Eran Bina

Eran is the site of first reported monument of Sati dated 510 AD in India. The archaeological site nearby Eran has revealed several Gupta inscriptions. The village of Eran has a most interesting collection of archaeological relics. There is a fort in ruins attributed to the Dangis, who formerly dominated over this region. The site had a number of Vishnu shrines but nothing now remains except some of the lower courses of masonry, four standing columns with their architrave and some beams and part of door ways. The Principal statue is a colossal Varaha about 11 feet 5" high. The excavation conducted by the Department of Archeology of the University of Sagar have yielded relics similar to those found at Maheshwar and Tripura showing that Eran formed the northernmost limit of the Chalcolithic culture in Madhya Pradesh.
Excavations were carried out at Eran in 1960-61 to 1964-65; and 1987-88.[8] Excavations at Eran have revealed about the earliest fort built by mud ramparts. Prof. K.D. Bajpai has studied coins from Eran excavations and has done a chronological analysis.[9] He has given a note on ‘Svabhoganagara’ in the Eran inscription of Samudragupta.[10]
Eran is situated (Latitude 24°.5' North and longitude 78°.10' East) 75 km north-west of Sagar town in Madhya Pradesh. Eran comes under Tehsil Bina of District Sagar. T.S. Bart was the first to discover there a number of antiquities,[11] some being of great historical significance 1838 AD Eran is situated on the bank of river Bina (Ancient Venva),a tributary of river Betwa (Ancient Vetravati). By encircling from their sides it, provides natural protection to Eran. In the fourth unprotected direction, there is a fortified wall and a ditch of Chalcolithic Period3. Eran is approachable by the road from Mandibamora, which passes through Gohar and Dhansara villages. Mandibamora is about 12 km. far from Bina -Bhopal railway (central railway) track. The archaeological excavation was Conducted at Eran during 1960-65 and subsequently during 1987-88 &1998 AD by Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture & archaeology. Sagar University, Sagar (M.P.). The antiquities of Neolithic and Chalcolithic culture has been found from Eran. The Mauryas, the Shungas, the Satvahanas, the Shakas, the Nagas, the Guptas, the Hunas, the Kalachuris, the Chandellas and the Parmaras had their hold over Eran region respectively.
The Gupta monarch Samudra Gupta visited Eran which was his 'Swabhog Nagar'. A group of Temples is situated on the south bank of Bina river, just half a km to the west of the Village. In this group Vishnu Temple,Varaha Temple, Nrisingh Temple, Garuda Pillar and other ruined Temples are of architectural importance. The various inscriptions have found from Eran, These are inscription of Budhagupta, inscription of Saka ruler Sridhar Verma, inscription of Huna ruler Tormanh, inscription of Samudragupta and Gopraj Sati Pillar inscriptions.The several Sati Pillars have found from Eran. One of the Earliest Sati Pillars of India has been found from Eran. This was discovered by General Alexander Cunningham in 1874-1875 AD. This inscriptions shows that in Gupta era 191 (510 AD)[18] Gopraj a warrior of Gupta ruler Bhanugupta came to Eran and lost his life in a great War. His wife became Sati in her husband's pyre. Eran is a site of archaeological importance. Eran can be called to be oldest historical town in Madhya Pradesh. Eran was known as Airikina in ancient time. Inscription and coins its name occurs as Airikina. The word 'eraka' Probably refer to a kind of grass. Which grows at Eran in abundance. Eran was located on an ancient route connecting Pataliputra with Mathura passing through Vidisha. The earliest main route joined Kausambi (Allahabad district) to the south-eastern sea coast via Bharhut, Amarkantak, Sarabhapur (Malhar) and the Dandaka forest.
The other main route from Kausambi went in south-western direction passing through Bharhut, Airikina (Eran), Vidisha, Ujjain, Mahishmati (Maheswar) to Bhrigukachchha (Broach) on Arabian Sea coast. This prime location helped the town to acquire a commendable position in those times.Eran was annexed into Gupta empire by Samudra Gupta when he annexed many kingdoms of Aryavarta into Gupta dominion. Before this annexation Airikina was the capital of eastern Malwa for a long time. Tumain inscription mentions Ghatotkacha Gupta as a governor of Airikina appointed by Kumar Gupta I. It would have acted as a buffer state between the Huns and the Guptas when Huns started extending their kingdom towards east hence marking it as the easternmost boundary for the Huns.
The antiquities of Neolithic and Chalcolithic culture has been found from Eran. The Mouryas, The Shungas, The Satvahanas, The Shakas, The Nagas, The Guptas, The Hunas, The Kalchuries, had their hold over Eran region respectively. The Gupta monarch Samudra Gupta visited Eran which was his 'Swabhog Nagar'