Mundesvari temple museum at bhabhua in kaimur district of bihar, Itihas Ki Khoj Mein, Center for gender studies, Patna,

Vol. IV No. 1-2, ISSN -0975-3672, (Edi.) Dr. A.K. Jha, Patna, 2009

MUNDESVARI TEMPLE MUSEUM AT BHABHUA IN KAIMUR DISTRICT OF BIHAR

Sachin kr. Tiwary* Rushabh Sahu** Amitabh Kr. Tiwary**

INTRODUCTION We are living in an age of specialization which seems to be increasing day by day with the advance of knowledge. It is heartening to note that this trend of specialization has reached museums also, testifying to the maturity attained by our country's museum movement. In India today, there are more than four hundred museum belonging to science, technology, health, industry, agriculture, geology, natural history, art, archaeology, anthropology and other disciplines.1 It is only after independence specialized museums began to be opened. In the country like India, there are various types of museums in different parts of the country those do not fulfill all the criteria of ICOM, still then we call them as museum. According to the ICOM definition "A museum is a non-profit making permanent institution, in the service of society it's development, and open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits, for the purpose of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of man and his environment."2 In India, now there are 46 Archaeological site museums under the Archaeological survey of India but few collections are also found in the site those are kept inside a house in haphazard manner without any documentation and proper care.

LOCATION With this background now we are going to discuss about an Archaeological museum at Bhabhua in the Kaimur district of Bihar which could not draw the attention of any organization although the Mundesvari temple itself is a centrally protected Monument. The present museum (Lat. 250 2' 46" N., Long 030 36' 25" E.) is situated in the sourth-western parts of Bhabhua Block. One can approach to this site from Bhabhua to Ramgarh of Bhagwanpur block with a good motorable road which is 13 km. distance. The nearest Railway station is Bhabhua road which is 25 km. away from the site.

Mundesvari temple museum at bhabhua in kaimur district of bihar, Itihas Ki Khoj Mein, Center for gender studies, Patna, Vol. IV No. 1-2, ISSN -0975-3672, (Edi.) Dr. A.K. Jha, Patna, 2009 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF THIS AREA The temple Mundesvari (Figure. I II III) is located at the top of hill in the Kaimur range of about 600 ft. above the ground level whereas the museum is above 200 ft. The temple forms an important landmark in the history of temple architecture, as it is the only remaining octagonal temple of nagara style built of stone in North India.3 The architectural and sculptural characteristics of the temple. Suggests that it was constructed in 7th century A.D. as opined by R.D. Banerji.4 Scholars like Buchanan, Kuraishi, K.C. Panigrahi, R.D. Banerji, N.G. Majumdar worked on the different aspects of the Mundesvari temple. On a pillar of Mundesvari, the letters of which probably a variety of the Siddha Matrika lipi sound dated to the Post-Gupta priod.5 Besides a number of shell inscriptions (Sankhalipi) found in the architectural members of the temple. The superstructure has temple of collapsed since long due to the earthquake what exists at presents is the half portion of the temple. So a number of architectural members and sculptures found here and there in the temple premises6.

ABOUT MUSEUM & MUSEUM OBJECT Hence in 1993, a small building (Figure: V) was constructed what we call as museum to kept the architectural fragments and sculptures of the temple. At the same time few detached sculptures were also collected from the surrounding areas and kept here. This building was constructed by memorandum of Association of sri mundeshwari parytan avam sanskritik vikas parishad under the active supervision of the collector and District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Srivastava. Through the images are not displayed and exhibited in systematic manner still then it opened to the public to know about the aesthetic art and iconography of various Gods and Goddesses. At present the museum is maintained by the State Government and an Attendant is supervising. The museum building consists of three rooms. One is using for official purpose and the rest two are for displaying the objects. For the sake of convenience the present authors named them as Hall No. I and Hall No. II. The former is larger than the later measuring 87 m. length and 5 m. in breadth contained 18 images and two pillars. Besides there are six stone are almost same measurement of 3.5 ft. 1.5 with the thickness of 3 and 4 inches. These images are mainly kept on the four sides of the room. The following images in the hall no. I, are very noteworthy and their iconographic details are described on the following on the basis of their sectarian affiliation. 2

