Ranod

Author: Laxman Burdak IFS (R)

Khokhaimath of Mattamayuras at Ranod, Shivpuri

Kolaras - Khareh - Mada - Sesai - Rannod - Budhon Rajapur - Khaniadhana -Pichhore - Devkho - Terai - Pacharai -Kadwaya in Shivpuri, MP

Rannod (रनोद) is a historical Village in Badarwas Tehsil in Shivpuri District of Madhya Pradesh, India. Ranod is site of Khokhaimath of Rannod located inside a dense forest. It is an ancient spiritual centre, dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to Stone Inscription at Ranod, The credit for establishing this monastery goes to Sage Purandara, a religious preceptor of King Avantivarman, who belonged to the Mattamayura lineage. The monastery is locally known as Khokhari Math. Ranod village was known as Aranipadra or Ranipadra in the inscriptions. The inscription is undated but can be assigned between circa 9th-11th century CE, on the paleographical ground.

Variants

• Ranod राणोद, जिला ग्वालियर (वर्तमान शिवपुरी), म.प्र., (AS, p.786)
• Aranipadra (अरनिपद्र)
• Ranipadra (रानीपद्र) (AS, p.786)
• Khokhaimatha (खोखई मठ) (AS, p.786)
• Khokhaimath (खोखई मठ)
• Khokhai Matha (खोखई मठ)
• Kokai Mahal (खोखई महल)
• Khokhari Math (खोखरी मठ)
• Rannod

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Araniyal (अरनियाल) (Jat clan) → Aranipadra (अरनिपद्र) = Ranipadra (रानीपद्र) = Ranod (रनोद). Ranod is an ancient historical Village in Badarwas Tehsil in Shivpuri District of Madhya Pradesh, India. Ranod is site of Khokhaimath of Rannod located inside a dense forest. It is an ancient spiritual centre, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The credit for establishing this monastery goes to Sage Purandara, who belonged to the Mattamayura lineage. The monastery is locally known as Khokhari Math.

• Khokhar (खोखर) (Jat clan) → Khokhari Math (खोखरी मठ) = Khokhai Matha (खोखई मठ). Ranod (Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh) is site of Khokhaimath of Rannod located inside a dense forest. It is an ancient spiritual centre, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The credit for establishing this monastery goes to Sage Purandara, who belonged to the Mattamayura lineage. The monastery is locally known as Khokhari Math.

Location

It belongs to Gwalior Division . It is located 51 KM towards South from District head quarters Shivpuri, 27 KM from Badarwas on Lukwasa-Pichhor Road. Nearby villages: Dagpipari ( 4 KM ) , Pahadakhurd ( 5 KM ) , Tijarpur ( 5 KM ) , Masuri ( 7 KM ) , Moharai ( 7 KM ) are the nearby Villages to Rannod. Rannod is surrounded by Khaniadhana Tehsil towards East , Pichhore Tehsil towards East , Isagarh Tehsil towards South , Kolaras Tehsil towards west . Rannod Pin code is 473781.

• 
  District map of Shivpuri
• 
  Mada - Giltora - Sesai - Rannod in Shivpuri, MP

Visit by Author

Author (Laxman Burdak) visited it on 30.05.1998

Important center of the Mattamayura

Surwaya is a small town in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. It was an important center of the Mattamayura Shaiva sect and a monastery named Shankhamatha was established in the town during the eighth century CE. The Mattamayura sect was founded by Kadambaguhadhivasi at Kadwaya. His successor, Shankhadhipati, presided over Shankhamatha at Surwaya. While Kadwaya (ancient Kadambaguha) continued to be the main center of the Mattamayura sect but many branches of it soon came up at various locations, near and far, i.e. Surwaya, Terahi, Mahua, Ranod, Chandrehe, Gurgi, etc.

Khokhaimath of Rannod

Khokhaimath of Rannod: The Khokhai Math of Rannod, about 65 km away from Shivpuri, is located inside a dense forest. It is an ancient spiritual centre, dedicated to Lord Shiva. A concrete road is built upto the temple.

History

Monastery (Khokhaimath) at Ranod is site of a Monuments of National Importance in Madhya Pradesh. It is a double storied building, built of large blocks of stones and large stone slabs, used for roofing given to Saivite Sect, named Mattamayura. It consists of courtyard ,corridor at sides and series of rooms. (C. 10th CAD).

---

Mattamayura (मत्तमयूर), meaning the dancing peacock, was a Mahabharata Tribe. The peacock was the seal of Yaudhey people and this sign also used to be printed on their flags. This term has also been used in Mahabharata. So, in simple terms, Mattamayura signifies the Yaudheya tribe. Mattamayura is merely another name for the Yaudheyas.

---

Yaudheyas are identified with the Jats clan Joiyas or Johiya of Bahawalpur and Multan Divisions (Pakistan) and Bikaner, Rajasthan (India). Yaudheyas were the rulers of South-Eastern Punjab and Rajasthan. Even today these areas are inhabited by the Johiyas.

