Chandraketugarh is a 2,500 years old archaeological site located near the Bidyadhari river, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) north-east of Kolkata, India, in the district of North 24 parganas, near the township of Berachampa and the Harua Road railhead.[1][2] Once it was an important hub of international maritime trade.[1][3][4] A museum has been built near the site depicting largely collections of Dilip Kumar Maity, a retired school teacher and amateur archaeologist.[5]
Asutosh Museum of Indian Art conducted excavation between 1957–68, which revealed relics of several historical periods,[6] although the chronological classification of the relics remains incomplete. Many of the Chandraketugarh items and terracottas are now in collections of museums in India and abroad; and many of them are a part of private collections.[7]
According to some historians, the Chandraketugarh site and surrounding area could be the place known to ancient Greek and Roman writers as having the same name as the river Ganges (Γάγγης).[8]
Cities, towns and locations in Barasat subdivision, North 24 Parganas M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical centre Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
The name of this site is derived from the mythical Hindu king of the medieval period, Chandraketu. A mound at the Berachampa village (Deuliya), off the Barasat-Basirhat Road, used to be called Chandraketur Garh (fort of Chandraketu), which was later compounded as Chandraketugarh.[2] The legend of Khana (A medieval Bengali language poet and legendary astrologer between the ninth and 12th centuries AD, also named Lilavati elsewhere) centers around her association with Chandraketugarh (here, a mound has been discovered amongst ruins with the names of Khana and Mihir associated with it) and that she was the daughter-in-law of the famous astronomer and mathematician, Varāhamihira (505 – 587), also called Varaha or Mihira, a jewel among Chandragupta II Vikramaditya's famed Navaratna sabha.
It is widely believed that Khana was Varahamihira's daughter-in-law, and an accomplished astrologer, becoming thereby a potential threat to Varahamihira's scientific career. However, she exceeded him in the accuracy of her predictions, and at some point, either her husband (or father-in-law) or a hired hand (or possibly Khana herself under great duress) cut off her tongue to silence her prodigious talent.
There is another heritage mosque in the name of Pir Gorachand (an Arab missionary of 14th century named Syed Abbas Ali).[10][11][12]
History
Chandraketugarh is thought to be a part of the ancient kingdom Gangaridai that was first described by Ptolemy in his famous work Geographica (150 CE).[13][1] A recent archaeological study being conducted by a team from IIT Kharagpur, believes that King Sandrocottus (mentioned by Greek explorer Megasthenes) was Chandraketu, whose fort Chandraketugarh is. Megasthenes visited India in the third century BCE, after Alexandar’s invasion of India, and gives a detailed account of what he saw in Indica. He mentions king Sandrocottus as one of the most powerful kings of Gangaridai, the Gangetic delta that spread over the five mouths of the river and was a continuum of a landmass comprising Anga, Banga and Kalinga. The history of Chandraketugarh dates back to almost the 3rd century BCE, during the pre-Mauryan era. Artefacts suggest that the site was continuously inhabited and flourished through the Shunga-Kushana period, onwards through the Gupta period and finally into the Pala-Sena period. Archaeological studies suggest that Chandraketugarh was an important town and a port city. It had a high encircling wall complete with a rampart and moat. The residents were involved in various crafts and mercantile activities. Although the religious inclinations of the people are unclear, hints of the beginning of some future cults can be seen in the artefacts. Some of the potteries carry inscriptions in Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts.
After these periods, there was no such example of any other civilization on the ruin of Chandraketugarh.
Excavated archeological objects
Chandraketugarh. Sunga 2nd-1st century BCE
Chandraketugarh.Sunga Fecondity
Chandraketugarh. Sunga With Child
Brahmi inscriptions with Megalithic Graffiti Symbols read "yojanani setuvandhat arddhasatah dvipa tamraparni", meaning "The island of Tamraparni (ancient Sri Lanka) is at a distance of 50 yojanas from Setuvandha (Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu).[14][15] The mast of a ship with Vijayasinha's seal, describing Vijayasinha, the son of the king of Sinhapura of Vanga's marriage to Kuveni – the indigenous "Yakkha queen of Tamraparni".[16] Chandraketugarh features many examples of terracotta art, displaying an unusual degree of precision and craftsmanship. These plaques are comparable to those found at other better-known sites such as Kaushambi and Ahichhatra. The terracotta plaques from these sites often carry similar motifs executed in nearly identical fashion. This similarity suggests an established communication link and common cultural heritage among these sites.
