Rajghat (A Glade of Wisdom and Beauty)

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About the Book 'Rajghat' : A Glade of Wisdom and Beauty' traces the evolution of Rajghat site as a centre of Education, Religion and Philosophy and Art and culture through the ages, while also focusing on recent retrieved sculptures, especially the status of performing art in ancient Varanasi that was at Rajghat. No doubt prior to this work many scholars have shown deep interest in the study of Rajghat site, dealing with history, art and culture besides the Excavation report. This book along with the earlier works on Rajghat would not only add but enrich the study and be of great academic interest to research in this field.

About the Author A recipient of many Honours and Awards for her contribution to Ancient Indian Theatre and life member of 'Bhikshu Jagdish Kashyap Institute of Buddhist and Asian Studies' and 'Indian Art History Congress', Dr. Iravati heads the Department of 'Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology', Vasanta College for Women. Krishnamurti Foundation, Varanasi. Apart from the present work, 'Rajghat : A Glade of Wisdom and Beauty' She is the author of a much celebrated book, 'Performing Artistes in Ancient India'. Her creative genius has found expression in translation, transcreation of novels/story into dramatic form and creation in the form of plays, novels and scholarly papers contributed to reputed Journals. She has the singular distinction of having been blessed in field of acting, drama direction and choreography.

Preface As a student and later as a member of the teaching staff of Vasanta College for women, Krishnamurti Foundation, India, situated on the ancient site of Rajghat, I was drawn by the beauty of the place and Ancient Indian History and culture being my discipline I was deeply interested in exploring the antiquity of the site. The opportunity was provided by the 'Foundation' for which I feel indebted.

In 1993 Krishnamurti Foundation India, had given me a project to work on the Institutional History of Rajghat. J. Krishnamurti, the renowned philosopher and world teacher had an expressed desire to establish an educational Institution on the bank of Ganga. This dream appeared to be a difficult agenda, especially in a thickly populated pilgrimage centre like Varanasi. But luckily for him and for this Institution the place, which later on was to be the seat of this .world philosopher and teacher, for his discourses, was purchased by Sri Sanjeeva Rao Ji, a well known educationist of the time and theosophist, with great effort, from East India Company for Rishi Valley Trust in 1928. The place greatly appealed to Krishnaji, Its picturesque panorama made him remark 'Rajghat is charged with immence energy.'

Not being a student of Archaeology, the history and culture of this archaeological site was an area, I was not familiar with. Hence, I approached Prof. A.K. Narain, my revered teacher, who had excavated the site with his team earlier. He suggested a three dimensional study of the site- Educational, Philosophical and Cultural. It made an interesting study, for it opened new venues of those aspects which were known to archaeologists but not to a layman.

A brief historical background of Rajghat forms the Introductory chapter of this work.. It shows Rajghat, the ancient site of Varanasi, evolving into a centre, not only of education and religion and philosophy, but also as a seat of various forms of art including performing art. As much has been written on pottery and terracotta art of the site, the study gives only a brief account of it. Regarding the stone sculptures we do find some research papers, and some stone sculptures housed in Bharata Kala Bhawan, Banaras Hindu University and state Museum, Lucknow, hence I have confined my studies to those stone sculptures that have been unearthed during the construction work at the site by Krishnamurti Foundation and are yet to be documented.

Introduction Densely grown trees and creapers, shuffling of leaves, murmur of wind, mounds and depressions, gently flowing Ganga and Varuna, twittering of birds, ancient temples telling the saga of by gone days in their silent language, pieces of sculptured stones scattered around to be unearthed, the present impressive buildings of Krishnamurti Foundation, India, housing academic and cultural activities of the place--this is Rajghat, the site of ancient Varanasi. J. Krishnamurti, the renowned seer of modern age once remarked- 'Rajghat is charged with immence energy". True, the place, its environment and history speak of the significance of the saying of the great thinker. The place, once the seat of administration, as its name suggests, has also been a centre of education, religion and philosophy, art and culture.

Rajghat is located towards the north east of the city of Varanasi and is situated on the confluence of the river Ganga and Varana. ft stands at over 279 feet above sea level and about 90 feet above the surrounding country side, bounded by an abrupt break of slope with a cliff of impressive size, overlooking the Ganga. The extensive site, containing a series of mounds of different dimensions bears numerous traces of ancient habitations. Though earlier writers like Greaves1 and Sherring2 felt that the old city of Varanasi stood further north than it does now, it was only in 1 940 that their conjecture was proved to be correct, when the mound of Rajghat was brought to the notice of archaeologists as a result of the digging operation carried out in the area for railway construction. A trial excavation by Krishnadeva, on behalf of the 'Archeological Survey of India', was conducted in the same year. Later between 1957 and 1969 a more scientific excavation at Rajghat was conducted by the department of Ancient Indian History Culture and Archaeology, B.H.U., under prof. A.K Narain.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages