Kurukshetra: Tirthas have archaeological value, says expert

Nitish Sharma

Kurukshetra, January 15

The Tirthas surveyed and documented by the team of Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) and archaeologist are not only important from religious perspective but the sites are equally vital because of their archaeological values too, and they need to be preserved.

Archaeologist Rajendra Singh Rana, who is the coordinator and works on research and documentation of the Tirthas, for the KDB said, “There are believed to be nearly 360 Tirthas under 48-kos, of which, 182 have been documented. The board gets the proposals and information from gram panchayats and management committees of the shrines following which we visit these.”

He said, “During the survey, we found sculptures of ninth and 10th century CE (common era), Kushan bricks, late medieval ghats and walls of Rajput and Kushan periods.”

Recently, 18 sites were included in the list of Tirthas of the KDB of which two were Veer Barbarik Shyam Temple in Kaithal and Trisandhya Tirtha in Kurukshetra.

“In the ‘Garbhgriha’ of the main temple of ‘Veer Barbarika’ some damaged sculptures of ninth-10th century CE were found. The whole temple is also located on a mound and a major portion of which has been levelled for agriculture purposes. When we inquired, we were told that the sculptures were found during some excavation and residents placed them near the idol of the ‘Barbarik’. Besides this, the tank of the Tirtha comprising late medieval Ghat lies in the north of the temple complex. Two alignments of the walls have been found. The first alignment belongs to the Rajput period and the second to the Kushana period,” he added.

“At ‘Trisandhya Tirtha’, a bathing Ghat of the early medieval period (8-9th century CE) was excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India, Chandigarh Branch, years ago. Even in 2009, one sculpture of ‘Uma-Maheshwar’ belonging to the 10th-11th century CE was recovered from the Tirtha complex.”

He further said, “Several Tirthas have become extinct over the period. There is a need to preserve the sites and the remains as they offer rich knowledge and information about the historic periods,” the archaeologist said.

Meanwhile, the honorary secretary of the KDB, Upender Singhal, said, “The Tirthas are selected based on their mention in the ‘shastras’, historical value, archaeological value and folklore. During the survey, our team found archaeological evidence and everything has been documented.”

He further said, “Even in the past, some of the sculptures and rare artifacts that were found intact were shifted to Sri Krishna Museum while some remain placed in the shrines concerned. The board has been focusing on parikarmas so that the tourists can be provided authentic information about the Tirthas along with their historical and archaeological values.”

182 have been documented

There are believed to be nearly 360 Tirthas under 48-kos, of which, 182 have been documented. During the survey, we found sculptures of the ninth and 10th century CE (common era), Kushan bricks, late medieval ghats and walls of Rajput and Kushan periods. — Rajendra Singh Rana, archaeologist