Finds include Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) relics, later wares dated from about 400 BC to 100 BC and approximately contemporary with the Maurya period, as well as from the more recent Kushanas and Gupta periods.
Many silver punch-marked coins and a few gold coins have been unearthed from Chandraketugarh, including a gold coin of Chandragupta-Kumardevi. Many semi-precious stone beads were also found here, along with items made of ivory and bone. Even a few wooden objects have survived. [6]
^ abcShah, Aditi (15 July 2019). "Chandraketugarh: An Enigma in Bengal". www.livehistoryindia.com. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
^ ab"Chandraketugarh: The City That Never Was". The Indian Express. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
^"Chandraketugarh: Neglected Heritage of Bengal". Sahapedia. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
^Dasgupta, Priyanka (7 September 2021). "Heritage panel plans int'l centre at Chandraketugarh". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
^"Collectors of wealth thought worthless". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
^ abcDr. Gaurishankar de & Prof. Subhradip de, Prasanga: Pratna-Prantar Chandraketugarh, First Edition: 2013, ISBN978-93-82435-00-6
^"Chandraketugarh - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
^"Merchants, Merchandise and Merchantmen in the Western Seaboard of India: A Maritime Profile (c. 500 BCE-1500 CE)." Ranabir Chakravarti. In: History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization, Vol. VIII (1), (2012) Om Prakash (Ed.), Centre for Studies in Civilization, Delhi, pp. 69-70.
^. West Bengal. Archaeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
^Mitra, Satish Chandra. Jashor Khulnar Itihash Volume I. Deys Publishing, p. 482.
^Chakraborty, Dr. Barun Kumar (ed) (2007). Bangiya Loksanskriti Kosh. Aparna Book Distributors (Publishing Division), p. 143.
^Ghosh, Binay (1980). Paschimbanger Sanskriti Volume III. Prakash Bhavan, p. 168.
^Haldar, Narotam (1988). Gangaridi - Alochana O Parjalochana.
^Mondal, Sambhu Nath (2006). Decipherment of the Indus-Brâhmî Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh (Gangâhrada)--the Mohenjodaro of East India. University of Michigan: Shankar Prasad Saha. pp. 32–51. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
^Sambhu Nath Mondal. 2006. Decipherment of the Indus-Brâhmî Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh (Gangâhrada)--the Mohenjodaro of East India. pp28 Sanskritization : "yojanani setuvandhat arddhasatah dvipa tamraparni"
^Sambhu Nath Mondal. 2006. Decipherment of the Indus-Brâhmî Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh (Gangâhrada)--the Mohenjodaro of East India. pp28 vijayasihasa bivaha sihaurata tambapaniah yakkhini kubanna,a" Sanskritized as "vijayasirihasya vivaha sirihapuratah tamraparnyah yaksinf kubarjuaaya"
Further reading
Chandraketugarh : A Treasure House of Bengal Terracottas – Enamul Haque. Dhaka, The International Centre for Study of Bengal Art, 2001, 416 p., 678 illustrations including 400 in colour, figures, plates, maps, ISBN984-8140-02-6.
Chandraketugarh : A Lost Civilization – Gourishankar De and Shubhradip De. Kolkata, Sagnik Books, 2004, 109 p., 34 photos,
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chandraketugarh.
