News and pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, July 8: The Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayanan on Friday July 4 released the book ‘Sthanpothi: Ek Puratattviya Abhyas’ that throws light on the political and physical life in the 13th century Maharashtra from an archaeological perspective at Raj Bhavan.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that writing history requires utmost dedication and commitment to the truth. He lauded the efforts of the Maharashtra State Board for Literature and Culture and the author professor Arunchandra Pathak for producing a research-based book on ‘Sthanpothi.’
Former chairman of Maharashtra State Board for Literature and Culture Madhu Mangesh Karnik, former Director of Archaeology Dr A P Jamsandekar, writer Dr Vijaya Wad, secretary to the government, General Administrative Department Shrikant Deshpande and other invitees were present on the occasion. The book has been published by the board on the occasion of the 800th birth anniversary of founder of Mahanubhav sect Chakradharswami.
Chakradharswami, founder of the Mahanubhav sect (1213-1274) flourished during the Yadava period. He travelled extensively, especially in the Godavari valley region and the area surrounding the tributaries of the Godavari, in order to preach the Mahanubhav philosophy. The Mahanubhav literature produced during this period reflects the society of Maharashtra under the Yadavas.
Sthanpothi, one of the religious texts of Mahanubhav was produced with the view of recording different places visited by Chakradharswami. The Sthanpothi while describing these places records many interesting details about the historical geography, town planning and important administrative centres of Maharashtra.
The author of the present book has tried to reconstruct the history of Maharashtra using the information provided by Sthanpothi. It is an extraordinary effort to identify the places visited by Chakradhaswami, including temples, schools, dharam shalas, forts, cities, residential buildings and so on from an archaeological perspective.
In short, the author has drawn the settlement pattern along with geography, cultural life of Maharashtra during the Yadava period with the help of Sthanpothi. The volume having 438 pages is priced Rs 276/- and is available at all government of Maharashtra publication stores.