Paliya

ThePaliyaorKhambhiis a type of amemorialfound in the western regions of theIndia subcontinent,especiallySaurashtraandKutchregions ofGujaratand also inSindhregion ofPakistan.They mostly commemorate the death of a person. These stone monuments have symbols and inscriptions.There are several types of memorials including dedicated to warriors (mostlyCharanas), sailors, sati, animals and figures associated with folklore.They are important inethnographyandepigraphy.

FourPaliyas, one dedicated to man and three to women at Chhatardi,Bhuj,Kutch,Gujarat, India

Those dedicated to warriors fall under the termhero stone,of which examples are found all over India.

Etymology

Three portions; head with Sun and moon, middle with warrior mounted on horse, bottom with inscription with time, place, name.Paliyadedicated to warrior died in war, Chhatardi, Bhuj

The wordPaliyais may be derived from the Sanskrit rootPal,"to protect". InGujarati language,Palameans "a group of soldiers in skirmish" or "army". The other forms includepalia, pavaliyo, pario, palaa, paliu.They are also known aspariyainParkari Koli languageandlohartiin Dahatki languages of Sindh.Lohartimay be derived from termLoharwhich means iron-smith which were commissioned in past to engrave memorial stones instead of stone-engravers. The term may also refer to tablet or stone engraved with hammer.Khambhiis derived from Sanskrit term Stambha which means a column. It is mostly used to refer memorial stone dedicated to people who end their lives or commit self-immolation.

History

The tradition originated inVedic periodwhen the dead bodies were not cremated but either buried or floated in the river. The spot of burial were initially marked with single stone and later stone circle which are found during excavations. Later the practice evolved intoLashtior a stone column with inscriptions which had names of persons, place and dates. Four suchLashtis ofKshatrapaperiod (1st century) found in Kutch are now atKutch Museum.The practice evolved in various types of memorials across India such asstupa,cenotaphs, memorial temples. The types of such memorials are found all over India such ashero stonesin South India. They often carry inscriptions displaying a variety of adornments, includingbas reliefpanels, frieze, and figures on carved stone.In western India, it evolved intopaliyaorKhambhiwhich has similarities withhero stonesof South India. Thousands of stone memorials are found across villages in Gujarat especiallyKutchandSaurashtra.The earliest memorials are found in Andhau village in Khavda, Kutch which dates back to the 2nd century. The tradition became popular after the 15th century and the large number of stones are erected after that. Some tribal societies still erects stone memorials in the region.

Place and symbols

Chhatri and Paliyas atThangadhphotographed in 1874 byJames Burgess

Memorial withChhatri,a cenotaph

They are erected outskirt of villages and town mostly.They are also erected near battlefield or place of death if they are dedicated to a warrior. Sometimes they are erected near temples or places of worship.Though they are found across India in various forms, they are commonly found in Saurashtra and Kutch region ofGujarat.They are also found in Sindh,Pakistan.

The visible part of memorial stones are around two feet wide and three feet in height. The lower part is buried up to ten feet in ground. The top border are half-circle in early stones which are triangular in later stones. They are mostly ofsandstoneas they are easy to carve.Sometimes they are erected on pavilion and rarelyderi,a shrine orChhatri,a cenotaph is built over them when they belong to royal families.

These memorials have three parts; the head with various types of symbols, middle has a person dedicated to whom the stone is erected and bottom having inscription which include name, place, event and time with some more information sometimes. The symbols in head always include sun and moon which symbolizes eternal glory. The stones erected after 17th century includesswastikaanddeepakand detailed decoration in backgrounds. The middle part includes human figure with variety of weapons, mounts, clothes and items. The lower part has inscription in language and style of the time.

Worship

These memorials are worshiped by people of associated community or decedents of a person on special days such as death day of person, event anniversaries, festivals, auspicious days in Kartika,ShraavanaorBhadrapadamonths ofHindu calendar.These memorials are washed with milk and water on these days. They are smeared withsindoororkumkumand flowers are scattered over it. Theearthen lampis lighted near it with sesame oil. Sometimes a flag is erected over it.

