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Ahad: see AHAR.
Ahar (also known as Ar, Aghata, Aghatpur, Aghatpura, Ahad, Aitpoor, Anandpur, Atpur, Atpur, Atpura, Atpurah, and Gangodbhav Tirtha), today an outer northeastern suburb of modern-day Udaipur, about 3 km. from the City Palace, near the Udaipur railway station. Originally it was an ancient city and is believed to have been founded by Asaditya upon the site of the still more ancient capital of Tambavatinagari. The Tuar ancestors of the Malwa ruler Vikramaditya VI lived there before he made Avinti (Ujjain) the Malwa capital in AD 1075. Later, its name was changed to Anandpur (the happy city), and at length to Ahar. Around the middle of the 10th century AD, when Ahar became their capital-in-exile, the Guhilot clan were known by the patronymic of Aharyias. It has also been known by many other names (see above). Historians of ancient Rajasthan have described the city as "a deserted civilisation named as Tamravats (Tambavati)". Later, Ahar, with Nagda and Chittor, became the nucleus for the region called MEDPAT, which eventually became the kingdom of Mewar.
The site is about four thousand years old. Archaeologists, prompted by the remains of an ancient Shiva temple and a large man-made tank or reservoir (the Gangod Bhawa Kund-local belief is that it is fed by an underground stream that comes all the way down from the holy Ganges River), began excavations and discovered artefacts (fragments of sculpture and pottery) dating back to around 2000 BC. Further finds showed that Ahar was actually the cradle of a very early civilisation, older than the famous Mohenjodaro (Harrapan) civilisation of the Indus Valley (now located in Pakistan). During his time in Udaipur, Colonel James TOD also found some old coins here, a few with the effigy of an ass. These he attributed to the legendary Gandharvasen, the brother of Vikrama who, according to legend, placed this impression on the coins. These rude Indo-Sassanian coins, known as Tatariya dirhams, are popularly called Gadhiya paisa or 'ass copper money': the worn-down representation of a fire temple was believed to be the head of an ass. In legend, Gandharvasen, as a punishment for offending the god Indra, was condemned to assume the form of an ass during the day. Many of the relics are on display in Ahar's small ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. Existing Jain manuscripts and inscriptions also contain details of Ahar and its history.
Vestiges of immense mounds remain to the eastward, called the DHUL KOT (fort or the wall of constructed earth). When NAGDA was the capital of Mewar-from the fourth Guhilot ruler, Rawal NAGADITYA (626-646) to the seventh ruler, Rawal MAHENDRA II (688-734)-Ahar was a familiar and important pilgrimage place. Thus it was also known as Gangodbhav Tirtha (Gangodbhav being a natural reservoir; Tirtha, a sacred place, a place of pilgrimage). Less than a decade later, ancient Ahar came into its own once more, this time as the new capital of the GUHILOTS (forerunners of the Mewar Dynasty). Marauding Rajput neighbours from MALWA to the east attacked Rawal ALLAT (951-953) at CHITTOR. He was forced to quit the fortress and relocate to Ahar. Thus, for twenty-three generations, Mewar's rulers remained in this secluded valley until Rawal JAITRA SINGH (1213-1253) finally ousted Malwa and moved his court back to Chittor (but see also MEWAR'S LOST GENERATIONS). It was during this period that the surrounding towns of Eklingpura, Jagat, Achalgarh and Chirva were developed.
