Papers by Dr. Harshada Wirkud
SOSAA & Research India Press, 2020
This book is a milieu of articles well researched on different perspectives on the Cultural Herit... more This book is a milieu of articles well researched on different perspectives on the Cultural Heritage of South Asia. I was given an opportunity to work as an assistant editor for the book.
It is edited by Prof.Dr. Vasant Shinde, Dr. Shrikant Ganvir, Dr. Sayan Bhattacharya,
Associate Editors are Malavika Chatterjee and Hemant Dalvi
Assistant Editors are Amrithvalli Panyam, Suken Shah, Harshada Wirkud and Varsha Wilson.
This article deals with the recent discovery of two Gadhegals at the village of Chirner, Taluka U... more This article deals with the recent discovery of two Gadhegals at the village of Chirner, Taluka Uran, Dist. Raigad, Maharashtra and the very interesting secondary usage of one of them. There have been a spate of recent articles on these stone steles and the renewed interest has yielded some very interesting data.
OIOP Vol 22/04, 2018
An article discussing the different types of steles that are found in early and late Medieval Mah... more An article discussing the different types of steles that are found in early and late Medieval Maharashtra. These steles can be considered as specific markers of the period, letting us delve and understand Medieval Maharashtra.
Deccan College Bulletin No.77, 2018
The paper discusses the ass-curses issued by Muslim Rulers in Medieval Maharashtra.
New Discoveries made during Explorations in Maharashtra, 2016
This is just a very basic and preliminary work to understand water related grants in the corpus o... more This is just a very basic and preliminary work to understand water related grants in the corpus of Ass-curses.
A Holistic Approach to the Study of Gadhegals
New Data From Maharashtra. New Discovery.2016
Proceedings Paper of Explorations in Maharashtra Conference conducted by University of Mumbai, Ce... more Proceedings Paper of Explorations in Maharashtra Conference conducted by University of Mumbai, Centre of Extra-Mural Studies, Kalina Campus 2016
Proceedings Paper 2017 of International Seminar conducted by Deccan Studies and Historical Resear... more Proceedings Paper 2017 of International Seminar conducted by Deccan Studies and Historical Research Association, Bijapur in collaboration with Karnataka State Women's University, Vijaypur
This Article has been Republished (2018) from Heritage Journal of University of Kerala(2016) as i... more This Article has been Republished (2018) from Heritage Journal of University of Kerala(2016) as it was part of the Proceedings of Explorations in Maharashtra Conference conducted in 2016.
Indian Express's Article on New Archaeological Finds from Mumbai
Scroll.in's News on Ass-curse Steles
Gadhegals/Gadhegāls, a unique type of land or such grant stones, generally, are inscription (incl... more Gadhegals/Gadhegāls, a unique type of land or such grant stones, generally, are inscription (inclusive of the Gadhhegāli i.e. the ass curse) bearing stones with a sculptural panel depicting sodomitic copulation between a donkey and a woman. It is from this panel that they are termed as Gadhegals (Gadhe: Donkey and Gal: Stone).Thus, Gadhegāl Stambha or simply Gadhegals are prepared, mostly unifaced stone pillars or blocks either dressed or undressed usually with three panel divisions, with one panel informing readers about the gift/donation made by a King/Ruler to a Brahmin or such worthy person/s and imprecatory verses cursing the person who dares oppose that which has been informed on the pillar, a typical scene of bestiality depicted in another panel and a sacred Kalaśa panel with sun and moon symbols denoting eternity. The depictive panel which pictorially represents the curse in toto, is perhaps a phenomena observed for the first time in case of direct correlation with the inscription. Gadhegāls of such description have been found mainly in Maharashtra and also from various others states namely Gujarat, Hyderabad, Bihar, Goa etc though with variations. In this paper the author will be discussing instances of Gadhegāls from the state of Goa namely from temple complexes and museums in
colligation to the art historical details, stylistic variations and similarities with those from Maharashtra. Their provenance and other pertinent details will also be discussed.
This article deals with the recent discovery of two Gadhegals at the village of Chirner, Taluka U... more This article deals with the recent discovery of two Gadhegals at the village of Chirner, Taluka Uran, Dist. Raigad, Maharashtra and the very interesting secondary usage of one of them. There have been a spate of recent articles on these stone steles and the renewed interest has yielded some very interesting data.
