Badoh – Pathari Group of Monuments – History

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 6^th century CE, followed by the Pratiharas from 8^th – 10^th century CE and then the Paramaras & Rashtrakutas. There are several ancient monuments present in these two villages, dating from 5^th century CE to 11^th 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 9^th 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 5^th 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 11^th century CE can be seen at the entrance of the Kutakeswara Temple.