Badoh – Pathari Group of
Monuments – History
The twin
villages namely Badoh
and Pathari were an important ancient town in medieval period. The
villages were collectively called as Batnagar
in ancient times as per locals. The
area was under the Guptas in 6th century CE, followed by the
Pratiharas from 8th – 10th century CE and then the Paramaras
& Rashtrakutas. There are several
ancient monuments present in these two villages, dating from 5th
century CE to 11th century CE.
Pathari
was the capital of Pathari State, one of several princely states of the Central
India Agency, during the British Raj era. The archeological and ancient
religious sites present in these villages were first visited by J.D. Beglar,
the then Assistant Archaeological Surveyor under the Superintendence of Alexander
Cunningham in the year 1871-72.
J.D.
Beglar produced a primary account of Dasavathara
group, Gadarmal and Jain temple (ASI Report, Vol. VII, JD Beglar &
Cunningham, 1871-72, 1873-74 pp.64-80)
and was subsequently followed by a report of Alexander Cunningham (ASI Report,
Vol. X, 1974-75 & 76-77:pp.69-76). The Gwalior State Archaeology Department
had conducted a survey between 1931 – 1942 CE and restored few sites. The documentation
of these
sites were initiated by Gwalior State Archaeology Department.
The
Gadarmal Temple is believed to have been built in 9th century CE
by Pratihara Kings. The archaeologist Joseph David Beglar, an assistant
of Alexander Cunningham photographed a colossal bas-relief sculpture
of a mother and child inside the
temple in 1871–72 CE. He mentioned it as the sculpture of Maya
Devi and the infant Buddha. This
temple was renovated by Gwalior Archaeological Department in 1923 – 24.
Inscriptions:
The
earliest inscription found here is dated to 5th century CE. The
inscription is engraved near the carvings of Saptamatrikas recording the name
of the King Jayasena. Cunningham recorded a partly damaged inscription dated to
876 CE outside the Jain
temple complex. There is an inscription dated to 917 CE engraved on the
Bheem Gaja (Garuda Dhwaja).
There
is an inscription dated to 1269 during the reign of Paramara King Jayavarman II
in Pathari recording the grant of lands to a religious site. The inscription
mentions Badoh as Vadovyapattana. There is another inscription at the entrance
of Jaina
Temple recording the visit of some pilgrim dating to 1358 CE.
There
is an inscription recording the name of a pilgrim named dola in the Dasavathara
temple. Another inscription on the bracket of a pillar in the mandapa of
Temple No. 2 of Dashavatara
complex records a name of a pilgrim. There are few fragmentary inscriptions
dating back to 11th century CE can be seen at the entrance of the Kutakeswara
Temple.
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