Vidisha

Vidisha (विदिशा, formerly known as Bhelsa and known as Besnagar in ancient times) is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located 62.5 km northeast of the state capital, Bhopal. The name "Vidisha" is derived from the nearby river "Bais", mentioned in the Puranas.[1]

Vidisha

Bhelsa
City
Vidisha
Vidisha
Vidisha
Coordinates: 23.53°N 77.82°E / 23.53; 77.82
CountryIndia
StateMadhya Pradesh
DistrictVidisha
Elevation
424 m (1,391 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total155,959
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Vehicle registrationMP-40

The district was created as "Bhilsa District" in 1904 by joining the tehsils of Vidisha (also known as Bhilsa) and Basoda, but not Basoda State, which were then part of Gwalior state. After India's independence in 1947, the former princely state of Gwalior became part of Madhya Bharat state, which was formed in 1948.

Vidishā was the administrative headquarters of Bhelsa, or Bhilsa, during the Medieval period. It was renamed Vidisha in 1956.[2]

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[3] Vidisha had a population of 155,959. Males constitute 53.21% of the population and females 46.79%. Vidisha has an average literacy rate of 86.88%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.29%, and female literacy is 80.98%. In Vidisha, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

Besnagar

The town is situated east of the Betwa River, in the fork of the Betwa and Bes rivers, 9 km from Sanchi. The town of Besnagar, 3 km from present-day Vidisha on the west side of the river, became an important trade centre in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, under the Shungas, Nagas, Satavahanas, and Guptas, and was mentioned in the Pali scriptures. The Emperor Ashoka was the governor of Vidisha during his father's lifetime. His Buddhist Empress Vidisha Devi who was also his first wife was brought up in Vidisha. It finds mention in Kalidasa's Meghdoot.

The ruins of Besnagar were inspected by Alexander Cunningham in 1874–1875.[4] Remains of a large defensive wall was found were found on the western side of the city.[4] Ancient Buddhist railings were also found just outside of the city, which had probably adorned a stupa.[4] Numerous coins were found, including nine coins of the Western Satraps.[4]

The Heliodorus Pillar is a stone column, which was constructed in 110 BCE. This stone column was erected by the Greek ambassador of the Indo-Greek King Antialcidas, who came to the court of Bhagabhadra, a possible Sunga king. Dedicated to Lord Vāsudeva, this column was constructed in front of the temple of Vāsudeva. The pillar is situated about four kilometers away on Vidisha-Ganj Basoda SH-14, from District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh and located on the Northern Bank Of The Vais River. It is 20 feet and 7 inches tall stone Pillar, which is commonly known as Kham Baba.[4] The script used in the inscription is Brahmi but the language is Prakrit which describes that Heliodorus erected this pillar as a Garuda Stambha to pay homage to Lord Vasudeva, who was later integrated as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.

  • Archaeological plan of the old city of Besnagar
  • Archaeological layers at Besnagar
  • Besnagar pottery Period V
  • Besnagar silver punch-marked coins.
  • Besnagar Yakshini
  • Besnagar Kalpadruma
  • Besnagar Buddhist railings
  • Besnagar Buddhist railings
  • Besnagar pillar capitals
  • View of Heliodorus pillar
  • Besnagar Ganga statue

Emergence as Bhelsa
The inscription 𑀯𑁂𑀤𑀺𑀲 Vedisa (for the city of Vidisha) at Sanchi, Brahmi script, 1st century BCE.

Besnagar was known as Bhelsa during the medieval period. It became famous for the temple of Sun god Bhillasvanin.[5] It was ruled by the Later Gupta king Devagupta and Rashtrakuta king Krishna III. The name is first noted in an inscription of 878 AD by a merchant Hatiaka of Paravada community.[6] The 12th century Tri-shashthi-shalaka-purusha-charitra mentions an image of Bhillasvamin at Vidisa, along with a copy of Jivant Swami buried in the sand.[7] Minhajuddin's Tabaqat-i-Nusiri states that the temple was destroyed by Iltutmish in A D. 1233–34.[8]

In 1293, Alauddin Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate sacked the city as a general of Sultan Jalaluddin. It shows that Vidisha had an importance in the medieval era.[9] In 1532 Bhilsa was sacked by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat Sultanate. It thus, passed on to the Malwa Sultans and then to the Mughals and the Scindias.

