The
“Uttareshwara” temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is in utter ruins
today except for the sanctum, housing the Shiva Linga. A lone door
frame, that once formed the part of the outer entrance still stands.
In 1901, when Cousens visited this temple, it was in a slightly
better condition and allowed Cousens to draw a few conclusions. He
says;
“The
Uttareshwara and an accompanying temple of Kaleshwara (
which now seems to have disappeared) are very old shrines
built in moulded or carved brick, the decoration being carried out in
the same style as we find it in stone in the old temple of Kailasa at
Elora or the oldest temples in Pattadakal. Another sign of great age
is the absence of stone in their construction,” he further adds
that the temple appears to be showing a somewhat later period than
that of Buddhist Chaitya or the Trivikram temple.”
But,
it is the lone door frame that is of special interest. On the both
sides of the door frame, elaborate creeper designs have been carved
on the outer side, Next to it, are the carvings, depicting musicians
playing on musical instruments,on the right side of the entrance,
whereas on the left we can see devotees at worship. Two pillasters
are seen next to the door. Some swan figures decorate the lower
part. Over the cornice, there are several carved figures. Cousens has
identified these with Brahma, Shiva and some attendants. All these
figures are not uncommon or unusual for a Shiva temple, but what is
most unusual is the design pattern below this band of figures.
Cousens describes this design in these words;
“Beneath
this very remarkable band of figures is a deeply projecting quarter
round roll cornice, decorated along its front, at intervals with
boldly cut little Chaitya Arch ornaments,
Four in all. These are cut with with great vigour and depth; ”
The
presence of Chaitya arches in Shiva temple is just unexplainable and
makes Cousens wonder; “ Can it possibly have
been a late Buddhist temple?
It
is no wonder that he was most impressed with Ter and says at the end
of his report after visiting several other temples in the area:
“My
visit was very short, as I was only able to spare a few days. I
certainly went unprepared to find so much within twelve miles of
Dharashiva, a place at which a camp was pitched under Dr. Burgess for
some days in December 1975.”
Once
“Ter” came on the radar of Archaeological Survey of India as an
historic site, number of excavations were carried out in the village
in the years 1957-58; 1966-67 to 1968-69; 1974-75; 1987-88; 1988-89
along with one by Maharashtra State Archeology Department in 1987-88.
The
1957-58 expedition did not find much, no structures were unearthed.
Only thing they found was that the site was under occupation between
400 BCE to 400CE. The other antiquities that were found included
forty one copper coins, mostly round but of varying sizes, stone
querns and millers, iron objects like lamps, arrow- and spear-heads
and knife-blades, bone points and beads and bangles of terracotta,
shell, glass and stone. Noteworthy was also the discovery of charred
grains of rice, wheat and pulses.
The next or 1966-67 expedition was more rewarding as can be seen by the report of ASI, that says;
“Both
vertical and horizontal digging was under taken; the purpose of the
latter was to ascertain the mode of living, house-plans, etc. of the
Satavahana period. Horizontal excavation revealed the base of a large
brick stupa, 26 m. in diameter, and resembling a chakra on plan; it
had circular ribs of brick with eight spokes and four ayaka platforms
and a pradakshina-patha. The stupa can be dated to the first half of
the second century A.D. on the basis of an inscription recording the
names of masons and a coin of Pulumavi. Of the same date, an apsidal
brick temple with a stupa within and wooden mandapa in front was also
discovered. Evidence for its being repaired thrice was also
available. The structure could also be dated on the basis of a coin
of Pulumavi Son of great king Goutamiputra Satavahana). Other
antiquities comprised terracotta and kaolin figurines with typical
ornaments and hair-dress, terracotta lamps, bangles, ear-rings, Roman
clay bullae, a terracotta
disc
representing Sun-god; a lion carved in shell, a Roman glass bottle of
the Medit- erranean type and beads of various shapes in carnelian,
agate, lapis lazuli and shell.”
This
expedition was continued next year, the report for which says;
“ As
a result of this year's work a large stupa with a wheel-shaped plan
was exposed. The excavation yielded many non-Indian objects such as
carnelian seals, clay bullae (Seal for documents), special types of
lamps, etc. As an evidence of the textile trade, a number of vats for
dyeing cloth were excavated this year. Another important discovery
was that of an apsidal temple built of bricks, located not far from
the Trivikrama Temple. The temple enclosed a stupa which was repaired
and buttressed, at least on two occasions, with a brick platform. The
temple is dated by a coin of Pulumavi. Excavation in front of the
temple showed that it had a wide porch supported by wooden pillars”
A Terracotta Bullae
The
next or 1974-75 expedition was taken up with a view: (i) to confirm
the cultural sequence of the site; (ii) to assign the date of the
kaolin and terracotta figurines; and (iii) to know the nature of
pre-Satavahana habitation, if any. Of the several mounds on the site,
Mound I, known as Lamture Mound because of the present ownership
with 8-9 meter habitational deposit, was selected for excavation. The
report says that the entire period of habitation could be divided in
three phases datable between 3rd
century BCE to third century CE.
Roman hand grinder
In
the first phase, fragments of black polished ware discovered
indicating the start of habitation. In the second phase a wooden
barricade or a rampart constructed out of teak plates joined with
teak pins was found to have existed around the habitat. The thirst
phase appears to be most prosperous one. The report says about this
phase;
“ all
the typical kaolin and terracotta figurines, beads and pieces of
worked ivories as also black-and-red ware came from this phase, along
with coins of Satakarni and subsequent kings of the Satavahana
dynasty. The prosperity was further reflected in the find of red
polished ware, amphorae and scores of terracotta bullae. The
structures of this period were constructed of baked bricks with
floors of hydraulic lime-mortar, tiled roofs and attached soakage
wells of terracotta rings.”
A stone die
The
study also confirmed that this particular habitation seems to have
had come to an end around third century CE. Report says further that
no finds of period subsequent to this were encountered in the
trenches of mound I.
(To
be continued in part IV)
29th
January 2014
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