Why is the museum built in Vadnagar special?


On January 17, the country’s first such museum opened in Gujarat, 100 kilometers away from Ahmedabad, where we can experience the events of the last 2500 years alive. This is such a huge ‘time machine’ built in 12,500 square meters that once you enter its walkway shed, every event of history becomes directly visible. The thinking, lifestyle and way of working of the characters of these events, which are testifying to prehistoric times, are also visible to you in front of you. This museum is built in Prime Minister Modi’s hometown Vadnagar and it was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

This Archaeological Experiential Museum of Vadnagar is bringing alive seven periods of changes in two and a half thousand years. In each of these periods, the changing character of Vadnagar is visible, but it also shows an unbroken link of our values. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was born in this Vadnagar city of Gujarat, whose present character is the modern form of an unbroken chain of rituals spanning 2500 years. During this long period of history, Vadnagar was constructed and destroyed seven times. We see this story in the Archaeological Experiential Museum. Archaeological excavations and scientific research have proved that Vadnagar has been a mythological and historical city economically and culturally prosperous.

scientific management
These seven layers, testifying to the construction and destruction of Vadnagar, have emerged from the womb of the earth. Playing a big role, the Archaeological Department of India has now preserved them in front of us in the form of a museum. Archaeological excavations and research show that Vadnagar has been mentioned in texts such as the Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Jain Agamas. Vadnagar has many different names in these texts, such as Anartpur, Anandpur, Chamatkarpur, Skandapur and Nagarka. Institutions like IIT Kharagpur, IIT Guwahati, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Roorkee have done scientific study of ceramic vessels, glass, stone sculptures and metal artefacts found from archaeological mining in Vadnagar.

Scientific research shows that the historical and cultural character of Vadnagar has existed since 1400 BC. This city of Mehsana has been a vibrant economic center for thousands of years. People from other countries used to reach this city by sea route for trade. Therefore it has been quite prosperous in the urban system. This city had advanced systems of water management and agriculture. Today, when archaeological excavations are being done in Vadnagar, all this information is coming in front of us. Study of the iron items found here during excavation has revealed that the technology of metallurgy had also developed in Vadnagar. Not only this, the glass and copper items found also show that coins were also manufactured in Vadnagar. In this way it can be said that the civilization that developed in Vadnagar had scientific knowledge and technology like the modern period.

cultural splendor
Vadnagar not only developed as an economic center during its 2500 year period, but also became a center of culture and knowledge. Vadnagar was ruled by many dynasties, among which the Chalukya dynasty is prominently discussed. The governance system of these dynasties was dominated by Nagar Brahmins. Vadnagar was the center of Nagar Brahmins. The efforts of these Nagar Brahmins established Vadnagar as an intellectual centre. Therefore, since ancient times, this place was famous as the capital of knowledge. The result of these efforts of Nagar Brahmins in Vadnagar is that a confluence of many religions is seen here. Here Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam got a similar environment to flourish. What could be a better example of secularism of Sanatan Dharma in India than Vadnagar. Evidence of this secular character of Vadnagar has been found from archaeological excavations. Excavations in Vadnagar have revealed evidence of many Buddhist monasteries, Jain temples and Hindu temples.

international fame
The way Vadnagar developed as an economic center in its 2500-year history, its fame spread throughout the world. The result of this fame was that in the seventh century, Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang came here and stayed for several days. During his stay in Vadnagar, Hiuen Tsang visited various places in the city. At the time when Hiuen Tsang came to Vadnagar, the name of Vadnagar was Anandpur. Hiuen Tsang was not only a traveller, but he was also a historian. He also used to write all his travel experiences in his travelogue. In one such travelogue, he has written about Vadnagar. In this account, Hiuen Tsang has not only written about the Buddhist monasteries and Buddhist monks of Vadnagar, but he has also written in detail about the activities there. Today, the archaeological excavations and research being done in Vadnagar are proving the things written in Hiuen Tsang’s travelogue to be correct.

Country’s unique museum
In the age of information technology, Vadnagar has, in a way, brought 2500 years of history alive before our eyes. An Archaeological Experiential Museum has been completed in Vadnagar, which is the first of its kind in the country. In this museum, with the help of latest technology, the cultural, scientific and economic life of every era of Vadnagar can be experienced. This museum is built on the same site where archaeological excavation has been done. There is a walkway shed at this excavation site, walking on which we can experience the 2500 years of history of Vadnagar.

Visitors to this museum will have a digital experience of Vadnagar’s past, which will take them to the old times here. To realize this digital experience, 5000 archaeological heritage sites found through excavation have been used. It is spread over 4000 square meters, where archaeological remains can be seen at a depth of 16 to 18 meters. These archaeological heritages include pottery, coins, jewellery, weapons, tools, sculptures, sporting goods, DNA of grains and remains of skeletons. Spread over 12,500 square meters, this museum has different galleries on nine subjects.

present glory
Vadnagar is developing on the foundation of its rich past. The temple of Hatkeshwar Mahadev is today the pinnacle of that prosperity. This temple is of the family deity of Nagar Brahmins of Vadnagar. There is a self-proclaimed Shivalinga in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. There are also Kashi Vishveshwar Shiv Temple, Swaminarayan Temple and two Jain temples in the temple premises. There is a Kirti Toran near the temple. This carved gate was built by the rulers of the Chalukya dynasty in the twelfth century. This gate made of stones has carvings of scenes from mythological stories and gods and goddesses. Chalukya kings built this arch as a memorial of victory in war. The city’s Sharmistha Lake is a fine example of Vadnagar’s ethos of water management. This is an ancient lake, which is formed by the Kapila river originating from the Aravalli hills. The beauty of this lake attracts everyone. Not only this, the values ​​of Tana-Riri sisters cannot be forgotten in the glorious character of Vadnagar. Tana-Riri Vadnagar had two daughters for whom music was a form of worship. She was so adept in her art that even great musicians like Tansen recognized her talent. To protect their music, both these sisters sacrificed themselves. In his memory, Tana-Riri Music Festival is organized every year in Vadnagar since 2010.

Overall, in the golden present of Vadnagar, one can also get a wonderful glimpse of different periods of its history and the newly constructed museum of Vadnagar gives the experience of the same.

Harish Chandra Baranwal is a senior journalist and writer.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author.

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