Jainism in Vidisha
Main article: Jain temples, Vidisha

Vidisha is considered to be Puranakshetras Jain tirtha. Vidisha is believed to be birthplace of Shitalanatha, the tenth tirthankar.[10] There are 14 temples in Vidisha, among which Bada Mandir, Bajramath Jain temple, Maladevi temple, Gadarmal temple and Pataria Jain temple are most prominent built during 9th to 10th century. These temples are rich in architecture.[11][12][13][14]

Historic places and monuments
Pillar in the Bijamaṇḍal with an inscription of Naravarman

Near the eastern edge of the old town are the remains of a large temple of the late Paramara period known as the Bijamaṇḍal. The building was probably started in the second half of the 11th century. That it was never finished is shown by carved niches and unfinished architectural pieces found round the base of the temple plinth.[15] On top of the plinth is a small mosque made using pillars, one of which has an inscription dating probably from the time of king Naravarman (circa 1094-1134). It is a devotional inscription revering Carccikā (i.e. Cāmuṇḍā), of whom he was a devotee.[16] The miḥrāb suggests the mosque was constructed in the late 14th century. To one side of the Bijamaṇḍal is a store house of the Archaeological Survey of India containing many sculptures collected in the neighbourhood. A step-well of the 7th century is in the same campus and has, beside the entrance, two tall pillars with Kṛṣṇa scenes. These are the earliest Kṛṣṇa scenes in the art of central India. Bijamandal Temple at Vidisha is one of massive dimensions comparable with Konarak in Orissa.

Lohangi Pir is a rock formation in Vidisha District that derives its name from Shaykh Jalal Chishti, a saint who was locally known as Lohangi Pir. This small domed building is a tomb, which has two Persian inscriptions on it. One of the inscriptions dates back to 1460 BC, while the other dates back to 1583 BC. The tank and a large bell-capital dating back to the 1st century BC can be seen on the nearby hill. Near the tomb, there are the remains of a medieval temple that survived as a pillared crypt. These are dedicated to Goddess Annapurna. Lohangi is a large rock right in the heart of Vidisha in walking distance of railway station.This is religious as well the historical importance place in the region.[17]

Udaygiri is less than 10 km from Vidisha town. It is a series of at least 20 caves, containing both Hindu and Jain sculptures from the Gupta Era, sometime between the 4th and 5th century AD. According to Jain texts tirthnkar Sheetal nath attained nirvana here.It is basically a small hill where intricate sculptures have but cut out of the rocks.

Maladevi Temple is a grand Portal of Ninth century AD, situated on the eastern slope of a hill and built on a huge platform cut out of the hillside and strengthened by a massive retaining wall, Maladevi temple is in fact imposing and astonishing building, provides a panoramic valley view, in Gyaraspur, about 40 km from District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India, which can be accessed through NH-86.[18]

Capital of one of the pillars of Ashoka, from Udayagiri near Vidisha.
Relative locations of the Heliodorus pillar, Besnagar, Vidisha, Sanchi and the Udayagiri Caves.

Hindola Torana as Hindola means a swing and Torana is an arched gate, is a magnificent art work of 9th-century or medieval period, situated in Gyaraspur about 40 km from District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, can be accessed via NH-86. This is a developed, ornamental and decorated arched gate made of sandstone. On its both pillars Lord Vishnu's ten incarnations are engraved. Near it four carved and sculpted pillars and beams seems to be ruins of Trimurthy temple set on one raised platform, as Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati and their servants are sculpted on these pillars and beams.

Hindola Torana with its two upright pillars and cross-beam has a truly indicative name. All the four sides of the two lofty pillars are carved into panels with insertion of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. So it may be an entrance gate for the Lord Vishnu's Temple or Of Lord Shiva and also may be of Thirumurthy. And two structures are completely in ruin as Archaeological Survey Of India has not given much information about these ruins. In my view it would have been a grand temple complex.

Bajramath Temple
Jain sculpture inside Bajramath Temple

Bajramath Temple is situated in Gyaraspur, about 40 km from District Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, on NH-146 behind the Sub-Judicial Magistrate and Tehsildar's Office Gyaraspur, temple is facing to the East and significantly it was a Hindu Temple, later it was transformed to Jain Temple. Indeed, it is just opposite to the Hill on which Maladevi temple is situated.[19]

Dashavtar Temple is situated on the north of the local lake, where ruins of a group of small Vaishnava shrines can be found. These small Vaishnava shrines are popularly known as Sadhavatara Temple. The temple comprises a large open pillared hall, in which the pillars are dedicated to the ten incarnations of Vishnu. These pillars date back from 8th to10th century A.D. Towards the western bank of the lake lies the ruins of sati pillars that date back to 9th or 10th century A.D. One of these pillars are carved with four sculptured faces that depict a seated group of Hara-Gauri.

