.) in the 10th century. And probably they symbolize the victory over the occupiers from the north-east. More than four-stories tall, these intricately carved arches are made from red sandstone.

MYSTERY OF THE TORAN

Some historians believe that the Toranas are remnants of a very large palace or temple complex. It is quite possible that where they stand today might not be their original place. There is no explanation as to why are they erected side by side in such an irregular way. Also, there aren’t any other ruins around them. Are they transplanted here from some other site? Much land area between Toranas and Naagdhara from where water flows into Lake Sharmishtha is made of irregular mounds. There were many ruins in this area. A large quantity of carved stone slabs as well as statues were lying scattered all over the place till the late 1960s. Most of these seem to have disappeared today. But, if excavated properly, the entire area may still have a lot more to reveal to us.