1 1 Rock Painting Sites In Sagar District (M.P.) *Dr. Mohan Lal Chadhar Abstract The Indian rock-paintings have a long history. They depict human activities of varied nature. These paintings have not yet been adequately studied in their proper context. They cover a long range of time extending from the Mesolithic Period to the historical times. Sagar area was inhabited by the early man and in due course of time various human cultures flourished in this land. Sagar is one of the few regions of India, which is well-known for its archaeological wealth. The painted rock shelter in Sagar district throw ample light on the art, technology, religion, rituals, hunting, methods and economy of Proto-historic culture. According to Indian mythology, not only man, but the deities also resided in rock-shelter. The Indian rock-paintings have a long history. They depict human activities of varied nature. These paintings have not yet been adequately studied in their proper context. They cover a long range of time extending from the Mesolithic Period to the historical times. They are useful in throwing light on several dark phases of our history.1 Central India in general and Madhya Pradesh in particular is well known for its archaeological heritage. From the time of the Lower Palaeollithic to Late Medieval period, the cultural evidence of each and every culture is reported from this state.2 Sagar District (230 10’ to 270, 00’ N and 780, 04’ to 790,21’E), is spread over on area of 10,252 Km. Geographically, this region of Sagar occupies the north central region of Madhya Pradesh. Sagar District has a large number of prehistoric rock-paintings and engravings. Note- Research Paper Received in October 2014 and Reviewed in December 2014. **Assistant Professor, Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, (M.P) Volume IV, Number 13, January-March 2015, ISSN 2277-4157 2 Dr. Mohan Lal Chadhar Rock Painting Sites In Sagar District (M.p.) 3 Sagar area was inhabited by the early man and in due course of time various of the figures prepared in red and the details filled with the white colour. The human cultures flourished in this land. Sagar is one of the few regions of India, aboriginal painters tried to depict various aspects of their daily life in the most which is well-known for its archaeological wealth. The rock paintings of Sagar natural way. These rock-paintings give us interesting information about the dresses, area have a long history which depicts human activities of varied nature. They amusements, food-habits and other features of daily life of men and women who cover a long range of time extending from the Mesolithic period to the historical dwelt here and, in their leisure hours, used to paint their dwellings. The paintings times. Other evidence of human habitation in this area includes the Rock- Shelters from Abchand, Sagar well represents this type. The artist has taken no care in which confirms the early existence of human culture of the region. The rock shelters portraying the anatomy of the animals. The head of the animal is too small in are found all over the district. The exploration in some part of the Dhasan valleys comparison the body. The attention of the artist was diverted towards decoration, has thrown some light on the prehistoric culture of Sagar district. There are total which is found superior two the other elements. At other places also the 19 number rock shelter discovered in Sagar district by the Sagar University.3 The exaggeration in case of the animal body is a prominent feature of this transitional painted rock shelter in Sagar district throw ample light on the art, technology, phase. religion, rituals, hunting, methods and economy of Proto-historic culture. The painting from the Abchand, Sagar is an evident of it. The human According to Indian mythology, not only man, but the deities also resided in rock- figures have fine an atomically representation everywhere.4 The theme of the shelter. The different stages of hunting life in ancient India on the basis of extant painting is based on the domestic life of the cave dwellers. The religious figures, rock-paintings. The needs of the prehistoric people were rather scanty. When the associated with the group are tree- within-railing, sun, moon, star, river, swastic, use of metal was unknown people had to depend upon stone implements alone. tree- worshipping scenes, peacocks, tree, God, moon on the hill, Nandipada, and There effort to obtain food was normally collective. Food was obtained by hunting other animal and birds.5 Colonel Gordon was the first to undertake an exhaustive wild animals and birds. scientific study in the field of rock painting. He classified them into a number of They contain innumerable superimposed paintings in green, red, white, series and gave to them a probable dating.6 Gordon could not adequately