2025-05-14 Wed

The Agrawals are a prominent community of traditional Traders hailing from northern India, with their origins linked to Maharaja Agrasen. According to oral traditions, he is considered a descendant of Lord Ram. It is believed that during the era of the great epic, the mahabharata, Maharaja Agrasen ruled Agroha, a city renowned for its trading activities within the Hisar district of Haryana. Few legends also state that he ruled over Agreya or Agroha Janapada with its capital at Agrodaka. The term ‘Agrawal’ means ‘descendants of Agrasen’ or ‘people of Agroha.’

In 1888-89, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted significant excavations at Agroha, uncovering a series of mounds that span 650 acres on the banks of the dried Ghaggar River. The excavation occurred in three phases: the initial phase in 1888-89, the second in 1938-39, and the final phase between 1979 and 1985.

As reported by Live History India, these excavations led to the discovery of a meticulously planned city, featuring a moat, fortified walls, and wide thoroughfares. Evidence of habitation has been traced from as early as the 7th-8th century BCE up to the 15th century CE. For centuries, Agroha served as a vital trading hub situated along an important trade route connecting #Taxila and #Mathura. The site yielded remnants of a #Buddhist stupa, as well as numerous sculptures from the #Mauryan and #Shunga periods.

Following the decline of the Mauryan Empire, control of the city shifted to the Agras or Aggraca tribe. A significant HOARD of coins was unearthed at the site in 1939, which includes four silver Indo-Greek coins, one silver punch-marked coin, and 51 coins from the Agreya or Agroha Janapada. Several of these coins bore the inscription ‘Agodaka Agacha Janapadasa,’ translating to ‘Coins of Agacha Janapada in the Agodaka.’

On 24 September 1976, India Post issued a commemorative stamp valued at 25 paise, featuring Maharaja Agrasen alongside illustrations of two coins and a brick wall excavated during the Agroha excavations. This stamp underscores the importance of oral histories and legends in the reconstruction of historical narratives.

On 25 March 2025, excavations at Agroha started again. This time it is led by a collaborative team from the ASI and Haryana’s Department of #Archaeology and #Museums. The primary objective of this new phase of excavation is to gain insights into Agroha’s trade #relationships with the other regions of the #world.