Padmavati (Pawaya)

Padmavati, identified with modern Pawaya in Madhya Pradesh, was an ancient Indian city mentioned in several classic Sanskrit texts, Malatimadhavam of Bhavabhuti,[1] Harshacharita of Bana,[2] and Sarasvatīkaṇṭhabharaṇa of Raja Bhoja. Bhavabhuti describes the city with tall mansions and temples with shikharas and gates, located between Para and the Sindhu rivers.

Padmavati (Pawaya)
city
Padmavati (Pawaya) Possible location in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India Show map of India Padmavati (Pawaya) Padmavati (Pawaya) (Madhya Pradesh) Show map of Madhya Pradesh
Coordinates: 25.77°N 78.25°E / 25.77; 78.25
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh
District	Gwalior
Elevation	305 m (1,001 ft)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)

Manibhadra image at Pawaya

It is also mentioned in inscriptions like the Kokkala Grahapati inscription of Khajuraho.[3] The inscription mentions that the city had rows of tall mansions. The dust used to arise because of running of strong horses.[4]

Identification

Alexander Cunningham identified Padmavati with present Narwar near Gwalior.[5] M B Garde carried out excavations at Pawaya in 1924-25, 1933–34 and 1941. He identifies Pawaya with ancient Padmavati rejecting Cunningham’s identification with Narwar.[6][7] Coins of several Naga kings, who have been dated between 210-340 AD, have been found at Pawaya.

Antiquities

Among the antiquities found at Pawaya is an image of Yaksha Manibhadra.[8] It has an inscription that mentions that it was installed in the fourth regnal year of King Sivanandi and was worshipped by the gosthas or merchants.

See also

• Pawāyā Gupta image inscription
• Narwar coinage
• Grahapati Kokkala inscription

References

1. Bhavabhūti: His Date, Life, and Works By V. V. Mirashi, p. 74, The History of Padmavati
2. Rise And Fall Of The Imperial Guptas, Ashvini Agrawal, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., Jan 1, 1989 p. 54
3. Khajuraho, Kanhaiyalal Agrawal, Macmillan India, 1980 (in Hindi)
4. Padmavati Purval Digambar Jain Jati ka Udbhav aur Vikas, Ramjit Jain, Pragatishil Padmavati Purval Digambar Jain Sangathan Panjikrut, 2005, p. 15
5. Cunningham, Alexander (1872). Four Reports Made During the Years 1862-63-64-65 (Vol II). Archaeological Survey of India. New Delhi.
6. INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 1955-56 EDITED BY A. GHOSH, Director General of Archaeology in India, DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, NEW DELHI, 1956.
7. Costumes & Ornaments As Depicted in the Early Sculpture of Gwalior Museum By Sulochana Ayyar, p. 20-21
8. Jaina-Rupa-Mandana, Volume 1, Umakant P. Shah, 1987, Page 205

External sources

• Pawaya – Glamour of the Ancient Padmavati, http://puratattva.in/2011/07/11/pawaya-glamour-of-the-ancient-padmavati-159.html