After Chittor was sacked for the last time (1568), Maharana UDAI SINGH II established his new capital 3 km. from Ahar, naming it Udaipur. Today, Ahar is the Mewar royal family's mahasati (cremation site), which is near the museum. In 1615, after Maharana AMAR SINGH I (1597-1620) had secured freedom and peace for his subjects with what has often been called an act of treachery (in the form of a peace treaty with the Mughals), he went into a deep depression, and led a secluded life in a small haveli (manor) at Ahar. Shortly thereafter, he announced his abdication, handed control of Mewar to his son, KARAN SINGH II (1620-1628), and retired in permanent privacy to Ahar where, six months later he died. He was the first Maharana of Mewar ever to die in Udaipur. (His grandfather, Maharana UDAI SINGH II died in GOGUNDA, and his father, PRATAP SINGH I, died in CHAVAND). Amar Singh was also the first Maharana to be cremated at Ahar. The following year, Amar's young son and successor, Karan, erected a magnificent marble chhatri (cenotaph; literally umbrella) in memory of his father. Still to be seen, it has a four-faced statue in the centre and friezes at the base, depicting his numerous ranis (queens) who committed SATI at his cremation (in accordance with custom, they died with him on his funeral pyre). Thus Ahar became the new cremation ground of Maharanas, members of their families and certain of the nobility, and also became the site for their commemorative cenotaphs. See AHAR CENOTAPHS.
Ahar Archaeological Museum, Udaipur; contains antiques of the 10th century. The Department of Archaeology and Museums, Rajasthan runs it. Tourists interested in ancient history, art and sculpture should visit here. See also ARCHAEOLOGY.
Ahar cenotaphs. When Maharana AMAR SINGH I (1597-1620) died, he was cremated at AHAR, where he had spent his last days. At the same spot, his son, Maharana KARAN SINGH (1620-1628) raised a magnificent chhatri or cenotaph in memory of his father. Since then, Ahar has been the Mewar royal family's mahasati (cremation site). It is graced by memorial cenotaphs; handsome columns raised on lofty terraces support vaulted roofs, the architraves of which are enormous single blocks. All are constructed of white marble from the quarries of RAJNAGAR and KANKROLI north of Udaipur. Each was carved with decorations that resemble some 15th century temples located nearby and contain, in addition to the image of Shiva, a single upright stone on which are carved figures representing the Maharana and each of his Satis (his wives who perished in his cremation flames). Nineteen Maharanas who ruled and died in Udaipur have cenotaphs here, including SWAROOP SINGH, SHAMBHU SINGH, SAJJAN SINGH, FATEH SINGH, BHUPAL SINGH, and BHAGWAT SINGH MEWAR. Another fine specimen is the cenotaph of SANGRAM SINGH II who, in 1734, was cremated with twenty-one wives. It has a fifty-six pillared portico with an octagonal dome in the centre, supported by eight small pillars. Similar beautiful sculptures, images and carved screens have been used in the construction of several modern houses, temples and wells in Ahar. Within the complex there are some small, elaborate tombs of some antiquity, their presence supporting claims that Ahar is the remains of a very ancient city. In the late 1990s, to preserve this important area of Mewar heritage, ARVIND SINGH MEWAR began restoring his ancestors' cenotaphs and they are now a splendid tourist attraction. The work is under the supervision of Udaipur businessman, Saktawat Rawat Surendra Singh of Bohera.
Ahar River, runs diagonally (northwest to southeast) through the eastern suburbs of Udaipur and the ancient Mewar capital of Ahar, 3 km. northeast of Udaipur. Its source is Pichola and Swaroop Sagar lakes in Udaipur. According to legend, it is a tributary of the holy Ganges River and flows underground from North India to emerge here.
Ahar Village, Udaipur, site of the AHAR (ARCHAEOLOGICAL) MUSEUM.
Aharya, a patronymic for the Guhilot race. See AHAR.
Aheria, the Indian Spring festival (October-November), 'aher' meaning 'hunting'. In Mewar, the Maharana, his nobles, and other courtiers went on hunting expeditions for wild boar during these months; the sooner the hunt began, the better the omen for success. They camped at some place where there were shade trees and a regular flow of fresh water. In the camp after the day's hunt, they enjoyed food, wine, music, and extempore verses in praise of the Maharana, composed and recited by CHARANS. The nobles and others made offerings (nazar) to their ruler. The beginning of their hunt marked the start of the hunting season, which was often a two to three month outing for the ruler. During this period, other sports such as horse racing and elephant fights were also popular as a means of keeping fit, for men and animals.
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