[Reader-list] 2000-yr-old Shiva shrine found

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

Shivratri magic it seems.. Keep reading..


 2000-yr-old Shiva shrine found
23 Feb 2009, 0327 hrs IST, Shailvee Sharda, TNN

Link -
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/2000-yr-old-Shiva-shrine-found-in-UP/articleshow/4172761.cms

  LUCKNOW: Believed to be among the oldest brick shrines in
India<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/2000-yr-old-Shiva-shrine-found-in-UP/articleshow/4172761.cms#>,
Lucknow University's department of ancient Indian history and
archaeology [image:
2000-yr-old Shiva shrine
found]<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/4172915.cms?imw=460','541')><javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/4172915.cms?imw=460','541')>
Shiva temple unearthed by a team from Lucknow University's ancient Indian
history and archaeology department (TOI)
More Pictures<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/4172915.cms?imw=460','541')>
has unearthed a 2,000-year-old Shiva temple as part of its excavation
project recently in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district.

''It's actually a complex comprising five temples,'' Prof D P Tewari of the
Lucknow University said. ''While four temples belong to the Kushana period
(1st-3rd century AD or 2,000 years ago), it appears that the primary temple
was constructed during the Sunga period (2nd century BC to 1st century AD or
2,200 years ago).''

The temple site is a mound in Sanchankot in Unnao. The excavations have been
going on since 2004, when UGC cleared the project for funding. ''A lot of
things have come to fore since we began, but the temple complex has suddenly
given impetus to our research,'' said Prof Tewari.

Spread across an area of 600 acres, the temple is made of baked bricks. In
India, most of the brick temples were built in the Gupta period which
existed in the fourth century AD. The temple's architecture is 'apsidal'
(semi-circular or u-shaped) in nature.

The LU has many artifacts to conclude that Lord Shiva was worshipped in this
temple. Prof Tewari said, ''A terracotta seal bearing the legend of
'Kaalanjar peeth' in Brahmi script was found from the site in Dec 2008.''

A shivling, trishul, nandi bull, and a river are inscribed over the seal.
The legend of 'Kaalanjar peeth' is inscribed just below the river.