What's Heritage?

Heritage has a lot of connotations - culture, art, structures, people and environs, to name but a few. I wanted to peek into history and satisfy my curiosity on various questions that appeared in my mind from time to time. How did they commute? How did they build such grand structures? Where did they get their inspiration and ideas from? How did they conduct international trade? Why were certain traditions and practices followed? Where did these legends come from? So many more questions pop up. Though documents help one with general direction and facts, they can never present clear cut answers. History in a sense, is a historian’s/ writer’s personal view and hence, is and should always be open to interpretation. It is more charming that way.




We had to start somewhere. We chose physical structures as our first entry point to these myriad questions. And are certainly very glad, as what unfolds slowly is making us hungrier. So what’s next? It may be culture, art, architecture, vegetation, industry, the education system, linguistic and literary development, all these and more!


One did not feel it right to put a boundary right in the beginning, such thoughts on our heritage must evolve. What is now a BLOG will transform into a website, a forum where more people can contribute.


What is the objective? The answer is, none and many. None, since it is still at a very nascent stage and needs infusion time. Many, as we know it has potential to grow beyond its objective!


I urge you all to read, react, partake in this activity and enjoy the experience. Your comments will make this livelier.

Bhaje Leni

Conversation 1:

"Why is it called Stupa?”

"Well, it looks like TOPI you see, CAP, you know CAP? that is why it’s called Stupa."

Conversation 2:

"Now look at this design on the walls , you will see all the gods painted here"

My first reflex was to run for cover! after all an ASI (Archeology Society Of India) guide had just spilled the beans that their knowledge of Indian history & heritage is no better than the tourist! Infact they were more than hilarious.

Well its needless to say, I  was consciously avoiding the guide for rest of the time we spent at Bhaje Leni. The classified story is my team mates and self had a hearty laugh.

Bhaje is very close to Bedse, my earlier blog on Bedse Leni, talks about 'Varsha Vihar', 'Trade Route', Buddhist Bhiku" and other relevant details on Buddhist caves so instead of repeating the same, I thought of writing few lines on Buddhist literature. Buddhist philosophy is a vast and deep subject even to attempt here.

BTW, 'Stupa ' in Sanskrit literally means a mound-like structure containing relics of Buddha and or saints and is the worship place for Buddhists. Most of the old stupas are simple structures devoid of any decorative work. Bedse Leni has importance in architectural design for its wooden arches which have survived the nature for more than 2000years. These are oldest caves as artists and the workers replicated wooden architectural forms since they had not completely mastered stone as building material. Bedse Leni is a beautiful mélange of wood and stone work.

The time 525 B.C to 480 B.C might be considered as the period of activity of Buddha. The Ganges region in north eastern India was the place of his activity, in kingdoms of Magadha (Bihar) and Kosala (Oudh). The Buddhist monks travelled across to propagate the philosophy and teachings of Buddha.

Being the oldest and largest religion (personally I would like to look at it as a way of life than a religion) spread across the world it is been written at different times by different people in different languages.

The 'Tipitaka'- means three pitakas (boxes) as the 'Pali Canon' is known. The oldest literary testimony for the existence of the trinity of Pitakas (pitakattayam) and of Nikayas is found only in ‘Milindapanha’ a work whose first part belongs to the beginning of the first century A.D.The canon of the sacred literature of the Buddhists was composed in Pali, Magadhi and other dialects. Of these the Pali version alone has survived in its entirety. A real canon of sacred texts is probably compiled during third council which took place at the time of King ‘Asoka’ the great patron and follower of the Buddhist community.

Will continue in next blog...