correlate black, yellow etc. Depicting various aspects of daily life of the Stone Age man. the painting with the associated stone implements. After the work of Gordon a The rock art is one of the richest cultural resources in the world which depicts the large number of painted rock shelters have come to light. earliest expressions of humankind. This prehistoric art perhaps comes to signify Some of the important rock-shelters having paintings are found at Naryabali, the underlying philosophies and the world-view of the ancient people, and tells us Jerai-Jarara, Gadoli-Molali, Dhamoni, Khanpur, Rangir, Pagara,Goridat, about the soul of a community, its thoughts, beliefs and emotions. Sagar District Patharikot, Panjari, Barodiya, Jaruakhera, Bhapel, Bila-Bhand, Madiya-Gond, Rock-paintings represent another aspect of the prehistoric man’s activities. These Abchand, Ajnari, Sanai etc.7 Both floral and faunal symbols are evident in these paintings can be called ‘prehistoric’ in the sense that even in the historical period. rock paintings. Some important faunal symbol includes deer, jackal, cow, horse, Some of the aboriginal authors of them have been leading a sort of ‘prehistoric bison or wild buffalo, peacock etc. Besides, some anthropomorphic figurine in life’. This aria Rock-paintings as regard the subjects, we notice several of the pre- different activities like, hunting, dancing, collection of honey etc are also present. historic human beings portrayed in interesting way. The hunting scenes represent These hunting symbol includes, a group of hunters communally attacking to animals individuals or group-hunters. They are equipped with bows and arrows, spears with bow and arrow, an animal counter attacking to hunters. Bow, arrow and and other weapons. The game animals, shown in these painting, are bison’s, bulls, wooden spear were the common instruments used for this hunting activates. Bison, deer, antelopes, tigers, boars etc. The fighting- scenes show human beings, wild buffalo, deer etc were some of the major animal hunted by the prehistoric individuals or in groups, and the animals engaged in scuffles. The battle- scenes denizens of this region which is clear from different hunting figurines. These are also found in some paintings. The fighters are equipped with bows and arrows, people were utilizing their free time in dancing and marry making which is clearly swords, shields and spears. Some of the fighters are mounted on horse- backs and evident from the dancing figurines. Where a group of people dancing together by elephants or they are one foot. Sagar District Rock-paintings the red colour used joining their hands to each other. Probably, these dancing were practiced after shows different shades: dark ochre and pink. Other colours used are yellow, green, getting success in hunting or during their leisure time. black and white. Generally the paintings drawn in the white colour appear to be Although red and dark ochre is dominantly used for painting various figurines the latest and those in the dark-red seem to be the oldest. The superimpositions or but some symbols also painted with red ochre, yellow, black and white. Because overlapping can also see here. In such cases the dark-red colour is the lowermost, of the regular expose to sun and rain, the original colour of the paintings is not and then comes the ochre red, then the pink, then yellow and black and lastly the present in all the paintings. The existing paintings are preserved naturally. On white one. In some shelters double colours are used, wherein we find the outlines the basis of the nature of damage made on rock paints, it can be divided into three Central India Journal of Historical And Archaeological Research CIJHAR. Volume IV, Number 13, January-March 2015, ISSN 2277-4157 4 Dr. Mohan Lal Chadhar 5 types: by nature, by animals and by human vandalism. The first category (by nature) includes sun light, rain water. Buffalo, cow and some other animals used to rub their body on the hard surface of the rock shelter. When passing through it, which causes damage in rock painting, it comes under second category (by animal). The third and last category (by human vandalism) is the most hazardous method caused damage on rock paints. Some people writing on the painting with chalk 2 and white soft stone, and engrave on the shelter which also affects paintings. From the classification of these painting, it is clear that the ancestors responsible Golden Age of Gupta Period : for these paintings were primarily residing in these rock shelters and practicing With Special Emphasis on Economy hunting–gathering economy. The hunting of animal with bow and arrow, animal attacking to hunters (having bow and arrow in hands), symbols of deer, peacock *Dr. Tarun Pratap Yadav etc show the close relationship between the man and animal during that time.