Madhukar Shripad Mate educated at the Sir Parashuram College and the University, Poona, took the Bachelor's and Master's degree in History. As a research scholar of the Deccan College under Dr. H.D. Sankalia, he did valuable research into the Architecture of the Maratha period. He obtained his PhD in 1957 and joined the Sir Parashuram College as a Lecturer in History. Later he moved to the Deccan College where he has been handling Ancient Indian history.
Shri Mate was always interested in architectural monuments and undertook a study of those built by the Muslim rulers in Deccan, the medieval period claiming his special attention. He was also an active participant in Various archaeological explorations and excavations conducted by the Deccan College, chief amongst them being those at Nevasa and Ahar near Udaipur.
Its thesis entitled Maratha Architecture the first comprehensive and scientific study of the tectonic activities of the Marathas, has been published by the Poona university and the University Grand Commission. His other work, published by the Government of Maharashtra, is Antiquity of Nevasa', Written in Collaboration with Dr. Sankalia. He has also contributed many articles to Marathi journals on topics connected with Archaeology.
Archaeology is in Shri Mate's blood and still in the Prime of youth, the promise he gives of enriching the fund of knowledge in the subject, is indeed big.
This small book aims at presenting to the reader a picture of one of the important aspects of the culture of the Marathi people, and that aspects is the religious centres of the region. A good deal of material, historical and legendary, is available from both the medieval and modern times. A number of scholars have recently devoted attention to the various kshetras of the area. A bibliography is attached at the end of the book to indicate the work previously done and also as guidance to anybody who might wish to undertake a detailed study. To all those who have trekked the path before me and more especially to Prof. G.H. Khare who has pioneered large scale investigations in this field, I owe a great debt.
However all this work is mainly devoted to individual kshetras, and it is mostly in Marathi. As such when the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the sponsers of the Series, suggested that I undertake the task of preparing this work I welcomed the idea at once as it would enable me to present before the non-Marathi-speaking public a comprehensive account of one of the important aspects of the Cultural life of the Marathi people. I think the authorities of the Bhavan for giving me an opportunity of studying this problem, particularly Shri S.G. Talat of the same Institute for the kind co-operation he has extended during the preparation of the book.
Lastly I owe my thanks to Prof. H.D. Sankalia, my teacher and Head of the Department of Archaeology, University of Poona, for his guidance and valuable suggestions while preparing the text.
M.S. Mate
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