Viraj Shah
Associate Professor, Archaeology & History
Associate Dean- Student Affairs (Academics) & Programs
Address: Pune, Maharashtra, India
Associate Dean- Student Affairs (Academics) & Programs
Address: Pune, Maharashtra, India
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Papers by Viraj Shah
This paper attempts to locate the urban settlements in Maharashtra during the early medieval period of 4th to 13th-14th centuries CE as reflected in the epigraphic sources that mainly include grants to Brahmanas and temples. The study is based on published epigraphic sources spanning the reigns of Vakataktas to Yadava dynasties. These grants, recording the donation of villages, land and/or revenues to Brahmanas or temples, refer to numerous settlements, many of which have been identified with present-day villages, while some have been lost. Based on these epigraphic references, the paper attempts to understand the nature of these settlements, variations in the types of settlements and the changes that occurred in the character of the settlements during the period under study. It focuses on identifying urban centres and patterns of urbanisation during this period.
It is argued that the epigraphic sources point at an abundance of settlements in contrast to the presence of scant archaeological record during this period. The nature of settlements appears to be predominantly rural during 4th to 9th centuries with the occurrence of a few towns, while the number of urban centres with flourishing trade activities shows a marked increase after 9th-10th century CE. The nature of a few settlements changed over time, but most settlements indicate long occupation, at least from early historic to modern times. It is argued that an in-depth study of epigraphic sources to identify and map settlements in archaeological landscape may lead to a better understanding of early medieval period in Indian history.
Of this wide variety of non-human entities in Jaina Universe, snakes or more specifically, cobras/ nāgas hold significant position, especially because two of the 24 tīrthaṅkaras of the present time-cycle, 7th tīrthaṅkara, Supārs̀vanātha and 23rd tīrthaṅkara, Pārs̀vanātha are shown with snake-hoods above their heads. Nāgas also appear in stories associated with the 24th tīrthaṅkara, Mahāvīra, and are linked with goddesses, tantric diagrams and lower regions of Jaina cosmos. They are perceived and depicted as animals, anthropomorphized beings as well as divine/semi-divine figures. They often occupy liminal spaces and possess magical characters. They are benevolent as well as malevolent, tamed as well as wild, devoted as well as to be feared. This paper seeks to explore the varied perception and representation of nāgas in Jaina visual imagery of ancient and medieval India. It aims to understand how and why such perception and illustration in Jaina art were shaped by cultural practices, religious sensibilities and artistic norms of India at large.
The paper aims to explore the patterns of patronage to the Jaina caves of Maharashtra through a variety of sources such as epigraphs; architectural and iconographic trends; and donor sculptures. It probes into the issues of piety and pilgrimage in medieval Maharashtra as reflected in the nature of these caves and the donative inscriptions.
The evolution of temple into such an important institution pose many interesting queries such as socio-economic-religious background of the rise of temples, nature of patronage and general function of the temple in contemporary society. This work aims to address some of these problems in the case of temples from Maharashtra, primarily with the help of epigraphic material, which comprises of around 255 inscriptions recording construction of temples and/or grants to these temples. Understanding the socio-economic-religious background of the rise of temples, evolution of temple institution, nature of patronage as well as nature and terms of endowments, functioning of temples and religious trends of the contemporary society, are some of the primary aims of this study.
Drafts by Viraj Shah
This paper attempts to locate the urban settlements in Maharashtra during the early medieval period of 4th to 13th-14th centuries CE as reflected in the epigraphic sources that mainly include grants to Brahmanas and temples. The study is based on published epigraphic sources spanning the reigns of Vakataktas to Yadava dynasties. These grants, recording the donation of villages, land and/or revenues to Brahmanas or temples, refer to numerous settlements, many of which have been identified with present-day villages, while some have been lost. Based on these epigraphic references, the paper attempts to understand the nature of these settlements, variations in the types of settlements and the changes that occurred in the character of the settlements during the period under study. It focuses on identifying urban centres and patterns of urbanisation during this period.
It is argued that the epigraphic sources point at an abundance of settlements in contrast to the presence of scant archaeological record during this period. The nature of settlements appears to be predominantly rural during 4th to 9th centuries with the occurrence of a few towns, while the number of urban centres with flourishing trade activities shows a marked increase after 9th-10th century CE. The nature of a few settlements changed over time, but most settlements indicate long occupation, at least from early historic to modern times. It is argued that an in-depth study of epigraphic sources to identify and map settlements in archaeological landscape may lead to a better understanding of early medieval period in Indian history.
Of this wide variety of non-human entities in Jaina Universe, snakes or more specifically, cobras/ nāgas hold significant position, especially because two of the 24 tīrthaṅkaras of the present time-cycle, 7th tīrthaṅkara, Supārs̀vanātha and 23rd tīrthaṅkara, Pārs̀vanātha are shown with snake-hoods above their heads. Nāgas also appear in stories associated with the 24th tīrthaṅkara, Mahāvīra, and are linked with goddesses, tantric diagrams and lower regions of Jaina cosmos. They are perceived and depicted as animals, anthropomorphized beings as well as divine/semi-divine figures. They often occupy liminal spaces and possess magical characters. They are benevolent as well as malevolent, tamed as well as wild, devoted as well as to be feared. This paper seeks to explore the varied perception and representation of nāgas in Jaina visual imagery of ancient and medieval India. It aims to understand how and why such perception and illustration in Jaina art were shaped by cultural practices, religious sensibilities and artistic norms of India at large.
The paper aims to explore the patterns of patronage to the Jaina caves of Maharashtra through a variety of sources such as epigraphs; architectural and iconographic trends; and donor sculptures. It probes into the issues of piety and pilgrimage in medieval Maharashtra as reflected in the nature of these caves and the donative inscriptions.
The evolution of temple into such an important institution pose many interesting queries such as socio-economic-religious background of the rise of temples, nature of patronage and general function of the temple in contemporary society. This work aims to address some of these problems in the case of temples from Maharashtra, primarily with the help of epigraphic material, which comprises of around 255 inscriptions recording construction of temples and/or grants to these temples. Understanding the socio-economic-religious background of the rise of temples, evolution of temple institution, nature of patronage as well as nature and terms of endowments, functioning of temples and religious trends of the contemporary society, are some of the primary aims of this study.