Keywords: Chirner, Bhairava Temple, Peshwa Temple, Mahaganapati Temple, Ass Curse Stones, Gadhegals, Land Grant Charter
The corpus of Ass-curse steles, play an important role in understanding the antiquity of Maharash... more The corpus of Ass-curse steles, play an important role in understanding the antiquity of Maharashtra. They due to the fact that they are mostly inscription bearing stones help us with being extant proofs of the bygones. However due to their typology that include a graphic panel depicting sexual congress between a donkey and a woman or just a donkey in accordance to the curse inscribed have had given rise to many issues during explorations. This is closely related to the present percept of them by the local populace. This perception can be both benign and or malignant, though both contribute equally in defacement of these extant evidences. The benign perception can be largely attributed to these steles being worshipped as gods or as associated with gods thus leading to them being anointed with vermillion, sandal paste, flowers garlands, incense sticks and or washing rigorously. This leads to destruction and weathering of the steles like vermillion anointing leads to obscuration and or total loss of the inscription.
The non-benign or malignant perception is rooted in the fear that people associate with the steles. The basic underlying principle of justice is ironically enough not lost here though, this in itself sometimes lead
to defacement/destruction of these steles. The steles are considered as evil and or vulgar which lead to them being buried or defaced or broken or simply ignored. This paper deals with issues faced due to the same during explorations.
Keywords: Ass-curse Steles, Gaddhegaals, Defacement, Perception, Rituals, Maharashtra, Explorations
It is a Marathi article dealing with vocational opportunities and study aspect of Archaeology mea... more It is a Marathi article dealing with vocational opportunities and study aspect of Archaeology meant as a guidance for those interested in taking up Archaeology as their career path. Published in the esteemed Lokrajya Magazine of Maharashtra State with more than 4 Lakh subscribers.
Article by BBC Marathi on the Ass-curse Steles which quotes my research on the topic over the years.
Books by Dr. Harshada Wirkud
Dept. of Heritage Telangana, Govt. of Telangana, 2019
This edited book titled 'Telangana Through Ages: Perspectives from Early and Medieval Periods' is... more This edited book titled 'Telangana Through Ages: Perspectives from Early and Medieval Periods' is the proceedings of the Second International Seminar organised by the Department of Heritage Telangana held at Hyderabad in January 2018 (Convener and General Editor: Smt. N. R. Visalatchy, I. Po.S., Director, Department of Heritage Telangana, Govt. of Telangana ). It comprises 18 articles throwing light on different aspects of archaeological investigations, art-historical traditions, coinage, inscriptions, medieval history and architecture, heritage studies, water management, etc.
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Papers by Dr. Harshada Wirkud
It is edited by Prof.Dr. Vasant Shinde, Dr. Shrikant Ganvir, Dr. Sayan Bhattacharya,
Associate Editors are Malavika Chatterjee and Hemant Dalvi
Assistant Editors are Amrithvalli Panyam, Suken Shah, Harshada Wirkud and Varsha Wilson.
colligation to the art historical details, stylistic variations and similarities with those from Maharashtra. Their provenance and other pertinent details will also be discussed.
Keywords: Chirner, Bhairava Temple, Peshwa Temple, Mahaganapati Temple, Ass Curse Stones, Gadhegals, Land Grant Charter
The non-benign or malignant perception is rooted in the fear that people associate with the steles. The basic underlying principle of justice is ironically enough not lost here though, this in itself sometimes lead
to defacement/destruction of these steles. The steles are considered as evil and or vulgar which lead to them being buried or defaced or broken or simply ignored. This paper deals with issues faced due to the same during explorations.
Keywords: Ass-curse Steles, Gaddhegaals, Defacement, Perception, Rituals, Maharashtra, Explorations
Books by Dr. Harshada Wirkud
It is edited by Prof.Dr. Vasant Shinde, Dr. Shrikant Ganvir, Dr. Sayan Bhattacharya,
Associate Editors are Malavika Chatterjee and Hemant Dalvi
Assistant Editors are Amrithvalli Panyam, Suken Shah, Harshada Wirkud and Varsha Wilson.
colligation to the art historical details, stylistic variations and similarities with those from Maharashtra. Their provenance and other pertinent details will also be discussed.
Keywords: Chirner, Bhairava Temple, Peshwa Temple, Mahaganapati Temple, Ass Curse Stones, Gadhegals, Land Grant Charter
The non-benign or malignant perception is rooted in the fear that people associate with the steles. The basic underlying principle of justice is ironically enough not lost here though, this in itself sometimes lead
to defacement/destruction of these steles. The steles are considered as evil and or vulgar which lead to them being buried or defaced or broken or simply ignored. This paper deals with issues faced due to the same during explorations.
Keywords: Ass-curse Steles, Gaddhegaals, Defacement, Perception, Rituals, Maharashtra, Explorations