Vadnagar

Vadnagar
—  city  —
Vadnagar Location of Vadnagar in Gujarat and India
Coordinates	23°47′06″N 72°38′24″E
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District(s)	Mehsana
Population	25,041 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 143 metres (469 ft)

Vadnagar is a city and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Geography

Vadnagar is located at 23.78°N 72.63°E / 23.78; 72.63. It has an average elevation of 143 metres (469 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Vadnagar had a population of 25,041. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Vadnagar has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 54%. In Vadnagar, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

Known history of Vadnagar goes well beyond 2500 years. Vadnagar is referred to as Anartapur in Mahabharata. According to the great epic the Anarta warriors fought in the Mahabharata war on both the sides and the feud among them continued even after the war was over. Recent archaeological excavations have established the existence of a thriving city of religious and cultural activity at the location around the first century.

"The present city, which appears to be situated on a hill of a height varying from 7 to 30 meters, is actually sitting on a very large artificial mound. This mound is created by a number of layers of buildings built and destroyed in earlier periods. Diggings done for archaeological excavations or construction of houses in recent times show no end to these layers till one reaches to the level of farmland surrounding the city. "These layers speak of a very interesting history of several thousand years." [Ref: Vadnagar -an ancient city, Harjivan Suthar, http://vadnagar.blogspot.com, 2007, main page.]

Vadnagar (district), situated 112 km from Ahmedabad and 34 km from Mehsana, is an ancient town that can catch attention of any person who loves art and ancient architectural monuments. It is a town of Temples, Wells, Vaavs (large wells having steps landing to its level) and Giant Gates with archaeological values and beautiful carvings. Vadnagar was formerly known as "Chamatkarpur" in Sat-Yuga, "Anandpur and Snehpur " in Treta-Yuga and "Vimalpur" in Dvapar-Yuga.

"IN ancient times the city was named Chamatkarpur by a king who was cured of leprosy by taking a dip in a lake called Shakti Tirth at Vadnagar. The story is that while on his mrugaya (hunting expedition) the king followed a pair of he-deer and she-deer. He killed the he-deer causing unbearable pain to the she-deer. As a result the she-deer cursed him of suffering from leprosy. The king with leprosy was shunned by his queen and subjects equally. Ultimately, on the advice of a great sage he went to the lake called Shakti Tirth and took a dip in the magical waters. The king was instantly cured of his leprosy." [Ref: Chamatkarpur, http://oiko-nomia.blogspot.com/2007/05/chamatkarpur-in-ancient-times-city-was.html]

Vadnagar was an important center of education in the past. The town is credited as the place where the Jain monk Acharya Bhadrabahu authored the Kalpasutra. Yet another legend relates it to Tana and Riri, two sisters, who sang the raga Malhar, to call the rains and relieve Tansen from the burning sensation that he had developed from singing raga Deepak. [See: http://tanariri.blogspot.com/]

It is also said that Vadnagar was the earliest capital of Gujarat. Vadnagar's main is located inside the walls of a fort which has 6 huge gates namely Arjun Bari, Nadiol, Amarthol, Ghaskol, Pithori and Amarthol in which Amarthol gate area is the oldest existing part of the town. The river Kapila used to flow through the town of Vadnagar.

The town is also blessed with a magnificent lake named as "Sharmistha Lake" which has a small island like place amidst it. It is connected with a 7 km long inlet canal. The government is developing this island into a beautiful garden. Vadnagar also has various public architectures like a Museum and Library, government hospital and a government court.

There are scores of temples dedicated to almost every God: Shiva, Chhabila, Hanuman, Ashapuri Mata, Ambaji Mata, Vishnupuri, Gaurikund to name just a few. Of the numerous Shiva shrines, the 15th century "Hatkeshver Mahadev" is the most important. He is the family deity of the Nagar Brahmins. Facing the east, it is enclosed by a high wall surmounted by three circular domes. From the roof of the sanctum rises a massive pinnacle, which soars high above in the sky. A massive congregation hall leads to the sanctum which houses a shivling said to have self-emerged or as it is said -"Swayambhu"(self emerged). The exterior of the temple is exquisitely and profusely ornamented with figures of the nine planets, regent deities, the chief gods of the Hindu pantheon, scenes from the life of Krishna and Pandava princes, besides the varied animal and floral motifs. The premises also house an older Swaminarayan Temples (one for male and one for females), two Jain derasars, a goddess Ashapuri temple (Shaktipith), goddess Bhuvaneshpuri Temple, Somnath Mahadev Temple, Daaneshwar Mahadev Temple and Vishnupuri Temple (it is said that God Vishnu himself had stepped here).

Renovated twice or thrice is the "Sitla Mata" Temple ornately carved with figures of celestial beings. Its door frames and ceilings depict the Rasmandala (Krishna dancing with milkmaids). The most striking pieces of architecture in Vadnagar, however, are the two magnificent Kirtistambhas or triumphal arches. Built of red sandstone they are both identical in size and style. Only, one lies in pieces on the ground (now re-erected) and the other stand erect. Its pillars and arches are decorated with lozenges at the base and geometric and floral designs-leaves, creepers, lotus, animal motifs, human figures engaged in various activities and divine figures in different poses. The top bears an image of a seated god Kartikeya flanked by Ganesh and Makara (griffin) from which spring arches. A number of standing female figures also ornament the top. Vadnagar is also known as Skandhpur after Kartikeya, who is identified with Murugan.

Vadnagar has also yielded an image of Bodhisattva dated back to 3rd-4th cent.A.D. This image seems to be brought from Mathura to install in one of the Buddhist monasteries of the town. Xuanzang visited this town in 7th cent.A.D and recorded the presence of Buddhist establishments.

Educational Institutes

Schools

• B N High School
• Navin Sarva Vidyalaya
• Vadnagar Girls High School
• Kumar Shala
• Kanya Shala

Colleges

• javahar navodaya school
• ITI (Government)
• ITI (self finance)
• Vadnagar Arts and Commerce collage
• gov.diploma engg. collage

Hospitals

• Vadnagar Nagrik Mandal Hospital
• Vadnagar Civil Hospital
• drsti hospital
• Vasant prabha hospital
• sardar patel hospital

Historical places to see in Vadnagar

"Tana Riri Garden and Deri Vadnagar"

"Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple Vadnagar"

• Temple of Hatkeshwar Mahadev
• Lake Sharmista

Renovation done in 2009 which includes stadium construction in island in the Lake

• Tana Riri Garden and deri
• Jain Temples
• Khokha Ganapati
• Ancient Library
• Gauri Kund
• Well of Pancham Mehta
• Janjanio well
• Temple of Ashapuri Mata
• Temple of Amther Mata
• Kirti Toran or Narsinh Mehta’s Chori
• Nag Dharo and Nag Temple
• Amarkund and Mahakaleshwar Mahadev
• Baithakji of Gusaiji

References

• Vadnagar - an ancient city [1]
• Vadnagar's second kirti toran re-established: News report on DeshGujarat.Com

• Vadnagar - A town cast in history | Gujarat Tourism | Ancient City | Historical and Archeological Treasure