Ammonite of Madi Chitwan

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Following the Ammonite Fossils
to understand the
Ancient Waterway
Dr. Kul Raj Chalise

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Madi on Ancient Waterway of Krishnagandaki
Dr.Kul Raj Chalise
Abstract
Mountain geography of Nepal is shaped by tectonic uplift and erosion induced by
river system. Katan (erosion) and Patan (deposition) are terminology, which are
used to describe geographical development of mountain valleys. Chitawan is one
such valley developed by sediments mostly deposited by tributaries of Narayani.
Shaligramsheela, commonly known as ammonite fossil are marine evidences
uplifted to Himalaya along with tectonic uplift of submerged surface of lost ocean
Tethys. Scientists did the series of stratigraphical researches on this fact since
1960 s , but most of them concentrated at Mustang. Researcher could not found
report did on Shaligramsheela available at Magwai River of Madi. Local priest
group had tried to explore them, but it is not enough to attract the scientific
researchers. At the same time senior spiritual leader dominating the established
pilgrim sites were misguiding the people to maintain the sacred value of their own
site. Geographical structure, archeological evidences and words used on Hindu
spiritual texts indicating existence of water reservoir in chitwan, whose southern
edge was Someswor mountain of Madi. Abundant number of Shaligramsheela
available on river basin of Magwai on natural condition and eight faced Gaddhak
Shivalinga of Gardi indicate that ancient Gajendramokshyadham was at Madi
area. In latter period water reservoir opened the mouth at southwestern corner of
"Devhrad". Narayani was shifted toward west after opening the mouth. Evidences
indicate that ancient waterway of Krishnagandaki was at Madi area of Chitwan,
which was shifted about 35 km west from original waterway. This report is
product of shallow observation matching with information mentioned on spiritual
text. Verification of such assumption by advance paleontological research is
needed to increase the tourism and academic value of Madi. This could be a core
product well suited for buffer zone of Chitwan National Park listed on UNESCO
world heritage site. We hope this report will draw the attention of geological,
archeological, geographical and social science experts to involve on advance
research based on ammonite fossils available at northward flowing Magwai River
of Madi
Keywords: Shaligramsheela, Ammonite fossils, Stratigraphical research

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Introduction
Research on tectonic uplift of central Nepal based on natural availability of Shaligramsheela was
started from decade of 1960 (Garzanti & Frettee, 1991). Raymond Enay published a monograph
on the Bazrakit from the Spiti Shales Formation of the Thakkhola area in central Nepal (Docum.
Lab. Geol. Lyon, No.166, 2009), based on new data (Mallikarjuna, 2010). We are hearing the
information that a team of Chinese academicians are now active on sediment research of
Krishnagandaki from Mustang to Hanjipur of Bihar. We are hoping to read their report in near
future. Most of the previous research works were concentrated at Mustang district. Ongoing
research of Chinese academicians may investigate deposition area too. But we still are doubtful,
whether they cover the Shaligramsheela of Madi or not. Because texts are not mentioned about
Madi on direct language and researchers are misguided to identify the ancient waterway of
Krishnagandaki. This report is trying to cover Madi as the ancient waterway of Krishnagandaki.
Table 1: Mesozoic Lithostratigraphy of the northwestern and central Himalaya
Source: Garzanti & Frettee (1991)
Geography of Nepal is shaped by tectonic uplift and erosion enforced by river. Uplifted
mountains received atmospheric water drops from cloud and drained them to lower elevation as
rivers. Such rivers carry the soil particles and coagulating chemicals along with drain water.
Churning of such suspended material along with river current will produce gravels of different
size. Such gravels will deposits to bottom hill as river current will decrease at plain area. Katan
and Patan are local terminology used to describe such erosion and deposition process. Due to
combined effect rivers may changed own waterway on certain years interval. In such process
some river will lose their existence if change on waterway took place at head water source.
Disappeared river Saraswati of west India (Giosan et al, 2012) is the example of such change.
Flow direction may changed opposite to previous direction on extreme condition like northward
flowing Krishnagandaki was started to flow southward after tectonic uplift of Muktinathkshetra.