---

The Khokhai Math of Rannod is a temple in the vicinity of Shivpuri. The traditional and cultural beliefs of Hindus over history have led to the preservation of some ancient places of worship and places of religious significance. Temples from the 6th and 7th century have devotees in the 21st century because of a chain of devotees unbroken since the construction of the temples. The Mahua Shiva Temple, the Terahi Temple and the Siddeshwara Temple amidst numerous other temples in the area were constructed when Kings and Kingdoms ruled the landscape. From a similar era is the Khokhai Math of Rannod, located 65 km outside of Shivpuri. While ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are a regular occurrence in Shivpuri, the Khokhai Math of Rannod is distinguished from the other temples in the area owing to its location in the midst of a dense forest that is nearly impenetrable. The simple act of laying eyes on a temple from a long lost era is reason enough for a visit.

Ranod – A Mattamayura Matha

Khokhaimath of Mattamayuras at Ranod, Shivpuri

Khokhaimath of Mattamayuras at Ranod, Shivpuri

Ranod stepped tank

Source - https://puratattva.in/ranod-a-mattamayura-matha/

Ranod is a village in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. It was known as Aranipadra or Ranipadra in inscriptions. Being referred to as tapovana (forest) in its inscriptions, scholars have suggested the etymology of Aranipadra as Arani (a plant whose wood was handy for igniting fire by friction) and padra (common land). Henry Cope was the first modern scholar to provide an account of the village and its inscription. Cope says the inscription was first brought to notice by Captain A Dewar and belongs to a building locally known as Kokai Mahal. Alexander Cunningham was the first archaeologist to describe the antiquities. He says the town was situated on the west bank of River Airavati or Ahirpal Nala, which flows into the Sindh River near Narwar. He attested that it would be an important city in its heydays, as evidenced by its rich Hindu and Muslim ruins. Being surrounded by groves of tamarind, mangoes, and other trees, Cunningham says it would be one of the prettiest places in that part of the country. He describes the most important building in the town as a palace because it was locally known as Khokhai-Mahal, meaning a palace. Tamara Sears conducted the first systematic study about the site and its monastery in the early 2000s, followed by that of R N Misra in the 2010s.

Khokhai Matha – It is situated north of the modern town. It was constructed in two phases, as evidenced by its inscription. The Matha (monastery) complex has a large courtyard with a two-story building at its south end. This building was built during the first phase and provided a residential quarter for its ascetics. The credit for establishing this monastery goes to Sage Purandara, who belonged to the Mattamayura lineage. The inscription embedded in the left wall of the building tells Sage Purandara initiated King Avantivarman to the Shaiva sect, and the king rewarded him accordingly—the sage later set up a monastery in the tapovana of Aranipadra. This suggests that Aranipadra was a forest recluse for ascetics, and for the benefit of those, Sage Purandara caused this matha for residence and other practices. The Khokhai Matha is one of the earliest such mathas established under the patronage of the Mattamayura saints. The other mathas of this sect are found at Surwaya, Kadwaya, Terahi, and Mahua.

The Matha is a modest rectangular building measuring 61 feet long and 41 feet broad. It has two similar stories: a long pillared verandah in the front and three rooms in a line at the rear wall. An entrance in the verandah leads to the central room, and entrances to the side rooms are provided from within this central room. Four pillars in the middle room suggest its purpose was not residential but congregational and ceremonial. A high plinth beyond the rear line of the pillars indicates that it was raised to support statues of deities or gurus. The position of the pillars and the plinth is such that it allows a circumambulation around. Recently, an image of Bijasen Devi has been installed on the plinth. Small stone-barred windows dimly lighted side rooms. A square tower at the western end of the building has staircases to the upper story and the roof. The roof is built using large stone blocks placed one over the other at their edges, forming a sloping roof. The building reflects the simple and austere design, befitting the wilderness retreat for the forest dwellers.

The matha deteriorated fast and required substantial restoration in about a century. The task was taken up by Sage Vyomasiva, fourth in line after Purandara, who is credited with restoring the past glories of the matha by constructing a few temples and a magnificent tank. He built temples for Shiva, Uma, Natesha, and Vinayaka. However, none has survived. A large stepped tank outside this courtyard, about 45 feet away, is the one constructed by Vyomasiva. These extensions might be necessary due to the increasing number of ascetics after the popularity of the Mattamayura sect and the royal patronage they received from the Kalachuri kings.

Vyomasiva’s successor, Patangashambhu, also added extensions by constructing a beautiful temple for Shiva, five enormous tanks, a surrounding wall, and some gardens. The prakara wall enclosed the original matha on its south edge. The inner portion of the prakara wall has an open cloister running across the courtyard. Rooms were provided at the rear walls of this cloister.

Stone Inscription at Ranod

Stone Inscription at Ranod

Source - https://puratattva.in/ranod-a-mattamayura-matha/

There is one stone inscription embedded in situ within the matha. This is the earliest inscription detailing the Mattamayura lineage.