Mundesvari temple museum at bhabhua in kaimur district of bihar, Itihas Ki Khoj Mein, Center for gender studies, Patna, Vol. IV No. 1-2, ISSN -0975-3672, (Edi.) Dr. A.K. Jha, Patna, 2009 Jaina (1) A broken image of Jaina tirthankara whose leg portion is only survived that suggest he is in kayotsarga posture. Two attendant are seated on either side of the image and two bulls flanked on the pedestal with a dharmachakra at the centre (2) There is a fragment of miniature temple showing kirtimukhas and lata in the medallion. A gandharva is also playing with some instrument. (3) A broken Jain ayagapatta showing the head of a tirthankara in a medallion. Buddhist (1) A bust of Buddha image whose face is fully chopped out. The hallo part B broken and the existing part of sanghati is shown from right to left. The deity has elongated ears andu usnisa. (Figure VI) Brahmanical Gods (1) n a decorated temple fragment image of Siva is shown in the niches holding trident ion the left hand. (2) A decorated stone panel carved with a bull at the centre flanked by ganas on either side. (3) The fragment of a decorated pillar carved with a sex armed Siva holding snake on his hand. (4) An image of Surya seated on a lotus pedestal holding full blown lotus on his both hands. (5) An auydha purusa of Vishnu in standing posture. (6) A decorated pillar which is devisible into three parts. The lower and upper part B square and octagonal at the centre. The lower part depicting the figures of Siva, Ganesa, Surya and Visnu. (7) In the broken part of a pillaster the figure of Kartikeya is carved on the niches. (8) There is a figure of Mahisasuramardini whose lower part B survived. The deity is standing over the buffalo head. (9) On the Podium a five dimensional pillar is being kept. From bottom to the top it looks like square, octagonal, sixteen sided, circular with floral design and the topmost is also square. In the Hall No. II 25 sculptural edifices are kept and the notable are image of Visnu, Ekamukha Sivalinga few pillar fragments and unidentified images. On the wall the photographs of prehistoric Rock paintings in the Kaimur 3

Mundesvari temple museum at bhabhua in kaimur district of bihar, Itihas Ki Khoj Mein, Center for gender studies, Patna, Vol. IV No. 1-2, ISSN -0975-3672, (Edi.) Dr. A.K. Jha, Patna, 2009 region are displayed. Besides three images are kept outside the museum and these are, Broken Ekamukha Sivalinga, Sivalinga and a part of a pillar carved with Kirtimukha.

PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS: The museum does not have any proper display technique. There are three podiums in the hall No.-I in which two stone slabs are being kept and the other image from the Podium was stolen before 5 year. The rest of the images are also not kept in a systematic order. At the moment, the following measures needed the museum. (1) Documentation of the objects. (2) Labeling (3) Show case and Podium. (4) Exhibition (5) Brochure (6) Lighting (7) Advertisement (8) Security (9) Water facilities and Toilet. The stone slabs and the sculptural fragments of the temple indicate that how it was looks like in ancient period. The Buddhist and Jain image of that region also tells the prevalence of the cult in that area. Due to the poor maintenance and facilities few people do not want to see the architectural and sculptural edifices. Again, the surrounding areas should be surveyed for the collection of more images. The Government should also take necessary steps for the development of this by declaring it as a site museum. Acknowledgment: We are deeply thankful to N. K. Pathak, (Dy. S.A., Patna circle, A.S.I.), for guidance in the preparation of this paper. And also scholars research articles and books.

Mundesvari temple museum at bhabhua in kaimur district of bihar, Itihas Ki Khoj Mein, Center for gender studies, Patna, Vol. IV No. 1-2, ISSN -0975-3672, (Edi.) Dr. A.K. Jha, Patna, 2009 REFERENCES (1) Nigam M.L., Fundamentals Hyderabad, 1985, p. 27. of Museology, Deva Publications,

(2) Amprose Timothy, Paine, Crispin, Museum Basics, ICOM, London & New York 1993, p. 8.

(3) Prasad P.C., Anand Kumar, Archaeological Discoveries in Kaimur District in Sinha Ajoy Kumar (Eds.), Kaimur, Archaeological District Gazetteer, Directorate of Archaeology, Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Govt. of Bihar, 2001, p. 26-27.

(4) Banerji R.D., The Age of Imperial Guptas, Varanasi. Banaras Hindu University, 1933, p. 154-58.

(5) Prasad P.C. Anand Kumar, op. ciit., p. 27

(6) Tiwary,S.K. & Krishnamurhty, S., A Rare Ekmukha Shivalinga from Bhagwanpur Block, Kaimur District, Bihar (Edi.) The Glorious History of India, In memory of R.C. Sharma, by: Dr. S. D. trivedy, Agam Kala Prakashan, New Delhi, 2010 p.p. 491-96.

*Patna Circle, A.SI. **Research Scholar

Mundesvari temple museum at bhabhua in kaimur district of bihar, Itihas Ki Khoj Mein, Center for gender studies, Patna, Vol. IV No. 1-2, ISSN -0975-3672, (Edi.) Dr. A.K. Jha, Patna, 2009

Fig. II Photograph during 1965 Fig. I, Painting done by Daniel in 1808 Dec. 1

Fig. III Present status of the Temple Mundeshwari

Fig. V Buddha image display inside the Museum Fig. IV Present Museum front view 6