Banglapedia article
Website concerning Chandraketugarh
A plaque of Chandraketugarh
A travel article on Chandraketugarh by Rangan Datta
A Travel Article on Archeological Sites near Calcutta by Rangan Datta
Rangan Datta's Home Page
January 30, 2023
chandraketugarh, years, archaeological, site, located, near, bidyadhari, river, about, kilometres, north, east, kolkata, india, district, north, parganas, near, township, berachampa, harua, road, railhead, once, important, international, maritime, trade, museu. Chandraketugarh is a 2 500 years old archaeological site located near the Bidyadhari river about 35 kilometres 22 mi north east of Kolkata India in the district of North 24 parganas near the township of Berachampa and the Harua Road railhead 1 2 Once it was an important hub of international maritime trade 1 3 4 A museum has been built near the site depicting largely collections of Dilip Kumar Maity a retired school teacher and amateur archaeologist 5 ChandraketugarhAn ASI Listed MonumentThe mound of Khana Mihir or Barahamihir on Prithiba road Berachampa Chandraketugarh ruins Shown within West BengalLocationWest Bengal IndiaCoordinates22 41 52 N 88 41 18 E 22 69778 N 88 68833 E 22 69778 88 68833 Coordinates 22 41 52 N 88 41 18 E 22 69778 N 88 68833 E 22 69778 88 68833TypeSettlementHistoryFounded400 BCE to 800 BCEAbandoned12th century CEAsutosh Museum of Indian Art conducted excavation between 1957 68 which revealed relics of several historical periods 6 although the chronological classification of the relics remains incomplete Many of the Chandraketugarh items and terracottas are now in collections of museums in India and abroad and many of them are a part of private collections 7 According to some historians the Chandraketugarh site and surrounding area could be the place known to ancient Greek and Roman writers as having the same name as the river Ganges Gagghs 8 According to the List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal serial no N WB 1 Chandraketu s Fort is an ASI listed monument 9 Contents 1 Location 2 Legend 3 History 4 Excavated archeological objects 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksLocation Edit Interactive fullscreen map Cities towns and locations in Barasat subdivision North 24 Parganas M municipal town CT census town R rural urban centre H historical centreOwing to space constraints in the small map the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightlyLegend Edit Excavated Brick Structure of Khana Mihir Mound Chandraketugarh Berachampa North 24 parganas district The name of this site is derived from the mythical Hindu king of the medieval period Chandraketu A mound at the Berachampa village Deuliya off the Barasat Basirhat Road used to be called Chandraketur Garh fort of Chandraketu which was later compounded as Chandraketugarh 2 The legend of Khana A medieval Bengali language poet and legendary astrologer between the ninth and 12th centuries AD also named Lilavati elsewhere centers around her association with Chandraketugarh here a mound has been discovered amongst ruins with the names of Khana and Mihir associated with it and that she was the daughter in law of the famous astronomer and mathematician Varahamihira 505 587 also called Varaha or Mihira a jewel among Chandragupta II Vikramaditya s famed Navaratna sabha It is widely believed that Khana was Varahamihira s daughter in law and an accomplished astrologer becoming thereby a potential threat to Varahamihira s scientific career However she exceeded him in the accuracy of her predictions and at some point either her husband or father in law or a hired hand or possibly Khana herself under great duress cut off her tongue to silence her prodigious talent There is another heritage mosque in the name of Pir Gorachand an Arab missionary of 14th century named Syed Abbas Ali 10 11 12 History EditChandraketugarh is thought to be a part of the ancient kingdom Gangaridai that was first described by Ptolemy in his famous work Geographica 150 CE 13 1 A recent archaeological study being conducted by a team from IIT Kharagpur believes that King Sandrocottus mentioned by Greek explorer Megasthenes was Chandraketu whose fort Chandraketugarh is Megasthenes visited India in the third century BCE after Alexandar s invasion of India and gives a detailed account of what he saw in Indica He mentions king Sandrocottus as one of the most powerful kings of Gangaridai the Gangetic delta that spread over the five mouths of the river and was a continuum of a landmass comprising Anga Banga and Kalinga The history of Chandraketugarh dates back to almost the 3rd century BCE during the pre Mauryan era Artefacts suggest that the site was continuously inhabited and flourished through the Shunga Kushana period onwards through the Gupta period and finally into the Pala Sena period Archaeological studies suggest that Chandraketugarh was an important town and a port city It had a high encircling wall complete with a rampart and moat The residents were involved in various crafts and mercantile activities Although the religious inclinations of the people are