Girdhari Temple, which is known for its sculptures and fine carvings, is a popular attraction in Sironj. The shrines of Jatashankar and Mahamaya that belong to the ancient time are located close to this temple. Jatashankar Temple is situated 3 km towards the south-west of Sironj in forest area. On the other hand, Mahamaya Temple is situated 5 km south-west of Sironj.

Udayeshwara Temple, located in Udaipur village of the Basoda Tehsil, is one of the most prominent Hindu shrines in the region. The inscriptions found in this temple suggest that the Udaipur Town was founded by the Parmara King Udayaditya during the 11th century A.D. Other inscriptions found at the temple suggest that Parmara King Udayaditya construed this temple and dedicated it to Lord Shiva.

Vidisha District Museum
Vidisha District Museum.
Main article: Vidisha Museum

Vidisha Museum or Vidisha District Museum is the main museum of the city of Vidisha.[20][21][22]

The museum has many sculptures, terracottas and coins, especially from the 9th to the 10 th century CE, as well as Harrappan art.[21]

Notable People

Transport

Vidisha is a railway station on the Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai main line of the Central Railway, at a distance of 54 km from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi on the Jhansi-Itarsi section of the West Central Railway and Bhopal to Bina triple electrified broad gauge lines, from Bina to Katni double electrified Lines, Vidisha 102 km from Bina, and Vidisha, 9 km from Sanchi, are more convenient.

Education

Vidisha is a home to a range of colleges and schools. Vidisha has a large student population and is a popular educational centre in central India. Most primary and secondary schools in Vidisha are affiliated with the M.P. Board, however, quite a few number of schools are affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE); as well. There is a Grant-in-Aid Autonomous College named Samrat Ashok Technological Institute,vidisha have govt sports ground and canara private sports academy as well as one of the best govt. medical college.Vidisha has also has one of the best CBSE school i.e Kendriya Vidyalaya Vidisha

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha
College building of ABVGMC, Vidisha

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha [23] is the newly constructed medical college in Vidisha. It became functional in 2018 and received its first batch of students in same year.[24] The number of students admitted in 2018 was 150 whereas in 2019 the batch strength was increased to 180 students. Dr. Sunil Nandeshwar is the dean of college. Students are admitted to the college through NEET-UG examination.

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References
  1. CORPUS INSCRIPTIONS INDICARUM VOL II PART II. GOVERNMENT EPIGRAPHIST FOR INDIA, OOTACAMUND. 1963. p. 9.
  2. "Vidisha". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  3. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  4. Report Of Tours In Bundelkhannd And Malwa Vol X 1874-75. 1880. pp. 36–46.
  5. Art & architecture of Daśārṇa (Malwa) Region, Rahman Ali, Sharada Pub. House, 2008, p. 14
  6. (Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D, K.C. Jain, p. 485
  7. Gleanings of Indian archaeology, history, and culture: Prof. Dr. R.N. Mehta commemoration volume, Volume 1, 2000, p. 263
  8. Madhya Pradesh: District Gazetteers, Volume 42, V. S. Krishnan, Government Central Press p.30
  9. [Studies in the Religious Life of Ancient and Medieval India, Dineschandra Sircar, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1971, p. 117]
  10. Dainik Bhaskar & 108 feet temple.
  11. ASI & Bajramath Temple.
  12. ASI & Maladevi Temple.
  13. ASI & Badoh Jain Temple.
  14. ASI & Gadarmal Temple.
  15. O. P. Mishra, "Bijamaṇḍal and Carccikā: Tutelary Goddess of the Paramāra King Naravarman," Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 22, 1 (2012), pp. 107–113.
  16. H. V. Trivedi, Inscriptions of the Paramāras, Chandellas, Kachchhapaghātas and Two Minor Dynasties, Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, volume 7 in 2 parts (New Delhi, 1978-91) 2: 120-22.
  17. http://travellingslacker.com/2013/10/vidisha-udaygiri-caves-heliodoros-pillar-and-bija-mandal/
  18. http://www.holidayiq.com/Maladevi-Temple-Vidisha-Sightseeing-1018-12089.html
  19. http://www.holidayiq.com/Bajramath-Temple-Vidisha-Sightseeing-1018-12091.html
  20. Vidisha District Museum
  21. Hudson, Kenneth; Nicholls, Ann (1985). The Directory of Museums & Living Displays. Springer. ISBN 9781349070145.
  22. Buddhist Circuit in Central India: Sanchi, Satdhara, Sonari, Andher, Travel Guide. Goodearth Publications. 2010. ISBN 9789380262055.
  23. "Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha". gmcvidisha.org. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  24. Pioneer, The. "CM: Medical College to start in Vidisha from August". The Pioneer. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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