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This is not only the content story of Varahanarayan. A report presented by a group of scientists
had proved this fact after intensive paleogeographic research (Gradstein et al 1989). Following is
concluding remarks of their research work.
This observation, coupled with resemblance of the Mesozoic facies trends to Atlantic
margin sequences, the affinities of the ammonite and foraminiferal assemblages to other
Asian or Atlantic faunas, and the northward sediment transport trends observed in two
formations, strongly suggests that the Thakkhola Himalayan region was part of a
continental margin, facing an ocean. From current paleogeographic reconstructions we
conclude that this ocean represented Tethys, and that Thakkhola, Nepal, harbours
extensive evidence of this great "lost ocean", that lapped the northern Gondwanan shores.
(Gradstein et al, 1989, P.98)
Their research work was concentrated at Thakkhola area of Muktikshetra leaving the questions
related to deposition of Shaligramsheela ( Ammonite fossils) of Rampur and Chitawan valley.
Availability of such index fossils more on upland rather than river bed at Rampur Valley
indicates the deposition during flash flood which had occurred on different period. Terraces that
we can observe on different layer indicate the series of flash flood on Krishnagandaki (Chalise,
2014). We can predict this fact after observation of cross section at bottom hill as shown on
photo 1. Laboratory based dating of sample collected from these areas may give tentative date of
flash flood's waterways of that period, which is beyond capacity of this research work.
"Hrada" and "Bhimband" are two word used on Hindu spiritual texts. The mountains which were
blocked the waterway are "Bhimband" and reservoir developed after such block are known as
"Hrada". Devhrad is such example frequently used by Nalaraj Shastri (Shastri 2065 BS). Such
reservoir will drain out as an impact of tectonic impact or when water pressure increase to break
the "Bhimband". This is primary phenomena which developed the mountain valley after drain
out of lake water. When waterway receive fragile surface and if debris carried by river deposited
to bending edge of river, waterway may change to some other direction. We can predict such
symptom at Mirmy portion of Krishnagandaki. Before Krishnagandaki had made waterpass from
Mirmi to Rudrabeni, geography indicate that Krishnagandaki was overflowed directly to Beltari
instead of rotating Lasargha hill (Chalise, 2014). Oldest Puran Skandapuran is silent to speak
about Ridirikheswor, where as youngest Puran Varahapuran has spoken more about this pilgrim
site (Gurung , 2067 BS). Differences on Puranic message indicate that Krishnagandaki had
changed the waterway to rotate Lasargha after period of Skandapuran writting. We can predict
such change on waterway simply by observing the Devisfalls and underground river of
Gupteswor cave of Pokhara too.

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Photo 1: Sediment layer of bottom hill of Krishnagandaki basin at Ramjakot Tanahun
Shaligramsheela as index fossils
The shila or shaligram is a fossil concretion from the Krishnagandaki River in Nepal, often with
prominent ammonites. They are typically black in color but pyrite inclusions may make them
golden. The fossil patterns are believed to represent sacred symbols like the attributes of Vishnu,
especially his chakra. An interpretation of the snake like ammonites found inside. The stones are
traditionally used for devotion (Enter the Earth, n.d.). There are five stories associated with
origin of Shaligramsheela. Though they are written on story like pattern, hidden messages are
some else. Such stories can help us to predict site specific and material specific information.
1. Meditating Vishnu and Vajrakit Bisowkarma (Varahapuran 144:225)
2. Brinda and Jalandhar (Skandapuran, Himavatkhanda 44:61)
3. Tulasi and Shankhachuda (Brahmavaibartapuran 2:21:24)
4. Gaja and Graha salvation (Bhagavatmahapuran 8:2,3 & 4)
5. Shalankayan Meditation (Varahapuran 144:256)
The story of meditating Vishnu and carving of Shaligram idols by Vajrakit incarnation of
Bisowkarma indicate the upper Muktinath site specific message as primary source of
Shaligramsheela. Stories of Brinda, Tulasi, Jalandhar and Shankhachuda are associated with
water purification. The story of Gaja and Graha is related to indicate relationship of soil and
water as Gaja represent the earth and Graha represent the Ganga. Krishnagandaki is older than

