Prakashnu Ek Prachin Shilpa

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Prakashnu Ek Prachin Shilpa" (An Ancient Sculpture from Prakasha) by Shivlaldas S Desai:

The article discusses the archaeological and historical significance of Prakasha, a pilgrimage site located about ten miles north of Nandurbar in West Khandesh. While the origin of its name and its ancient name are not clearly documented, it is mentioned in the Skandapurana's Tapimaahatmyam. Local belief considers Prakasha as a "Prati-Kashi" (a replica or substitute Kashi), and a pilgrimage to Kashi is considered incomplete without visiting Prakasha.

Location and Demographics: Prakasha is situated on a cliff along the Tapi river and currently has a population of around five thousand, predominantly Leva Patidars who are farmers. Other communities include Gujarati Lad Vaniyas, some goldsmiths, Gujarati Mithrayani Brahmins, a few Southern Brahmins, and Marathas. The majority of the population is of Gujarati origin, and the primary language spoken is Gujarati, though it has some Southern Marathi influence due to its location.

Religious Sites and Archaeological Finds: The village features the Pushpadanteshwar Mahadev temple. Local Brahmins associate this Shiva temple with Pushpadanta, the author of Mahimnastotra, though conclusive evidence is lacking. Other temples include Kedareswar, Sangameswar, and Gautameswar. Scattered sculptures of various deities, including Surya (Sun) and Vishnu, some as tall as four to five feet, have been collected by the villagers.

The article focuses specifically on an important ancient sculptural remnant – a head. Evidence of Naga worship (serpent worship) is also present, with two serpent sculptures (one ancient and one modern) being notable.

In December 1954, Amrit Vasant Pandya, a researcher from Vallabh Vidyanagar, discovered ancient historical and prehistoric remains near the Sangameswar temple. These findings, presented at an exhibition during the All India History Conference in Ahmedabad, included tools from the Chalcolithic age up to the Mauryan period and the beginning of the Common Era. This included fragments of pottery known as Northern Black Polish Ware, characterized by their beautiful, sharp edges.

Following this, the Archaeological Survey of India, under the supervision of experienced researcher Shri Thapar, conducted excavations. These digs, reaching depths of fifty to fifty-five feet, unearthed ancient artifacts from various periods, establishing a chronological cultural history of the site, which is expected to be published by the government. Notably, a sculpture of Ganapati, believed to be from the Gupta period, was also found during these excavations.

Numismatic and Other Artifacts: The author observed that coins found at Prakasha included those of the Satavahana kings, tribal coins, and coins of the Kshatrapas. Coins of Ahmed Shah I and Sultan Muhammad Shah of Gujarat were also discovered. A detailed study of these coins is being undertaken by Dr. Hariharprasad Trivedi, Curator of the Indore Museum, and it is suggested that during a certain period, Gujarat, Malwa, and Maharashtra used similar types of coinage.

Other ancient artifacts found include bangles made of conch shells and colorful ancient beads made of various stones, some dating to the Gupta era and others to the earlier Kshatrapa period.

Cultural Connections and the Sculpture: Prakasha is situated on the eastern border of Gujarat (or ancient Lata) in West Khandesh. The population and language of the area, along with the historical connection of nearby Nandurbar to Gujarat and its renowned poet Premanand, indicate that this western part of Khandesh was culturally linked to the Gurjars during historical periods. The Gujarati population there serves as a strong supporting and decisive piece of evidence for this connection. Consequently, the art found in Prakasha is expected to share stylistic similarities with other ancient art from Gujarat.

The Ancient Head Sculpture: The article highlights a significant ancient head sculpture, approximately 2.25 inches in size, carved from steatite (Shist/Bharata Shila). This sculpture is considered a crucial link in the history of sculpture in Gujarat and West Khandesh. The head is believed to be part of a statue of Surya or Vishnu, as both deities are depicted with similar tall, crown-like headdresses in older sculptures.

The headdress, similar to a Parsi turban but with a slightly different shape and an authentic Persian (Iranian) design, is noteworthy. The erect crown has pleats on both sides, and the upward-reaching lines are indicative of flames. This flame-adorned crown signifies an Iranian influence. A similar, though older, headdress is seen on an image of Indra found in Mathura, dating to around the 2nd century CE, which is well-known to scholars of ancient Indian sculpture and is currently housed in the Mathura Museum. It is suggested that Indian artists began creating various types of turbans and crowns based on these Iranian turbans. The upright turbans were transformed from being almost round to square or squarish, and even fully round ones were faceted, with beautiful lotus motifs carved on them, leading to the creation of exquisite crowns for Vishnu during the Gupta period. A metal statue of Jivantaswami (Mahavir Swami) wearing such a beautiful crown was found at Akota near Vadodara and was published by Dr. Umakant Shah in the December 1954 issue of "Kumar." This statue is believed to be from the 5th century CE.

An even older head, found at Karvan by Shri Ramanlal Nagarji Mehta, bears a strong resemblance in facial features to the Prakasha head. The headdress on the Karvan head is also of a similar style and possibly older than the Jivantaswami from Akota. Shri Mehta plans to present the Karvan head in Prakasha. The author, having had the opportunity to study the Karvan head due to Shri Mehta's generosity, confirms that the Prakasha head and the Karvan head discovered by Shri Mehta are made of the same material and are from approximately the same period.

Dating of the Prakasha Head: While the headdress on the Prakasha head is of an older style, the gemstone-studded locket on its front, shaped like a leaf, suggests a period no older than the Gupta era. The carved lines on the headdress, depicting criss-cross patterns, are indicative of embroidery and suggest craftsmanship from the 3rd-4th centuries CE. The majestic and expressive facial features suggest it was sculpted in the 4th or 5th century CE, giving the impression of a deity conversing with its devotee. The style of this sculpture has a direct connection with the style of other ancient sculptures from Gujarat. The number of ancient sculptures found in Gujarat is very limited. A study of this head alongside other Gupta-period sculptures presented by Dr. Umakant Shah in his recent series in "Kumar" and earlier English writings suggests that this head, which can be placed at the end of the Kshatrapa period (3rd-4th centuries), exhibits certain Gupta-era characteristics. Therefore, it is considered appropriate to date it to the end of the 4th century or the beginning of the 5th century CE. The crown of this sculpture can also be compared with the crown of the Vishnu image from Bhinmal, presented by Dr. Umakant Shah in the December 1954 issue of "Kumar."

In essence, the article provides a detailed analysis of the Prakasha site, its cultural and historical connections, and critically examines an ancient head sculpture, placing it within the broader context of Indian art history, particularly highlighting the stylistic influences and evolution of headdresses from the Kshatrapa to Gupta periods.