The Archaeoastronomy of a Few Megalithic Sites of Jharkhand
Paper Type: Art Paper (Matt) | Size:
All colour; 53 photographs; 8 illustrations; 140 pages; Hardback
ISBN-10: 9386906163 | ISBN-13: 978-9386906168
695
The Archaeoastronomy of a Few Megalithic Sites of Jharkhand discards the
belief that megaliths are only sepulchral monuments and illustrates that they
also served as temples of the ubiquitous Mother Goddesses of the fertility
cult. It reveals that a few of the megalithic sites in the eastern Indian state
of Jharkhand stand in compliance with fundamental mathematics and observational
astronomy. Apart from establishing complex burials inside these complexes as
also revering them as temples, the prehistoric astronomer-priests intended
these megaliths as calendars for the community, used to determine the specific
dates on which their fertility rites were to be conducted.
Lavishly illustrated and cogently written, the book elucidates megaliths and
contends that their presence across the country, from Kashmir to Kerala and
from Manipur to Gujarat, is a testimony to India’s tribal prehistory. It
showcases the archaeoastronomical megalithic temples of Jharkhand, indicating
that the tribes were cognisant of mathematics and horizon astronomy.
This much-needed volume hopes to initiate a lively debate as also persuade
people to know more about megaliths and their makers and makes essential
reading for those seeking to explore aspects of prehistoric India.
Subhashis Das
Author
Subhashis
Das is an explorer and independent researcher
dealing with megaliths and India’s hitherto unknown tribal past. Credited with
the discovery of numerous megaliths, he has previously authored three volumes
on his research. Das is recognised for the discovery of applied astronomy in
several megaliths in Jharkhand. The author’s discoveries and research on the
megaliths of Jharkhand feature in the state’s history books. His findings have
also been showcased in several documentaries by National Geographic, Doordarshan, et al. He regularly gives
lectures across the country, and abroad, on megaliths and tribalism—a task he
deems essential for understanding the ancient history of India.