Types of memorial stones

Sati memorial between two warrior memorials. Sati memorial depicts bent right hand. Nirona, Kutch

Memorial depict full female figure holdingkamandalandJapa malasimilar toBrahmacharini

PaliyaofPragmalji IIofCutch State.It has only inscription and some symbols without any human figure

Paliya depicting cow,Kumbhalgarh

Traditionally, they are classified aspaliya(flat stone memorials),khambhi(column without carving erected as memorial to deceased),thesa(small crude stones nearpaliya),chagio(heap of stones),surapura(erected for warriors died saving others as fulfillment of life) andsuradhana(erected for accidental deaths such as murder, suicide, accidents).Some of them are calledSatimataorVirorJhujhar(headless hero).

Warriors' memorials

This type of memorials are the most common which are mostly associated hero worship thus with martial communities and tribes. They are found in large numbers in limited area and known asRann Khambhi.They are erected near the battleground or at the place where the warrior died. Initially they were erected to honor the deeds such as saving tribe, women or cattle which later became tradition associated with battles.

The memorials mostly depicts a warrior with weapons such as sword, mace, lance, bow and arrow and even guns in recent memorials. The warrior is mounted on variety of transport such as horses, camels, elephants and chariots. Sometimes they are infantry. Sometimes people carrying royal emblem or playing a war drum who died during war are depicted.Vir-jo-jod paliyamarks the land which are granted to brave person for his act of bravery specifically found in Sindh. These lands are not cultivated and only used for cattle gazing.

The examples are the memorials atBhuchar Moriand the memorials of Hamirji Gohil and others nearSomnath temple.There is aVir-jo-jod paliyain Dongri village ofNagarparkar,Sindh.

Sati memorials

These memorials are associated with the royal families mostly. The females who died practicingSatiorJauharare commemorated with it. They are also associated with folklore and sometimes are worshiped as demigoddess.

The memorials mostly depicts the right hand bent at 45 or 90 degrees inblessing gesture.Sometimes the memorials are depicted with hands and other symbols such as peacock and lotus. They are also depicted as the full figure of a woman giving blessings or inNamaskarposition. The woman entering into the flames and having the body of his husband in her lap, the ritual of Sati practice, are depicted in some memorials.

The example include the memorial of Surajkunwarba of Bhuchar Mori.They are found in Sindh region of Pakistan and Rajasthan state of India also.

Sailors' memorials

Gujarat has a long maritime history. The memorials of sailors commemorates people died during their voyage in sea. Their memorials are depicted with a contingent on ship sometimes.

Folklore memorials

Several memorials marks the people associated with folklore about religious devotees, love stories, sacrifices, friendship, suicides to protest.The example is a memorial of Veer Mangaro at Bhutvad nearBhanvad.

Animal memorials

The memorials depicting animals such as horses, dogs and camels were also erected.Gauchar paliya has figures of cow which were installed on communal pastures to mark boundaries between villages. Memorials depicting cows are also erected byVanjaracommunity.

Kshetrapal stones

Kshetrapal stones are dedicated toKshetrapalaor Khetarpal, the protector deity of lands. They are not memorials but has similar ethos. They are generally placed in or near farms or outskirt of villages. The ancestors are worshiped as Kshetrapal in some communities. They are believed to protect land and crops. The stones depicted snakes as symbol of protector or sometimes just eyes.

Importance

Memorials depicting warrior on horse (left) and sitting persons (centre and right). Chhatardi, Bhuj.

Paliyas belonging toKutch Gurjar KshatriyaatDhanetiinKutch,dating back to 1178 AD

Paliyaof RaoLakhpatjiof Kutch and his queens. The cenotaph over it fell inearthquake.

The memorials providesethnographicinformation as well asepigraphy.They are social structures which commemorates and reveres heroes of the society. They are also important historical documents as well as a document of iconography which survived over centuries. It provide information about customs, cultures and beliefs of erstwhile societies.They also provides information of economic, religious or political events.These memorials are associated withancestral worshipso the local folklore associated with it can be identified and documented. They also give information about cultural traditions such asSati.The types of clothes, weapons and vehicles of the time period can be also identified. As the memorial inscriptions has place and year, the evolution of language and method of recording time can also be documented. Rarely they are used to mark burial place of wealth as people would not desecrate the place of worship.