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Ajmer
Government Museum
Situated
in the heart of old city and close to the railway station the museum is
housed in the beautiful fort and palace built by the Mughal Emperor Jahagir
in 1616. What is today commonly known as Magazine is the palace quarters
where the emperors lived. After the British occupation in 1818 and during
the first world war of Independence in 1857 it was used as the Rajputana
Arsenal by the British which gave the name magazine.
The Museum
was started in 1908 by the Government of India with the object of collecting
and preserving many unique objects of antiquarian interest which were lying
uncared for and scattered all over Rajasthan. The rajputan Museum as it is
significantly named, has in its galleries important exhibits from almost all
the princely States. There is a library attached to his museum which cotains
rare books and important historical publications.
The museum's
main sections are devoted to Sculptuters, epigraphs, Protohistoric
antiquities, Arms andWeapons. Besides, there are objects from
Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpara and other exhibits lying in various godowns forming a
large reserve collection. Sculptures constiture the most interesting section
in this Museum. The collection is enormously rich and varies from periods
ranging from the Gupta to the late Medieval period.
Mention should
be made here of the interesting Chaturmukh Shivliga, Marriage of Lord Shiva
from Kaman, Lingodbhava Mahesvara from Harashnath and other fine
Shiva-Parvati panels from Katara (Bharatpur) and Kusma (Sirohi). There are a
number of surya ,vishnu (including a trimurty) Hari Hara lakshmi-Narayan,
revanta, kuber and Mother & child images in the collection.
Of
the female divinities the saptamatrikas, Mahisasur-Mardini, Kali, jain
saraswati and early independent icon of various mother goddesses deserve
special mention. An execellant collection of sculptures from the Chauhan
centre of Baghera (10th 12th A.D.) in Ajmer District, are also preserved
here. A fine collection of Tirthankara images and rare images of Gomukha
Yaksha and Saraswati are also on display in the Jain gallery of this Museum.
Compared with this there are only a few Buddhist objects in the Museum.
The artistic genius and wonderful craftsmenship of ancient
Rajasrthan, are reflected in the vast collection of the Museum. (ii) The
Epigraphical exhibits which number about one hundred, are unsurpassed in
many respects. Of special interest among then are : Brahmi inscription from
Barli (assignable to circa 2nd century B.C.) Inscribed slab from Nagari.
Samoli Inscription of Siladitya. Jodhpur Inscription of Bauka. Pratapgarh
Inscription of Mahendrapala II. Two slabs inscribed with the Drama Harakeli
Nataka from Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra. Slab containing drama Lalita Vigraharaj
Nataka by somodeva also from Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra. Barla inscription of
Prithiviraja Chauhan III.
(iii) A number of important copper plate
grants add to the value of rich collection of museum. They include. Two
copper plates of Maharaj Sarvanatha of Uchchhakapla (437-38 A.D. refferring
to Kalachuri Era). Daulatpura copper plateof partihar Bhojadeva.
Twocopperplates form Banswara (forming one grant of the Paamar King
Bhojadeva. Ciopper plate of Rana Kumbhja of Mewar.
Of the early
coins, there are punch marked,Sibi-Janpada, Indo-Greekm Indo Sassanian,
Kushan and gupta coins preserved in the coin cabinet of this Museum.This
also contains coins of the Rajp8ut rulers and also contains coins of this
museum.This also contains coins of the Rajput rulers and also of the mughal
and pathan rulers.
V Pintins section contains more than oa hudred
exhibits, including a dozen rare Chief, Birbal, A Muslim Prince and
Farrukshyar deserve mention. These paintings copies only ) depict well known
Rajput Kings.
Timings: 10 am to 4.30 pm
