Erach is situated on the right bank of the river Betwa (Vetravati) in Garautha tehsil of Jhansi district in U.P. (India). It is a very rich and potentially archaeological site. Inscriptions, coins, seals and sealings, sculptures, and terracotta, etc. have been found at the site. These antiquities have thrown new light on the political and cultural history of ancient India, ie, from the 6th century B.C. onwards. Erach was not only the capital of the Mahajanapada Chedi in 6 century B.C. and again in the 2nd century B.C. to c. 2nd century A.D. of the Dasarna region, but also a trade centre. City seals and twenty-one types of city coins of Erach, with the discovery of the dockyard at Erach, open a new vista in the economic and commercial activities being performed in the Bundelkhand region in ancient times. In this connection, a coin-hoard of Bactrian kings in the Hamirpur district and a clay scaling of Apollodotus has been found at Erach, written in Brähmi script, while Greek and Kharoshthi have been used on his coins.
Inscriptions, coins, seals, and sealings found from the site clearly attest to the political upheaval in the Dašärna region and indicate that after Agnimitra, Erach became a capital of the Mitra and Sena dynasties. Based on inscriptions, it seems that the dynasty of Pushyamitra was Baimbika, not Suriga, and Kälidāsa was in the 2nd century B.C. The stone seal of Agnimitra with the inscription Vedarāja Agimitasa found from Erach is the first archaeological and most important evidence for the history of Agnimitra. This seal positively confirms the literary account of Kälidäsa in Mälavikägnimitra, where Agnimitra has been stated as Vidišešvara and Nripati. Epigraphic evidence of Vedic yajsas: Pundarika, AŚvamedha, and Sarvamedha performed by the rulers of Erach are very important for the cultural history of India. Bhaktimanohara of Samvat 1912, written by Nidhan Giri, a resident of Erach, is an important manuscript of Indian Religion and Philosophy.
This book is a collection of my papers on the antiquities of Erach, published in various reputed journals. Besides these papers, three books have already been published on the antiquities of Erach: Archaeology of Erach: Discovery of New Dynasties, एरच के अभिलेख एवं सिक्के, Erach Rediscovered: Coins, Inscriptions, Seals and Sealings. I am conducting my survey especially to Dr. R.C. Budhauliya, Shri L.K. Jha, Shri H.D. Verma, and Shi base for my research work. I am very thankful to the people of Erach for their co-operation Gaya Prasad Kewat, Dr. Prashant. P. Kulkarni, Shri Ashok Singh Thakur, Shri Girish Sharma, and Dr. Dilip Rajgor. I express my thanks to Prof. Chandrashekhar Gupta and Prof. R.N. Vishwakarma for their necessary suggestions and encouragement. 1 express my heartfelt gratitude to my grandfather, Shri Jagadamba Lal, grandmother Shrimati Gujarati Devi, father Shri Vishwanath Lal, and mother Shrimati Sita Devi.
Shri Chandra Prakash Srivastava -Shrimati Chhaya Srivastava, elder son Dr. Satya Prakash My warm thanks are due to my wife Shrimati Snch Lata Srivastava, younger brother Srivastava - Shrimati Manisha Prakash, daughter Shrimati Raavi - Shri Samir Srivastava, niece Shrimati Shuchi - Shri Mayank Srivastava, younger son Dr. Sulabha Srivastava - Shrimati (Dr.) Anjali Srivastava, granddaughter Apoorva, grandson Saatvik, Raghav, Viraj, and Madhav for their affection and love. I am thankful to Shri Neeraj Mittal, B.R. Publishing Corporation, Delhi, for his enthusiastic efforts in bringing out this book so expeditiously as well as very carefully. I have been successful in completing this work mainly due to the goodwill and the blessings of my grandparents and parents. I dedicate this book to them.
This book sheds new light on many aspects of Ancient Indian History, Viz. Erach, ancient Erakachha, was the capital of the Mahajanapada Chedi in the 6th century B.C., again from c. 2nd century B.C. to c. 2nd century A.D. of the Daśārņa region. City seals and City coins of Erach. Pushyamitra's Dynastic name Baimbika and Kālidāsa in the 2nd century B.C. Stone seal of Agnimitra, the son of Senapati Pushyamitra, and coin of Sujyeshtha, the scion of Pushyamitra. Epigraphic evidence of Vedic yajñas: Pundarika, Aśvamedha, and Sarvamedha performed by the rulers of Erach. Sealings of the Indo-Greek King. Apollodotus and Nāga King Vibhunāga found from Erach. Identification of unknown kings of the Mitra (Baimbika) and Sena dynasties who ruled at Erach. Thus, this book will be very useful to the students and researchers of Ancient Indian History, Numismatics, and Epigraphy.
Dr. Om Prakash Lal Srivastava Author born in Vill. & P.O. Khagawal, Distt. Chandauli (Varanasi), U.P., M.A. (Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 1973). Ph.D. (B.H.U., 1980), studied Museology (B.H.U.), German (Sanskrit University, Varanasi), M.A. (Sanskrit, Gorakhpur University, 1993). Joined the Department of Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, as Registering Officer, Antiquities & Art Treasures in 1977. Also worked as Incharge Government Museum Jhansi and Gorakhpur. Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, B.H.U. declared to award 'Pt. Gauri Shankar Hira Chand Ojha Gold Medal for Ph.D. in 1980. Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Academy was awarded the 'Special Prize' for its publication in 1986. Chand Das Sahitya Shodh Sansthan Banda was awarded 'Highest Historical and Archaeological Honour of the year 1989' for the discovery of a new chapter in the history of India.
The Awadh Numismatic Society and National Numismatic Society were honoured in 2019 for numismatic research. 'Lifetime Achievement Award' was given by the Awadh Numismatic Society in 2021 for numismatic contribution. C.M.P. Post Graduate College of the University of Allahabad started 'Archaeologist Dr. Om Prakash Lal Srivastava Gold Medal' since 2024. 'Erach Ratna Sammaan' was awarded at Erach Holi Mahotsav 2026. Participated in more than a hundred National/International seminars and has published 160 + research papers. Published Books: 1. उत्तर भारत में अंकों का विकास 2. राजकीय संग्रहालय झाँसी दिग्दर्शिका 3. Archaeology of Erach: Discovery of New Dynasties 4. Recent Trends in Numismatics and Epigraphy 5. इतिहास एवं पुरातत्त्व के नवीन आयाम 6. एरच के अभिलेख एवं सिक्के 7. Erach Rediscovered: Coins, Insectiptions, Seals and Sealings 8. भारतीय अंकविज्ञान 9. समृद्ध पुरास्थल एच.
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