Eran

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Eran is an ancient historical place in Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh, India. It can be called to be the oldest historical town of Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh. In earlier coins and inscriptions its name appears as Airikiṇa. From an early inscription at Sanchi we know that the residents of Eran had made some gifts to the famous Stupa situated at Sanchi. Eran is derived from Eraka. The word erakā probably refers to a kind of grass which grows at Eran in abundance. ^[1]

Eran is the site of first reported monument of Sati dated 510 AD in India. ^[2]The archaeological site nearby Eran has revealed several Gupta inscriptions. The village of Eran has a most interesting collection of archaeological relics. There is a fort in rulings attributed to the Dangis, who formerly dominated over this region. The site had a number of Vishnu shrines but nothing now remains except some of the lower courses of masonry, four standing columns with there architrave and some beams and part of door ways. The Principal statue is a colossal Varaha about 10 feet high. The excavation conducted by the Department of Archeaology of the University of Sagar have yielded relics similar to those found at Maheshwar and Tripuri showing that Eran formed the Northern most limit of the Chalcolithic culture in Madhya Pradesh. ^[3] Excavations were carried out at Eran in 1960-61 to 1964-65; and 1987-88. ^[4] Excavations at Eran have revealed about the earliest fort built by mud ramparts. Prof. K.D. Bajpaihas has studied coins from Eran excavations and has done a chronological analysis.^[5] He has given a note on ‘Svabhoganagara’ in the Eran inscription of Samudragupta. ^[6]

[edit] External links

• Characterization of ancient Indian iron from Eran
• Indian Epigraphy By D. C. Sircar

[edit] References

1. ^ K D Bajpai, Indian Numismatic studies, Ch 5, Pl I,4
2. ^ D N Jha, Prachin Bharata, p.112
3. ^ Madhya Pradesh - Sagar
4. ^ Excavations by ASI - Since Independence - Madhya Pradesh
5. ^ Indological Researches in India : Selected Works of Prof. K.D. Bajpai/edited by S.K. Bajpai. Delhi, Eastern Book Linkers, 2003, x, 452 p., $66. ISBN 81-7854-025-8, p. 35
6. ^ Indological Researches in India : Selected Works of Prof. K.D. Bajpai/edited by S.K. Bajpai. Delhi, Eastern Book Linkers, 2003, x, 452 p., $66. ISBN 81-7854-025-8, p. 41