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Himalaya and existence of Shaligramsheela was there from the beginning of creation. Saint
Shalankayan had identified the importance of these fossils to predict the secret of Himalayan
system. Due to his name such fossils had got the name Shaligramsheela (Chalise, 2016). These
stories are related with southern Muktinath, where Krishnagandaki had deposited the fossils
during ancient flash flood.
Shaligramsheela are not only important for Hindu societies. It is equally important for other's
too, though their perception is as sacred gemstone or ammonite. The word ammonite references a
historic name for the fossil. The first century CE Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder called them
hammonis cornu, meaning “the horns of Ammon”. Ammon is the Latinized version of the name
Amun, the ancient Egyptian god of creation, later interpreted as a form of Zeus by the Greeks.
Amun was depicted as a ram, a man with the head or horns of a ram, or a ram headed sphinx
(Enter the Earth, n.d.).
The Ammonoidea or ammonites are an extinct group of shelled cephalopods that lived around
400 to 65 million years ago. The name may specifically refer to one branch of them, the
Ammonoida that lived about 200 to 65 million years ago. Their living relatives include the
octopus, squid, and nautilus (Enter the Earth, n.d.).
Research question
Whatever, we termed as Shaligramsheela or Ammonite fossil and whenever, we percept as
sacred idol or ornamental gemstone, these are Marin product reached to High Mountain along
with tectonic uplift of earth surface submerged on lost ocean. These are index fossils to predict
the flow characteristics of Krishnagandaki. Our purpose to take this information is to prove
ancient waterway of Krishnagandaki which was passed from Madi of Chitwan, and shifted west
after Narayani had opened the new route at Tribeni site of Nawalparasi.
Methodology
Site observation and matching the physical evidences with Shaligramsheela related stories of
Purans is simple method used on this research work. To verify the logic presented here, we need
to conduct advance research of carbon dating and sediment pattern investigation. We have not
interred into such cost intensive and laboratory based research at this moment.
Discussion
1 Observation of Google map and site observation from Maulakalika demonstrate the
many branches of Narayani after Narayanghat Bridge. Water volumes on those branches
are not equal. Branches having higher water volume made deeper branches than having
lower volume. We can observe that some branch of Chitwan edge is converting into
terrace. Bending of Narayani on "C" shape at Tribeni portion indicate that Narayani is

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shifting to west. Advance sedimentological research of Magwai river basin may give
concrete idea of this logic.
Photo 2: Google map of Narayani
Photo 3: Photograph taken from Maulakalika
2 Availability of Shaligramsheela on natural condition indicates the ancient waterway of
Krishnagandaki. At the bottom Hill of Someswor Mountain, Shaligramsheela are
available only on River basin of Magwai. Most of them are bigger, flatter and brown in
color than Shaligramsheela of Krishnagandaki. The cause behind is soil temperature of
upland, which had induced broken them. By observing the symptom we can predict that
those Shaligramsheela were transported by Krishnagandaki in ancient period. To predict
the tentative time frame, we need to go for carbon dating of those samples. Sedimentary
pattern of those fossils may give clear idea to identify the flow direction.
3 Eight faced Gaddhak Shivalinga of Gardi is different than many other Shivaling of
present days. Yogi Naraharinath had said that eight faced Shivalinga was culture of
Mahabharat age ( Subedi, 2071 BS). Situating the Gaddhak temple at west bank of
Magwai indicate the spiritual value of that river. Carbon dating again is very important to
identify the tentative date of Gaddhak Shivalinga.
4 Laxmikanta Sapkota had reported the big tree of Shorea robusta on structured stone
platform at about 200 m south east of ancient Someswor temple. Intensive investigation
of those areas may help to find information of Shalankayan age.
5 With the reference of "Adhunik Nepalko Itihas" of Devilal Sharma, Sapkota had reported
that there was fort established by King Pratap Singh after win over the Sen Kingship
under leadership of Abhiman Singh and Swarup Singh at 1877 to protect the territory

