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Bhojakata: The Ancient Capital That Lives On in Bhatkuli Village

Bhojakata: The Ancient Capital That Lives On in Bhatkuli Village
Bhojakata: The Ancient Capital That Lives On in Bhatkuli Village

In the Vidarbha region, archaeological treasures and historical narratives converge at a modest village that once served as the capital of a legendary kingdom.


Bhatkuli village, situated approximately twelve kilometres west of Amravati city, stands on the banks of the Pedhi river and preserves the legacy of ancient Bhojakata, a city that played a pivotal role in the political and cultural landscape of early India. The identification of this modern settlement with the historical capital represents one of the most compelling examples of geographical continuity across millennia.


Archaeological evidence, inscriptional records, and literary sources combine to present a comprehensive picture of Bhojakata's significance from the Mauryan period through medieval times. The site exemplifies how ancient Indian cities evolved through successive dynasties whilst maintaining their strategic importance and cultural identity.



Origins and Mythological Foundations


The establishment of Bhojakata finds its earliest mention in the epic literature of ancient India, particularly in the Mahabharata, where it emerges as the secondary capital of the Vidarbha kingdom.


According to these sources, Bhojakata was founded by Rukmi, a Bhoja-Yadava prince and brother of Rukmini, who later became the principal queen of Vasudeva Krishna.

The circumstances surrounding the city's establishment reflect the complex political dynamics of the period.


Historical accounts suggest that Rukmi founded Bhojakata following his unsuccessful attempt to prevent his sister's marriage to Krishna. After being defeated by Krishna's forces, Rukmi vowed never to return to Kundinapura, the original capital of Vidarbha, unless he could defeat his adversary.


When this proved impossible, he established a new capital to the west of Kundinapura, naming it Bhojakata, which translates to "Bhoja's Fort". This new settlement became the headquarters of his kingdom and remained so throughout his reign.


The geographical positioning of Bhojakata proved strategically advantageous, located as it was on major trade routes connecting northern and southern India.

The Mahabharata describes various pathways that passed through Vidarbha territory, including routes to Avanti and the Rikshavat mountains, positioning Bhojakata at a crucial intersection of ancient commerce and communication networks.


Administrative Significance During the Mauryan Period and Vakataka Period Documentation


The historical importance of Bhojakata extends beyond its mythological origins to documented administrative reality during the Mauryan period.


Emperor Ashoka's thirteenth rock edict specifically mentions the Bhojas among the peoples who followed his religious precepts, indicating that Bhojakata and its surrounding territories were incorporated into the Mauryan administrative system.

Archaeological evidence from the region supports this connection through the Deotek inscription, discovered in Chandrapur district. This inscription, dated to Ashoka's fourteenth regnal year and inscribed by a Dharma Mahamatra, represents the earliest epigraphic evidence of Mauryan administrative presence in Vidarbha.


The inscription records orders prohibiting the capture and slaughter of animals, reflecting Ashoka's policies of non-violence and religious tolerance.


The inscription, now housed in the Central Museum in Nagpur, demonstrates the extent of Mauryan administrative reach into the Vidarbha region.


The appointment of Dharma Mahmamatras to oversee local governance suggests that Bhojakata and the surrounding areas were considered sufficiently important to warrant direct imperial oversight. These officials were responsible for implementing Ashoka's moral and administrative policies throughout the empire.


The most detailed historical references to Bhojakata emerge from the Vakataka period, particularly through the Chammak copper plate inscriptions of Pravarasena II, dated to his eighteenth regnal year. These inscriptions provide crucial administrative and geographical information about Bhojakata's continued importance during the 5th century CE.


The copper plates record a land grant made by Pravarasena II of the village Charmanka, situated on the banks of the Madhunadi river in the rajya (administrative division) of Bhojakata.


This documentation establishes that Bhojakata served as the headquarters of an administrative division within the Vakataka kingdom, indicating its continued political significance several centuries after the Mauryan period.


The Vakataka inscriptions also provide valuable geographical information, noting that the Madhunadi, on whose banks the granted village was located, corresponds to the modern Chandrabhaga river.


This geographical continuity helps establish the precise location of ancient administrative boundaries and confirms the identification of historical Bhojakata with the region around modern Bhatkuli.

The fact that Pravarasena II chose to establish a new capital at Pravarapura, while maintaining Bhojakata as an administrative headquarters, demonstrates the city's enduring strategic and administrative value. The inscriptions indicate that even as political centres shifted, Bhojakata retained its role as a significant regional administrative hub.



