• Jan 25 2016
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Eran

Eran is a small village in the district of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh. The village is situated on the south bank of river Bina, a tributary of river Betwa. It is one of the most ancient towns in India and was known as Airikina, Erakaina, and Erakanya as evident from its epigraphs, seals, and coins. It was an important stop on the ancient routes connecting Pataliputra with Mathura passing through Vidisha. The earliest main route joined Kausambi to the south-eastern sea coast via Bharhut, Amarkantak, Malhar, and Dandakaranya forest. Another route from Kausambhi went in the south-western direction passing Bharhut, Eran, Vidisha, Ujjain, and Mahishmati to Bhragukachchha (Bharuch). T S Burt was the first modern explorer that brought Eran to the notice of scholars in 1838 after he reported the discovery of the Eran pillar. Alexander Cunningham was the first to notice the antiquities of Eran. He narrates a local legend assigning the foundation of the town to Raja Barat or Vairat. Bheem, a Pandava, during his exile came to this town. At the expiration of his terms of exile, he shot an arrow, named Kichak, in joy. This arrow, which was shot at a deer, instead hit the hoof of the cow, splitting it into two. However, the cow survived, its wound healed immediately and since then the hoof of all cows became cloven. Witnessing this event, the king came to know the real identity of the sojourner. Bheem left his gada and his mother’s churning stick and erected his own statue and left the town. The Garuda pillar at Eran is known as Bheem Gada, the other shorter column is his mother’s churning stick, and the statue of Vishnu as Bheem Sen as told by the locals to Cunningham.