Stone Inscription at Ranod — Alexander Cunningham first noticed the inscription at Ranod, engraved on a stone tablet embedded in the left-end wall of the lower verandah. It has 64 lines composed in Sanskrit and written in the Nagari characters of the 10th century CE. It was composed by Devadatta, written by Rudra, and engraved by Jejjaka.

Rannod monastery Rannod was once a center of Shaivism and possessed number of temples and a monastery of medieval period. The monastery locally called as Khokhari Math, now used as a temple, was originally a monastery of Shiva athletics as is recorded in the large Sanskrit inscription found from this monastery. According to this inscription, this monastery was built by Purandara, a religious preceptor of King Avantivarman and was extended by Vyomashiva. It is also recorded in this inscription that Vyomashiva also built the tank which is seen still in front of the monastery. The inscription is undated but can be assigned between circa 9th to 11th century CE, on the paleographical ground. The monastery here is built of massive sandstone blocks without mortar and roofed with the huge slabs of the same material. It has a Courtyard and open veranda with rooms attached to it on all four sides. this monastery like similar one at Kadwaha, Surwaya and Terahi is also a work of famous Mattamayura Shaiva ascetics who flourished in this part during 9th-11th century.

---

रन्नौद मठ मध्यकाल में रनोद शैव धर्म का एक प्रमुख केंद्र था तथा इसी समय यहां कई मंदिरों एवं मठों का भी निर्माण हुआ. स्थानीय लोग इस मठ को खोखरी मठ कहते हैं जो मूल रूप से एक शैव मठ था. वर्तमान में इसका उपयोग मंदिर के रूप में किया जा रहा है. यहां से प्राप्त संस्कृत भाषा के एक अभिलेख के अनुसार इस मठ का निर्माण राजा अवंती वर्मन के धार्मिक गुरु पुरंदर ने करवाया था तथा कालांतर में इसका विस्तार व्योमशिव द्वारा करवाया गया. अभिलेख में यह भी बताया गया है कि व्योमशिव ने एक जलाशय का भी निर्माण करवाया था. यह जलाशय मठके सामने देखा जा सकता है. यद्यपि इस अभिलेख में तिथि का वर्णन नहीं है परंतु इसकी लिपि के आधार पर इसकी तिथि 9वीं से 11वीं सदी के मध्य निर्धारित की जा सकती है. मठ के निर्माण में बड़े-बड़े पत्थर के खण्डों का उपयोग किया गया है जो कि बिना किसी गारे से जुड़े हुए हैं. मठ की छत बनाने के लिए पत्थर की बड़ी-बड़ी पट्टियों का इस्तेमाल किया गया है. इसमें एक खुला आंगन है जिसके चारों ओर बरामदा है तथा इससे लगे हुए कमरे बने हैं. कदवाहा, सुरवाया तथा तेरही के मठों की तरह ही इस मठ का निर्माण भी 9वीं से 11वीं शताब्दी के दौरान मत्तमयूर शैव मत के अनुयायियों के निवास हेतु किया गया था.

The inscription starts with an invocatory verse, om namah Shivaya. The following five verses praise Ganesha, Sarasvati, and Shiva. The next verse tells Shiva that he was once pleased with a Brahman for his sacrifices, which was the origin of the line of sages treated in the following verses. In this line was a sage named Kadambaguhavasi. After him came to Sakhamathadhipati, followed by Terambipala, Amardakatrirthanatha, and Purandara.

King Avantivarman, in desire to be initiated in the doctrines of the Shaiva faith, went to Upendrapura to get initiated by sage Purandara. The king duly rewarded the sage. Purandara then founded a matha at Mattamayura, the prince’s town, and at Ranipadra, where this inscription is. After Purandara came to Kavachasiva, followed by Sadasiva, Hridayesha, and Vyomasiva, Vyomasiva surpassed all manner of devotees and learned men by restoring Ranipadra to its past glory and excavating a magnificent tank. He also caused a few Shiva temples to be constructed at the site. The next verse says that the tank may last forever and prohibits planting trees near it. The last verse commands ascetics to sleep on beds and allow women to pass nights within the matha.

---

राणोद

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लिखा है.... राणोद ग्वालियर ज़िला, मध्य प्रदेश का ऐतिहासिक स्थान है। यह प्राचीन समय में शैवमत का प्रसिद्ध केंद्र था। 10वीं शती ई. के एक अभिलेख से ज्ञात होता है कि राजा अवंतिवर्मन के गुरु 'पुरंदर' द्वारा एक मठ यहाँ बनवाया गया था तथा उसका विस्तार व्योमशिव ने करवाया था। राणोद को इस अभिलेख में 'रानीपद्र' कहा गया है। इस अभिलेख में उल्लिखत मठ वर्तमान 'खोखई मठ' (Khokhaimatha) है।

• 
  Ranod Inscription

Gallery

• 

External links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Monuments_of_National_Importance_in_Madhya_Pradesh/East