Religious and Cultural Heritage


Modern Bhatkuli village preserves remarkable evidence of its ancient religious heritage through several important temples and archaeological remains.


The most significant of these is the Adinath Swami temple, which houses what archaeologists believe to be a 3000-year-old black stone idol of the first Jain Tirthankara.

According to local traditions and religious accounts, this idol was originally installed by King Rukmi during the Mahabharata period. The temple's historical significance extends beyond its antiquity to encompass the remarkable story of the idol's preservation and rediscovery. During the medieval period, specifically in Vikram Samvat 1156 (1099 CE), the ancient idol was hidden underground to protect it from destruction during Islamic invasions.


The idol remained buried for several centuries until the late 18th century, when it reportedly appeared in the dream of a village chief, who was guided to its location.


Following this discovery, the renowned Jain Acharya Nemisagar Maharaj identified the idol as an authentic ancient representation of Adinath and supervised the construction of a new temple to house it. This temple was later expanded through the patronage of Gulab Savji of Nagpur.


The temple complex represents a unique example of religious continuity, where ancient sacred objects have been maintained through community effort across centuries.

The annual fair held on Kartika Vadya Panchami continues to draw thousands of devotees, demonstrating the living tradition that connects contemporary religious practice with ancient heritage.



Medieval Transformations and Colonial Documentation

Medieval Transformations and Colonial Documentation
Medieval Transformations and Colonial Documentation

The transition from ancient to medieval periods brought significant changes to Bhojakata, as evidenced by both archaeological remains and documentary sources.


The settlement continued to maintain its significance through various dynastic changes, including periods under the Satavahanas, Vakatakas, and Rashtrakutas.


The medieval period also witnessed the construction of several important architectural monuments, including what is described as a well-preserved mosque, indicating the cultural and religious diversity that characterised the region during this time.

This architectural evidence suggests that Bhojakata successfully adapted to changing political and religious circumstances whilst maintaining its identity as an important regional centre.


Colonial period documentation provides valuable insights into the administrative structure and geographical features of the region. British administrative records describe Bhatkuli as connected to Amaravati and Kholapur by fair-weather roads, indicating its continued importance as a local administrative and commercial centre.


The village's position on the banks of the Pedhi River, a tributary of the Purna, ensured its access to water resources and transportation networks that had sustained the settlement for millennia.

The colonial census records document a substantial population and describe the village's notable architectural features, including the ancient temples and the historical mosque.


These records provide a baseline for understanding the demographic and cultural composition of the settlement during the transition from traditional to modern administrative systems.



Modern Archaeological and Cultural Preservation


Contemporary archaeological research continues to reveal new aspects of Bhojakata's historical significance.


The site represents one of the most important examples of settlement continuity in the Vidarbha region, with evidence of occupation spanning from the early historical period through the present day.


Modern Bhatkuli village, with its current population of over 8,000 residents, maintains strong connections to its historical identity.

The village administration operates through traditional panchayat structures whilst incorporating modern governance systems. The demographic composition reflects the cultural diversity that has characterised the region throughout its history, with significant Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Jain communities.


Cultural preservation efforts focus particularly on maintaining the ancient temples and associated religious traditions. The Adinath Swami temple continues to serve as a major pilgrimage centre, attracting visitors from across India and contributing to the local economy through religious tourism.


The temple's management committee works to balance preservation of ancient traditions with the practical requirements of modern pilgrimage infrastructure.


Educational initiatives in the village increasingly emphasise the historical significance of the location, with local schools incorporating information about Bhojakata's ancient heritage into their curricula.

These efforts ensure that younger generations understand their connection to one of India's most historically significant settlements.


The ongoing archaeological potential of the site continues to attract scholarly interest, with researchers recognising that systematic excavation could yield additional insights into the material culture and urban development of ancient Vidarbha.


The combination of textual evidence, inscriptional records, and surviving architectural elements makes Bhatkuli one of the most promising sites for understanding the evolution of early Indian urban centres.


References



 

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The NewsDirt is a trusted source for authentic, ground-level journalism, highlighting the daily struggles, public issues, history, and local stories from Vidarbha’s cities, towns, and villages. Committed to amplifying voices often ignored by mainstream media, we bring you reliable, factual, and impactful reporting from Vidarbha’s grassroots.

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