Speaking Archaeologically™

Have you ever looked at an ancient monument or sculpture Trishla is a research wing member at Speaking Archaeologically since August 2018 and wondered : how it is, that our ancient civilisations, armed with just a set of primitive tools, were able to conceptualise and execute them ? I know I have . But everytime a teacher responded with "That's for you to find out" and multiple google searches led me to the famous "Maybe the God's built it..?" or my mothers favourite, "Alien theory," I put aside my rather genuine inquiry only to forget about it completely-until it hit me again on site at Sanghol. If you haven't read my last blog here, where I took about how we reached the site, its history and present status, it would be a good idea to read that first for what we call "more context". In this blog I'll only be dishing on how we resourcefully tackled our biggest handicap at the Sanghol site which as I had mentioned in that...

A rather interesting story surfaced at the Lunch table yesterday at a party.Kamakhya Devi or Kamru Devi is a goddess who has been worshiped by the Upper Shimla area Kshatriyas for generations. They worship a tamra patra   or a small metallic pot with water in the name of this Goddess, who, when she possesses a mortal worshiper, asks for her "gaude" (local for ghada or water pot). The very same goddess is worshiped in Kinnaur as Kamru Devi and was apparently introduced in Upper Shimla by one of the ancestors of the Kshatriyas , who had gone to that region for trade. When the river freezes (and I am assuming this is Shyok River and Borasu Pass), the area becomes a trade-route that directly leads to China, and also opens up in Guwahati, Assam. Kamakhya Devi Temple, Assam Interestingly, Guwahati is in the Kamrup District, a famous Shakti Peeth where, interestingly,  there is a temple called Kamakhya Devi. According to Shakti Traditions,  the genitals of the Go...

What comes to your mind when I talk of an Archaeological recording workshop? A formal site visit led by a regimented Task In-charge?   If yes, then let me help you get rid of this preconception. Because the Speaking Archaeologically site visits are nothing like that. On the fine Sunday morning of 15th October,  I embarked on the bus journey from Chandigarh to Pinjore. Though I had visited the place before, but never knew there was a temple too. Anyway, it was a 45 minute long journey and I spent the whole time trying to wrap up the essay we had to submit the same day. I reached there by noon as we all were supposed to, where Shriya greeted us all warmly (See, what did I say? No formalities). We walked further, got onto the site, had a session on Hindu temples and conferred about them in detail. Studied Hinduism in its primary form, discussed Tantra, Mantra and Yantra, familiarized ourselves with different Gods, including the one pictured below. That's Ishana (Moon)...

Gauri Singh is a Speaking Archaeologically Workshop and CArch Member Before visiting the Kangra Valley in July, I made a list of places I wanted to visit. When the name of Masroor came up, it sounded like some distant place in South India. To my surprise, it was located 3 hills away from Mcleodganj on a secluded hilltop. The entire complex was huge and carved out from a single block of sandstone. The entry, now, to the temple is from the rear. There was a small booth along the entrance stairs where we bought the tickets from. As I walked in, I noticed the temple first and then a huge tank of water right in front of the sandstone structure. Knowing it will take me a very long time to explore the temple I chose to go around the water tank first. I could see from the opposite side a complete reflection of the beautiful temple in green waters of the tank which was almost 50 meters wide. From distance a noticed my mother throwing bits of something in water. As I went closer...

Being a volunteer at Speaking Archaeology always comes with its perks (and responsibilities, if I may add). So, be it a vacation with family, camping with friends or casual outings, each location is nothing short of a historical site. If you get down to it, you might be lucky enough to catch up on the his tory.   A trip to Jim Corbett sounds like a fun filled, adventurous outing. History is not something you e xpect to fin d there. Except that the area contains one of the most auspicious sites, so much so that it is a nationally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India . The site being discussed is the "Temp le Sacred to Sita "- Sitavani. Getting up for an early morning safari in the National Park, I had slight ide a about a temple we might visit. However, getting out from my daze I realised that the temple might have a historical relevance. And I was not disappointed here at all. T he temple turned out to be an archaeological site! H...

The view from Daandi The temple at Daandi is placed inside the dense forests of Kotkhai and Balsan tehsils of district Shimla . It can easily be reached by vehicle from Shimla and is approximately  60 k.m. from the main city. The forest belt of Daandi with adjoining villages of Kotkhai This temple has been constructed amidst the deep forests and can be reached by vehicle. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is built in a ground. The main temple is made up of stone and cement as it was reconstructed in late 1970’s. Earlier it was made up of stone and wood. According to the locals the temple has its origin since early 1900’s. On festivals like Nag Panchami , Shivratri , Dusshera and beginning on the Monsoon season which according to Hindu religion is dedicated to Lord Shiva the temple is lit up with diyas and lights . The Daandi Temple of Lord Shiva About 50 meters from   Daandi  in the adjoining forest is a shrine built ...