ANCIENT COINS OF INDIA

The earliest historical mention of Sinnar appears to be Sindiner in a copper-plate grant of 1069 A. D. Tradition ascribes the founding of the town to a Gavali chief by name Rav Shinguni, perhaps Seunendu of the copper-plate about 800 years ago. he earliest historical mention of Sinnar appears to be Sindiner in a copper-plate grant of 1069 A. D. Sinnar was known as Sindinagar or Seunpura and was ruled by Bhillama III of the Yadava family . In 1025 AD the Mahasamanta Bhillama III was ruling his hereditary province of Seundesa as feudatory of the Western Chalukya King Jayasimha II .Tradition ascribes the founding of the town to a Gavali ( Yadava) chief by name Rav Shinguni, perhaps Seunendu of the copper-plate about 800 years ago. His son Rav Govinda is supposed to have built the great temple of Govindeshvar or Gondeshvar . In the seventeenth century it became the headquarters of the Chief Officer of the Emperor of Delhi in these parts and its population greatly increased. Later still it was the seat of the government of Amritrav Deshmukh, who was appointed head of fourteen sub-divisions by the Moghal Emperor. In his time the population of Sinnar still further increased. He is also said to have built the aforementioned town walls and laid a masonry dam across the river. His vada or palace, now in partial ruins, was perhaps the largest building in the town then, and contained within its outside walls many separate collections of houses. About the year 1790, Sinnar appears in Maratha records as the headquarters of a sub-division in the district of Sangamner with an yearly revenue of about Rs. 29,000. Sinnar also figured mildly in the revolutionary activities that culminated in the 1857 War of Independence. In November 1822 a band of forty insurgents assembled at Sinnar and were joined by twenty-five more. Their leader, one certain Krishna Kuver gave out that their object was to overthrow the British authority from Kankari, a village about 16 km. south-west of Sinnar and take possession of it; but this was only small part of a large plot. Unfortunately all were captured at Kankari and on surrendering their arms and horses, were released.

About a furlong distant to the north-west of the town and nearer the main road lie the ruins of Aishvaryeshvar or Aieshvar temple, also a Shaiva shrine built in the Chalukyan style of Mysore. Here again the date of the temple seems to be in doubt. One source puts it somewhere in the eleventh century and therefore prior to the Gondeshvar shrine. Another source dates the building in 1450 A. D. But regardless of the date this temple is of unusual interest, as two temples of such divergent styles are rarely to be found so close to one another. Owing to its isolated situation the builders of the Aieshvar introduced certain features of the Indo-Aryan Deccani style, such as the brackets above the capitals. This particular motif was unknown to the Chalukyans. It had originally a hall or Sabhamandap, all of which except four beautifully carved pillars, seems to have been carried off to build or repair other structures. The shrine remains, but without the spire of Shikhar. The Maithuna ritual of Tantrism - a particular phase of Hinduism is depicted on the walls of this temple. It is still used as a place of worship though no fair or yatra is held.

In the Hall or Sabhamandap there are now only four pillars ( two pillars in two rows ) . The walls of temple are not existed . It can be assumed that the temple must have Gajapitha at bottom today does not exists . The Uppermost part at entrance to grabhagriha ( above Ganeshapatti) is beautifully carved in semicircle into figures of Two Makaras, Shiva dancing , Parvati and Ganas . The Roof consists of nine beams in three rows each is carved beautifully with the Ashtadikpala figures ( among which the positions of Agni and Kubera seems to be interchanged ).The Sapatamatrikas which is important character of the Chalukya Architecture can be seen along with Shiva , Ganesha and Bhairavas at front side of Garbhagriha . Gajalakshmi is carved at ganesh patti . Some scenes from Ramayana , Bramha , Durga , Anantshayana are depicted on outer walls and columns .

Direction	Depiction of Deity
1) East	Indra seated on Airavata ( Elephant)
2) West	Varuna seated on Makara
3) North	Kubera seated on Horse
4) South	Yama seated on Buffalo
5) South East	Agni seated on Ram
6) North West	Vayu seated on Deer
7) South West	Nairutti seated on Human body
8) North East	Ishana seated on Bull

Sinnar : Sinnar is small town in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra , India .Reachable By road : 230 Kms from Mumbai , 180 Kms from Pune Nearest Railway Station : Nasik road ( 20 Kms ) For stay : Hotels , Government Guest houses are available at Sinnar , Nasik Other Attractions at Sinnar : " Gargoti " Asia's first Mineral Museum in sinnar , Gondeshvar Temple and several other buildings of Maratha period . Nearest Locations : Nasik , Shirdi .