Pawaya Archeological Site – History
Pawaya was called as Padmavati
in ancient times. Pawaya was ruled by the Naga kings during the 3rd –
4th century CE and was considered as the ancient capital of Naga
Kings. Ganapati, the last Naga king, was defeated by Samudragupta and the Naga
dynasty came to an end about the middle of the 4th century CE. Their
territories became part of the Gupta empire. It was an ancient Indian city
mentioned in several classic Sanskrit texts, Vishnu Purana, Vayu Purana Malati
Madhavam of Bhavabhuti, Harshacharita of Bana and Sarasvati Kantha Bharana
of Raja Bhoja.
Bhavabhuti describes the city
with tall mansions and temples with shikharas and gates, located between Para
and the Sindhu rivers. This Sanskrit play helped in identifying the ancient
Padmavati. Alexander Cunningham identified Padmavati with present day Narwar
near Gwalior. M B Garde carried out excavations at Pawaya in 1924-25,
1933–34 and 1941. He identified Pawaya with Padmavati rejecting Cunningham’s
identification with Narwar.
The excavation in Pawaya
unearthed huge cache of Naga coins belonging to several Naga rulers, who have
been dated between 210-340 AD, have been found at Pawaya. The Manibhadra Yaksha
image found at Pawaya has an inscription dated to 1st century CE at its
pedestal. Padmavati is also mentioned in the Kokkala Grahapati inscription of
Khajuraho. The inscription assigns the foundation of Padmavati to mythical king
of the Padma dynasty. The brick temple might be built during 3rd
century CE. The temple was renovated in 5th century CE as per the
inscriptions found on the bricks.
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