Museums of Rajasthan
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.
Timing : 10 A.M. to 4.30 P.M.
