Author: Ram Chand Sahu
Publication: Sify.com
Date: October 16, 2010
URL: http://sify.com/news/remains-of-1300-years-old-ancient-temples-found-near-bhopal-news-national-kkqsagdheai.html
Scientists of the Archaeological Department
have found out the remains of 1300 year old ancient temples at Ashapuri village
near Bhopal.
Ashapuri village is located around 36 kilometers
off Bhopal.
The debris of the temple seems to be massive
in which the Bhoothnath temple was the biggest.
The archaeologists have named this excavation
project as 'Bhootnath Temple' series.
"We have found ruins of temples dating
back to 1300 years, even before the Parmar Dynasty. Before the Parmar dynasty
there were Pratihar dynasty rulers in this area. After them the Parmar dynasty
came. Pratihar dynasty rulers constructed temples with steeple shaped structure.
These temples were large and beautiful," said Ashok Das, Commissioner,
Madhya Pradesh Archaeological Survey of India.
"The 21 temples you can see here were
made during the Pratihar rule. The largest temple whose cleanliness is yet
to be done might have been made by the Parmar dynasty," he added.
The excavators have found over 400 remains
of idols of Hindu gods and goddesses made during the regime of the Pratihar
and the Parmar dynasty rulers.
The State government has taken the responsibility
to preserve these relics of Indian history.
"It is the responsibility of the Archaeology
Department to find things of historical importance and preserve them. That
is why the State government is doing this work," said Laxmikant Sharma,
Minister of Culture of Madhya Pradesh.
According to the archaeologists, the temples
were built by the Parmar and Pratihar dynasties and certain locals contended
that the Mughal rulers razed down these temples.