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from Ramnagar of India (Sapkota, 2054 BS). Older citizen of Madi says that Thori was
the main gateway to inter into the central Nepal before the construction of East West
highway. Ancient tradition was to follow waterway to use as trekking route. Those facts
also indicate that Krishnagandaki had flowed from Magwai basin.
6 Varahapuran had given higher importance on Devhrad ( Varahapuran 145:75). Literal
meaning of 'Hrad" is water reservoir. Now there is only the confluence at Devghat, not a
crear "Devhrad". Where was that "Devhrad"?. Observation of height of Someswor
mountain, can give idea to identify the water reservoir. There was water reservoir in west
Chitwan portion, which was drain out after opening the mouth near to present
Gajendramokshyadham. Another word evidence of spiritual text is hymn 9:55 of
Himavatkhanda, where Varundev had told about water reservoir formation where
Sudarsanchakra had fall down to provide the salvation to sacred crocodile.
7 Presence of Shaligramsheela on natural position near to Krishnagandaki is necessary to
prove the Gajendramokshyadham. We could not found such evidence at present location.
Therefore ancient Gajendramokshyadham should be at Madi area.
8 Development of Ashram on west bank is general practice to faced the idol toward east
and holy river in front, on Hindu tradition. But Valmiki Ashram is situating in east and on
distance from Narayani. We could not believe that sage like Valmiki was selected east
bank to develop the Ashram, where Goddess Sita had given birth to Lava and Kusha.
Present position of Valmiki Ashram also indicates that ancient waterway was at east than
present waterway.
9 Geography of Bharatpur height could be additional evidence that Krishnagandaki had
taken the way from east to south west. Before that swampland of Grondrang could be
ancient waterway of Krishnagandaki to pass from Madi area. But nobody had reported
the Shaligramsheela available on natural condition at these sites. To prove the waterway
we need to go through sediment pattern investigation starting from Madi.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Pilgrim site backed by spiritual texts, bearing physical evidences always remains on apex of
sacred value. Magwai River of Madi is such sacred site to prove the Gajendramokshyadham,
Meditation site of Shalankayan and Devhrad. But intentional interpretation of spiritual leader
associated with Devghatdham and Trivenidham had put this sacred area on shadow. Situating at
buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, Madi is on back position in comparison to Bharatpur,
Devghat and Triveni. Exposing the truth associated with sacred value of Madi could be core
product to generate alternative employment for local inhabitants on spiritual tourism.
Shaligramsheela are fossils of marine biota, which were disappeared on ancient period.
Researcher is recommending for establishment of Shaligramsheela museum under ownership of
Madi Municipality with help of National Park. Such museum could help us to develop Madi

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region as Southern Muktikshetra. We have experiences that Sanskrit Gurukul gives priority to
position the spiritual value of their site. In such effort wrong interpretation of spiritual hymn and
modification on original hymn of spiritual texts may take place. To control the language
pollution blended approach of Sanskrit Gurukul with modern science could be one alternative.
We will recommend establishing a modified Gurukul at Madi with affiliation on Agriculture and
forest university of Nepal.
Note:
Acknowledgement:
Researcher is thankful to Priest Laxmikanta Sapkota, Laxmi Prasad Parajuli, Sudarsan Subedi for
interpretation of spiritual texts related with Gaddhak, Charchare and Someswor Mountain.
Researcher is grateful to Hon. Tirtha Bhusal, who had demonstrated the collected
Shaligramsheela at his temple. Researcher is equally grateful to Yedu Adhikari, Bhaktiram
Paudel, Devendra Paudel for their cooperation. Finally Researcher is thankful with Mayor
Thakur Prasad Dhakal for his better words to implement the finding of this research on public
discussion. Thank you Anku and Anup, you had supported on note keeping work.

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Photo 5: Sample of Shaligramsheela worshiped by local inhabitant
Photo 6: Sample of Shaligramsheela collected by Hon. Tirtha Bhusal

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