News Highlight
The ASI recently announced its findings on exploration in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.
Key Takeaway
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) documented second-century Buddhist caves and eighth and ninth-century Hindu temples in the region.
Buddhist caves
- India’s cave architecture is thought to have started in prehistoric times.
- Buddhist and Jain monks used these caverns as places of worship and residence.
- The Mauryans were masters of cave architecture and are credited as the forefathers of rock-cut cave architecture.
- In the third to second centuries B.C, Buddhism became the dominant religion.
- Around this time, three distinct types of Buddhist architecture emerged:
- The Stupa
- Chaitya
- Vihara.
- A stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics used as a place of meditation.
- The Chaitya were the places of worship and assembly of the monks, and it consisted of a stupa within the structure at one end.
- The Viharas were the residential quarters for Buddhist monks.
- The most notable Buddhist caves are
- Ajanta Caves-Maharashtra
- Ellora Caves-Maharashtra
- Barabar Caves-Bihar
- Elephanta Caves-Maharashtra
- Bagh Caves-Madhya Pradesh.
- Junagadh Caves-Gujarat
- Nasik Caves-Maharashtra
- Mandapeshwar Caves-Maharashtra
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
- About
- The Bandhavgarh Tiger reserve is located in the eastern Satpura hill range of Umaria and katni districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- In 1968, it was notified as a national park and, in 1993, was declared a tiger reserve– under the Project Tiger Network at the neighbouring Panpatha Sanctuary.
- Historical Significance:
- Its mention can be found in the ancient books of the ‘Narad Pancharatra’ and the ‘Shiv Purana’ that this place is associated with Ramayana.
- The Bandhavgarh Fort is an excellent masterpiece of “Treta Yuga” (one of the ages of humankind in Hinduism).
- Biodiversity:
- The Tiger Reserve is Known for its healthy population of tigers and a variety of herbivores.
- Apart from the tiger, as many as 34 Mammals have been listed, as nearly 260 species of birds and 70 species of butterflies.
- Species Found:
- Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, Sloth Bear, Striped Hyena, Leopard and Tiger, Wild Pigs, Nilgai, Chinkara and Gaur.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
- About
- Under the Ministry of Culture, ASI is the premier organisation for the archaeological research and protection of the nation’s cultural heritage.
- History:
- It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham– the first Director-General of ASI.
- Alexander Cunningham is also known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.
- Functions:
- Its activities include surveying ancient remains, excavating archaeological sites, conserving and maintaining protected monuments, etc.
Content Source: The Hindu