Sources Of Study The History Of Himachal Pradesh
Sources To Study
| Archaeological |
|---|
| Coins |
| Incrisptions ( Stone incrisptions and copper plates inscriptions ) |
| Literary |
| Persian literature |
| Sanskrit |
|---|
| Literature |
| Khalsa Literature |
| Travelogues |
| Vamshavalis (Geneological Rolls ) |
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES
COINS
Study of coins is called numismatics.
• Bhuri Singh museum founded in 1908, in Chamba town was only museum in state before independence. This museum did not paid much attention to the excavation of coins.
• Himachal State museum was founded in 1973-1974 at Shimla and its curator Dr. V.C. Ohri was enthusiastic for coinage.
• Important facts about Shimla Museum
• The museum was opened on 26 Jan 1974) of Shimla.
• It is located on Inveram hill which is one of the 7 hills
• Earlier, it was the residence of Lord William Beresford, the military secretary to the then Governer General of India-Lord William Bentick.
• Later on it served as residence of many Indian Govt officials.
7 Hills of Shimla town are as follows :-
| HILL | FAMOUS PLACE LOCATED |
|---|---|
| Prospect Hill (7140 ft) | Kamnadevi Temple |
| Summer Hill (6900 ft.) | HPU |
| Observatory Hill (7050 ft) | Indian Institute of Advance Studies |
| Inveram Hill | HP state museum |
| Bantony Hill | Kalibari temple Grand Hotel |
| Jakhoo Hill (8059 ft) | Temple of Lord Hanuman |
| Elysium (7400ft) | Auckland house and longwood |
• Then both museums paid much attention for acquiring coins. In few years there was a good collection of coins.
• Both the muscunt contains a large collection of cons atributed to Himalayan Kingdom of ancient era i.e.Trigarta, Kalia, Kilindas, Audumbara
• 12 coins find in Arki are kept in Shimla
• 21 coins of Apollodotus (Indo-Greek king) have been found in Tappa Mewa Village in Hamirpur district
• 31 Coins were found in Jawalamukhi in Kangra district.
Museum of Kangra and Dharamshala
• Opened on 17 January 1990
Note:- Some Indo-Greek coins heve also been found in Lachori and Sarol villages of Chamba district
• The earliest coins found in Kuhita (Kulh) were issued by king Virayasa of 1" century A.D.
AVAILABILITY AS FOREIGN COINS IN OUR SOIL GIVES TWO POSSIBLE EXPLANATION:
1. Whether our kingdoms were subordinate to those foreign powers.
2. Or. Republics or kingdoms of Himachal had widespread trade and commercial linkages with them
2) INSCRIPTIONS
Lots of copper plate inscription have been preserved in Bhuri Singh museum.
Earliest inscription have been found in:
a) Pathiyar & Khanhara Aunthara in Kangra district
In Tikka Timbar near Village Pathiyar of District Kangra, there is a 2000 year old stone inscription in Brahmi and Kharoshti Scripts dating back to Maurya era.
The inscription has two lines:
First line reads Vayulis Pukarini' in Brahmi
Second line this reads Rathidaras Vayulis Pukarini' in Kharoshti script. Vayul could not have been a common man. He had put Rathidar in front of his name indicating that he must have been then Village Headman or some person of high social stature. It is possible that Rathidar indicates his post The official of Rath was called Rathik. It is likely that here Rathik has been called Rathidar. Even today, in Chamba and Kangra, Rathis can be found who probably are descendants of the above mentioned highly placed officials. The Pushkarini (water reservoir) that is mentioned in the inscription is nowhere to be seen today.
The inscription of Khaniyara are written in Brahmi
Both Pathiyar and Khanyara inscriptions are enlisted as Protected monumenty under ASI
| Brahmi Script is written from left to right like Devnagri and English. |
| Khrashot Script, which is written from right to left like Urdu. |
b) Sabanu, near Manglore in Mandi district (near Mandi-Kullu Border).
Also called Salri Salipurl rock Inscription.
It is written in Brahmi
It records the name of Maharaja Chandesvarahastin and his father Isvarahastin of Vatsa gora
e) Soopur, hill cave inscriptions of Hatkoti in Shimla.
d) Nirmand copper plate of 7 century AD issued by Mahasamanta Maharaja Samudrasena.
OTHER STONE INSCRIPTIONS:
• Various Stone Inscriptions Le, commemorative, donative or dedicative have been found in many parts of HP.
• Various scripts are used to write those inscriptions Le- Sharda, Kharoshi, Brahmi, Tankri (Takri) Kutila Nagari Sankha, Bhotia or Tibetan and Siddhamantrika.