unclear hints of the beginning of some future cults can be seen in the artefacts Some of the potteries carry inscriptions in Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts Period Dynasty YearPeriod I Maurya 300 200 BCEPeriod III Shunga 200 BCE 50 CEPeriod IV Kushan 50 300 CEPeriod V Gupta 300 500 CEPeriod VI Post Gupta 500 750 CEPeriod VII Pala Chandra Sena 750 1250 CE 6 After these periods there was no such example of any other civilization on the ruin of Chandraketugarh Excavated archeological objects Edit Chandraketugarh Sunga 2nd 1st century BCE Chandraketugarh Sunga Fecondity Chandraketugarh Sunga With Child Brahmi inscriptions with Megalithic Graffiti Symbols read yojanani setuvandhat arddhasatah dvipa tamraparni meaning The island of Tamraparni ancient Sri Lanka is at a distance of 50 yojanas from Setuvandha Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu 14 15 The mast of a ship with Vijayasinha s seal describing Vijayasinha the son of the king of Sinhapura of Vanga s marriage to Kuveni the indigenous Yakkha queen of Tamraparni 16 Chandraketugarh features many examples of terracotta art displaying an unusual degree of precision and craftsmanship These plaques are comparable to those found at other better known sites such as Kaushambi and Ahichhatra The terracotta plaques from these sites often carry similar motifs executed in nearly identical fashion This similarity suggests an established communication link and common cultural heritage among these sites Finds include Northern Black Polished Ware NBPW relics later wares dated from about 400 BC to 100 BC and approximately contemporary with the Maurya period as well as from the more recent Kushanas and Gupta periods Many silver punch marked coins and a few gold coins have been unearthed from Chandraketugarh including a gold coin of Chandragupta Kumardevi Many semi precious stone beads were also found here along with items made of ivory and bone Even a few wooden objects have survived 6 See also Edit India portalWari Bateshwar ruins Shunga Empire Gangaridai BerachampaReferences Edit a b c Shah Aditi 15 July 2019 Chandraketugarh An Enigma in Bengal www livehistoryindia com Retrieved 1 March 2022 a b Chandraketugarh The City That Never Was The Indian Express 19 February 2017 Retrieved 22 August 2022 Chandraketugarh Neglected Heritage of Bengal Sahapedia Retrieved 3 March 2022 Dasgupta Priyanka 7 September 2021 Heritage panel plans int l centre at Chandraketugarh The Times of India Retrieved 3 March 2022 Collectors of wealth thought worthless www telegraphindia com Retrieved 22 August 2022 a b c Dr Gaurishankar de amp Prof Subhradip de Prasanga Pratna Prantar Chandraketugarh First Edition 2013 ISBN 978 93 82435 00 6 Chandraketugarh Banglapedia en banglapedia org Retrieved 6 March 2022 Merchants Merchandise and Merchantmen in the Western Seaboard of India A Maritime Profile c 500 BCE 1500 CE Ranabir Chakravarti In History of Science Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization Vol VIII 1 2012 Om Prakash Ed Centre for Studies in Civilization Delhi pp 69 70 List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of National Importance West Bengal Archaeological Survey of India Archived from the original on 27 June 2014 Retrieved 17 April 2020 Mitra Satish Chandra Jashor Khulnar Itihash Volume I Deys Publishing p 482 Chakraborty Dr Barun Kumar ed 2007 Bangiya Loksanskriti Kosh Aparna Book Distributors Publishing Division p 143 Ghosh Binay 1980 Paschimbanger Sanskriti Volume III Prakash Bhavan p 168 Haldar Narotam 1988 Gangaridi Alochana O Parjalochana Mondal Sambhu Nath 2006 Decipherment of the Indus Brahmi Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh Gangahrada the Mohenjodaro of East India University of Michigan Shankar Prasad Saha pp 32 51 Retrieved 25 June 2019 Sambhu Nath Mondal 2006 Decipherment of the Indus Brahmi Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh Gangahrada the Mohenjodaro of East India pp28 Sanskritization yojanani setuvandhat arddhasatah dvipa tamraparni Sambhu Nath Mondal 2006 Decipherment of the Indus Brahmi Inscriptions of Chandraketugarh Gangahrada the Mohenjodaro of East India pp28 vijayasihasa bivaha sihaurata tambapaniah yakkhini kubanna a Sanskritized as vijayasirihasya vivaha sirihapuratah tamraparnyah yaksinf kubarjuaaya Further reading EditChandraketugarh A Treasure House of Bengal Terracottas Enamul Haque Dhaka The International Centre for Study of Bengal Art 2001 416 p 678 illustrations including 400 in colour figures plates maps ISBN 984 8140 02 6 1 Chandraketugarh A Lost Civilization Gourishankar De and Shubhradip De Kolkata Sagnik Books 2004 109 p 34 photos 2 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chandraketugarh Banglapedia article Website concerning Chandraketugarh Chandraketugarh A plaque of Chandraketugarh A travel article on Chandraketugarh by Rangan Datta A Travel Article on Archeological Sites near Calcutta by Rangan Datta Rangan Datta s Home Page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chandraketugarh amp oldid 1130867756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
