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Ahichatra (or ''Ahi-Kshetra'') was the ancient capital of Northern Panchala, a northern Indian kingdom mentioned in Mahabharata. The remains of this city has been discovered near Ramnagar town in Nainital district in Uttarakhand state. The excavations have brought to life a brick fortification and continuity of occupation from a period before 600 BCE to 1100 CE.〔Lahiri, Bela (1972). ''Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.)'', Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.170-88〕 During the first excavations in 1940–44, the Painted Gray Ware pottery were found at the earliest level. Ruins of this city could be identified from the remote sensing imagery of IRS (Indian Remote Sensing) satellites. The ruins reveals that the city had a triangular shape. Recent excavations in Ahichhatra showed it was first inhabited by the middle of the second millennium BC with Ochre Coloured Pottery culture people, followed by Black and Red Ware culture. Around 1000 BC, it reached at least 40 hectares of area, making it one of the largest Painted Grey Ware culture sites.〔http://www.educationtimes.com/article/290/20130917201309171524062507304cdb3/What-Lies-Beneath.html What lies Beneath, B. R. Mani 2013〕 The city was alive up to end of Kurukshetra war. Near the ahichhatra 2 km west there is also a big pond at the time of mahabharta in the village of jagannathpur and today the peoples bath in that pond this pond is made by the pandavs at the time of banvas The territory under Ahichatra was formerly under the Panchala king Drupada. Later it was taken over by Drona, after a war, in which Drupada was defeated by Drona's disciple Arjuna. Ashwatthama, the son of Drona, was given the responsibility of ruling the territory of Northern Panchala from Ahichatra. Ashwatthama probably ruled the kingdom being subordinate to the rulers of Hastinapura. The word ''Ahi'' means ''snake'' or ''Naga'' in Sanskrit. Nagas were a group of ancient people who worshiped serpents. The word ''khsetra'' means ''region'' in Sanskrit. This implies that Ahi-kshetra was a region of Nagas. This could mean that the region was populated originally by Nagas, Nairs and Bunts of Kerala and Tulu Nadu who claim Kshatriya descent from the nagas as well as Namputhiri and Tuluva Brahmins(Hindu philosophers Adi Shankara and Madhvacharya belonging to these communities) trace their origins to this place.〔(Maclean's Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency )〕 ==About Ahichchhatra Parshvanath== Shri Ahichchhatra Parshvanath Atishaya Kshetra Digamber Jain Mandir is a center of religious consciousness and it is present in peaceful area surrounded by natural beauty. About 2800 years ago Bhagwan Parshvanath attained ‘Keval Gyan’ here through deep ‘Tapashcharan’. It is this sacred land only where ‘Samvar Dev’, the opponent of Parshvanath tried to create hurdles in his meditation and when ‘Dharnendra’ saw that ‘Samvar Dev’ is distracting Bhagwan Parshvanath. Then in order to show his devotion towards him Dharnendra spread his hood above Parshvanath (Phan) and his consort Padmawati raised Parshvanath over her hood and thus the hurdle of Samvar Dev proved a failure (or became unsuccessful). At that very moment Parshwanath got enlighten by ‘Keval Gyan’ and ‘Gyan Kalyanka’ was celebrated devotionally by various gods and folk people. Later on the very first Samavsharan of Bhagwan Parshvanath was held here by Kuber on the order of Indra Dev and his ‘Divya Dhwani’ (Spiritual Precept) was delivered here. The history of this city dates back to the time of Bhagawan Adinatha. Previously this place was called by the names ‘Shankhavati’, Chhatravati’, Ahikshetra’. It is said that its area had extended for 18 miles was the capital of Guru Dronacharya of the Mahabharata. It is said that Bhagwan Parshwanatha had to face many upasargas (Harassment) at the time of meditation in this place. We can find a mention of this place in many inscriptions and religious books. Various Jain idols and inscriptions found during the land excavations tell us about the historical importance of this place. At present we can find many ruins and remains spread all over. A Fair is held every year from the eighth to the thirteenth day of the dark half of the moth of Falguna. The green coloured idol of Tikhal Baba found here is very attractive. Many idols and inscriptions found during the land excavations are kept in the Government museum. Saurabh Jain Guna 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ahichatra」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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