• Highest number of inscriptions ie. 36 are found in Chamba region. They are donative in character and written in Sharda and Tankri script. These are placed in Bhuri Singh museum Chamba
LITERARY SOURCES: Books which consists of these accounts: AKBARNAMA
AKBARNAMA written by Abul Fazl (one of the Nine Jewels / Navaratnas of Akbar's royal court). It that the book took seven years to be completed. It has 3 volumes:
The first volume of Akbarama deals with the birth of Akbar, the history of Timur's family and gns of Babur and Humayun and the Suri sultans of Delhi. This volume also encompasses Akbar hud and his upbringings.
The second volume describes the detailed history of the reign of Akbar till 1602 and reconds the events during Akbar's reign. It also deals with that how Bairam Khan and Akbar won the home Pampar against Hemu an Indian warrior.
The third volume is named Ain-i-Akbari, and details the administrative system of the Empire as well as containing the famous "Account of the Hindu Sciences". It also deal als Akbar's household, army, the revenues and the geography of the empire. It also produces rich details about the traditions and culture of the people living in India. It is famous for its rich statistical shoot things as diverse as crop yields, prices, wages and revenues.
II) SANSKRIT LITERATURE
Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda They speaks about various tribes in Holan foothills around 1500BC
• Purana, Brahmins, Aryankas, Rai Malabharta,
• Panini's-Ashtadhyayi
• Kalidasa's-Raghuvansham Vishakhadama's-Devi Chandraguptam, Mudraraksha
• Kalhan's Rajtrangini
III) KHALSA LITERATURE
Many Sikh gurus have been visitors to the hills and such accounts are mentioned in their book and Biographies or religious and historical texts likeMany Sikh gurus have been visitors to the hills and such accounts are mentioned in their book and Biographies or religious and historical texts like
Gurugranth Sahib (Adi Granth)
• Bachitra Natak: Biography of 10th Sikh Guru 'Govind Singh' Janam Sakhis (Biographies of Sikh gurus).
• Gur shobha (poetic work about the life of Guru Gobind Singh): composed by Chandra sain Sainpati )
• Gur Bilas Patshahi (life events of Guru Hargobind and Guru Gobind Singh): by Sukha Singh Dabistan-i-mazahih (explains about Sikh penetration into Himalayan hills): by Persian historian Mohsin Fani.
IV) TRAVELOGUES
• Hiuen Trang was a Chinese traveler, visited India during the reign of king Harshavardhana in 7 century.
• He also visited Himalayan hills.
• Kuluta, Jalandhara and Shrughna states are mentioned by him.
• His accounts give us important information about hill states.
European travelers
• William finch and Thomas Coryate-arrived at the time of Aurangzeb
• Foster-1783 J.B. Fraser (1815)
• Alexander Gerard-1817-18
• William Moorcraft-1820-22
• Captain Monday-1829
• Major Archer-1829
• Baron Charles Hugel-1835-39
• George Forsters
• G.T. Vigne
• J.C. Davidson
• Captain A.P.F. Harcourt
V) VAMSHAVALIS (GENEALOGICAL ROLLS)
It includes the names and tenure of rulers, and were prepared by the Rajgururs or kalpurohits.
History of HP is divided into 2 broad circles ie. Jalandhara circle and Shimla hill circle.
Sometimes third circle Le. Durgar circle or Jammu circle is also included.
WHY THE HISTORY OF H.P. REMAINED UNEARTHED OR UNEXPOSED TILL THE RECENT TIMES:
It is because, Himachal Pradesh as a state did not existed till 1971. Its designation has witnessed several changes even after independence ie. it became a chief commissioner province in 1948 and then in 1950 it was placed under category C states (On 26 January 1950, when our comatination came into being, there were total 10 Part-C states including HP)
In 1956 HP was changed in UT
Then finally in 1971, HP was given statehood.
In ancient and medieval times, it was a territory under local ruler ie. Rajas, Ranas, Thakors. Their mutual conflicts and foreign aggression resulted into destruction of valuable records, artifacts etc. Other reason for the destruction of invaluable recond is the natural disasters which this region had been through. Eg 1905, Kangra earthquake cause lot of destruction to Nagarkot fort (Kangra fort) and destroyed many antique things.
It was in 1948 this Himalayan region was named Himachal Pradesh
Him snow, Achal land or abode means "Land of snow (in the lap of Himalayas). This name was coined by Acharya "Diwakar Datt Sharma". He was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and astrologer who lived in the small sown of 'Mashobra. He along with Shambu datt Shastri started a weekly Vishwashanti in 1948 that carried news and views about Shimla. He also started a Sanskrit monthly 'Divya Jyoti on 12 october 1956 edited by Keshav sharma.
ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM Record of Alexander Conningham are also invaluable in Studying the history of HP.
He was a British army engineer who took an interest in history and archaeology of India. In 1861. He was made first archaeological surveyor of India, the office which gradually transform into archaeological survey of India. He wrote many books and monographs and made extensive collections of artifacts. His interest in Numismatic unfokled many secrets of History.
