History of Vijaypur Sikri.
History of Vijaypur Sikri.
As per the information available in our history books, We know that Fatehpur Sikri, was founded by Mughal emperor Akbar.
Fatehpur Sikri was, in fact, Vijayapur Sikri, before Akbar had built a fort on the ruins, of Hindu temples.
Fateh and Vijay means same (victory).
This city was also, once capital of his kingdom and is now a World
Heritage site. Fatehpur Sikri was once a “flourishing trade and Jain pilgrimage centre”. A greater antiquity of this place has been discovered, than had been thought earlier, by our historians.
The antique utensils, statues, and various ancient structures found during excavations by ASI, point to a lost Sanatana Dharma religious site, more than 1,000 years ago. It is understood that the excavations have so far, discovered hundreds of Jain statues, , including a foundation stone of a hindu temple with the date on Inscriptions. There were a few thousands of years old statues, of Bhagwan Adi Nath, Bhagwan Rishabh Nath, Bhagwan Mahavir and Jain Yakshinis, found from this religious site, at Fatehpur Sikri. Archaeological explorations in this region have revealed prehistoric stone tools, rock shelters with paintings on the periphery of a lake.
It is also understood that many broken heads of various Jaina sculpture and chisel marks were found from this site. All these evidences point out riotous vengeance against Sanatana Dharma culture by Muslim invaders after 10th century C.E.
Very important archaeological evidence of religious disposal of mutilated sculptures was traced in the form of a man-made pit, built of stone-slabs dug by the people during that era. It is understood that these excavations were done at Birchhabili-Tila (Mound), which is 2 Km away from the Fatehpur Sikri fort. There were multiple idols of Jain and Hindu gods found in this site along with inscriptions using both Brahmi and Nagari scripts in Sanskrit and local dialets. One such three lined inscription on the pedestal of the image of Strutidevi Jaina Saraswati refers to the kingdom or king as ‘Vajramrajye’ and locality as ‘Santi Vimal Acharya Vastu’ and ‘Saikrikya’. The word ‘Saikrikya’ is same as Sikri and ‘Vajram’ as Kachhchhapaghata ruler.
The most important find, of this site, was the idol of a Jaina Saraswati, firmly dated to 1010 A.D. on the strength of an inscription at its base. In addition there were a number of Jaina tirthankara icons found in the same pit, as the Saraswati, most of which were dated between A.D. 977 and A.D. 1044. Remains of an ancient Jaina temple in the vicinity of the Fatehpur Sikri palace compound, is another evidence that Fatehpur Sikri city was not founded by the Mughal invader, Akbar, but was renamed. Akbar was responsible for the supposed demolition of the newly unearthed Jaina structure.
Each ancient temple that had fallen to cultural iconoclasm was a milestone in the historical victimisation of the followers of Hinduism. Discovery of Jaina Srutidevi Saraswati in Tribhanga posture, four-armed with varada, kamala, pustaka and mala in her hands, with a halo, rich ornaments and the vehicle hamsa is a unique, finding in Vijaypur Sikri. It bears inscription dated in Vikram Samvat 1069 (1010 CE).
Saikrikya was inhabited almost 10000 BCE before Neolithic celts. Neolithic Celts refers to the people living in Europe during the Neolithic period, who are believed to be the ancestors of the later Celtic cultures. The Neolithic period, roughly from 4500 to 2500 BCE, marked a transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming communities. During this time, there were no written records, so our knowledge about these early Celts comes from archaeological evidence, linguistic research, and later historical accounts. The Celts are thought to have originated in Central Europe and gradually spread across Europe over many centuries. These early Neolithic Celts would have practiced agriculture, lived in villages, and created distinctive pottery and other artifacts. They played a significant role in the cultural and linguistic development of Europe, with their descendants eventually forming the various Celtic tribes and societies that are better documented in later history.
Unfortunately there was no effort on the part of successive govts as regards serious research, on the history of Vijaypur Sikri.
Definitely, there had been many evidences of habitation and ancient temples, before Akbar had built his capital in Vijaypur Sikri.
It is understood that yhe statues and artifacts discovered buried in a pond have been kept in a guest house in Fatehpur Sikri by the ASI.
Below Fatehpur Sikri fort, lies a Jain city
ASI team unearths 34 exquisite sculptures, all pointing to an 11th century Jain temple.
During Mughal era, there was an unending sequence of temple destructions.
These discoveries, require reversal of the cultural depredations, and those adhering to the dominant cultural ethos of a nation, which seeks redressal for the historical injuries they had suffered.
