Bhokardan

Bhokardan भोकरदन
city
Bhokardan Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Jalna
Elevation	587 m (1,926 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	16,950
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Bhokardan is a city and a municipal council in Jalna district in the state of Maharashtra, India.

Etymology

According to legends, the name Bhokardan is derived from the name of king Bhogvardhan or Bhagdnath, who ruled this city in ancient time. Local legends consider this to be a capital of Bhomasura, a mythological demon, who was killed by Hindu god Srikrishna.

History

Bhokardan is situated on bank of Khelna river. Bhokardan has been identified by the modern historians with the ancient city of Bhogavardhana. One of the earliest references of Bhokardan is found in Markandeya Purana, where it is described as a prosperous trading city in Dandakaranya area, located on the trade route from Ujjayini, in central India to Prathishthana, then capital city of Satavahanas. Similar, references were also found in various other ancient literature. In earlier period it was a Janapada, which later got status of an independent region. Bhokardan was the third richest city in Satavahana period after Prathishthana and Ter. The inscription records at stupas of Bharhut and Sanchi, mention receiving donations from inhabitants of this city for their construction. There is a reference in an article from 593 AD that, the king of Mahishmati, Raja Shankargan, of Kalachuri dynasty, has donated some land to a Brahmin in Bhogvardan region. However, the history of this place in the Middle Ages is not known. In later period of Peshwas rule, this city came under control of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Bhokardan was part of Hyderabad State until its annexation into the Indian Union in 1948. In 1960, it became a part of newly form state of Maharashtra from bilingual Bombay state. The ruins of old fortification are still visible around the city; the old fort area now houses the Tehsil office.

Excavation at Bhokardan: An ancient site comprising two mounds, about 70 ft high, was discovered by M. N. Deshpande near Bhokardan in 1958. Subsequently, a joint evacuation was carried away by a combined team of Nagpur University and Marathwada University, in 1973-74, during this evacuation two periods of occupation were identified:

• Period I
  • Period Ia - early Satavahana period
  • Period Ib - late Satavahana period
• Period II post Satavahana period.

During the excavations, traces of foundations, brick walls, floors, post-holes, fallen roofs and a ring well were discovered. The artifacts found from the site included punch-marked coins, copper coins of the Satavahanas and the Kshatrapas; a few terracotta bullae with legends in Greek; coin moulds and seals. About 2000 beads made of terracotta, glass, shell and semi-precious stones were also found. A large number of terracotta, iron, copper and ivory objects were found from the site. The other important items found at site compromised: scores of human and animal figurines; ivory and shell bangles; terracotta ear ornaments; saddle querns with Buddhist symbols and burnt grains which compromised wheat, Jowar, gram, ber and rice.

However, the most exquisite of all the find was the lower half of an ivory female figurine, carved in the round with two female attendants. It is reminiscent of the ivory statue of Hindu goddess found at ancient Roman town-city Pompeii near modern Naples in the Italy, which was destroyed and buried under ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Numbers of scholars have argued that the ivory statue of Pompeii had its origin at Bhokardan, which found its way either through ancient caravan based silk route or via ship based spice route to Pompeii in the first century AD. Similar ivory objects were also found at Ter. This statues serves as a testimonial of trade relationships of the ancient world.

During Satavahanas' period Bhokardan was a center for ivory artifacts, which were traded for other items. After the decline of the Satavahanas, Bhokardan lost its importance as a major trade center, leading to its downfall. It seems to have been re-occupied only in medieval period.

The ivory female statue and number of other artifacts which were found during excavation are now preserved and displayed at the history museum, of department of History & Ancient Indian Culture, of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad.

Geography

Bhokardan is located at . It has an average elevation of 587 metres (1925 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Bhokardan had a population of 16,950. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bhokardan has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 70% and female literacy of 54%. 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Religions in Bhokardan
Religion			Percent
Hindus			40%
Muslims			41%
Buddhists			10.6%
Christians			0.4%
Jains			3.7%
Others†			0.3%
Distribution of religions †Includes Sikhs (0.2%), Buddhists (<0.2%).

See also

• Bhokardan (Vidhan Sabha constituency)

Further reading

• Deo, S. B. and R. S. Gupte (eds.) (1974). Excavations at Bhokardan (Bhogavardhana), Nagpur: Nagpur University