Sahasra Bahu Temples

Last updated

Sahasra Bahu Temples
N-RJ-147SasBahuTemplesUdaipur-SolReyes20100922 511.JPG
Sahasra Bahu Temples
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Nagda
Deity Virabhadra
Location
Location Nagda
State Rajasthan
Country India
India relief location map.jpg
Om symbol.svg
Shown within India
Rajasthan relief map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Sahasra Bahu Temples (Rajasthan)
Geographic coordinates 24°44′10″N73°43′15″E / 24.73611°N 73.72083°E / 24.73611; 73.72083
Architecture
Style Māru-Gurjara
Completed10th-century
Sahasra Bahu Temple1 Sahasra Bahu temples, Nagda, Rajasthan.jpg
Sahasra Bahu Temple1

The Sahasra Bahu temples or Sasbahu Temples, at Nagda, Rajasthan, are a pair of late 10th-century Hindu temples dedicated to Virabhadra. [1] They share a platform, facing the temple tank, and are similar in style, but one is rather larger than the other. The larger one is surrounded by ten subsidiary shrines, the smaller by four; only the bases remain of some of these. [2] The temples have many of the characteristics of slightly later Māru-Gurjara architecture but lack others, especially in the plan and exterior sculpture.

Contents

They are locally referred to as Sas Bahu temples (a local corruption of the original Sahasra-Bahu, meaning "One with thousand arms", a form of Vishnu).

Nagda was once an important city of Mewar, possibly a capital of one of its rulers.

Both temples have a sanctuary, mandapa with side projections, and an open porch. Their somewhat ruined shikharas are in brick, with many subsidiary turrets. That of the smaller temple has been largely repaired, while the larger one remains truncated. Below the platform there is a torana-style entrance screen, with four columns and a decorative cusped arch in the centre. [3]

The interiors and parts of the exteriors, especially around the porches, are lavishly carved, but much of the exteriors are plain. [4]

Lotus flower painting is visible on the roof top of temple. Iltutmish (Delhi emperor of that time) destroyed Nagda in 1226. [5]

The temples are on the Archaeological Survey of India's list of heritage monuments.

Adbhutji Shanthinath Jain Tirth or Nagahyuda Jain Mandir, an ancient Jain centre is located nearby, next to the Bagela Lake. [6]

Location

The site is very easily accessible by road, only about 20km from Udaipur (one of the main lake & palace hotspots of Tourism in Rajasthan), a mere 2.7 km from the well frequented Shaivite shrine of Eklingji, or 30 km from the hugely popular Vaishnavite shrine town of Nathdwara.

  1. Michell "late 10th century", but the ASI board in 2018 said "early 11th century".
  2. Michell
  3. Michell
  4. Michell
  5. Jain, Kailash Chand (1972). Ancient Cities and Towns of Rajasthan, A Study of Culture and Civilization. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 213-219.
  6. "Nagda- Nagda Town, Nagda near Udaipur, Nagda Rajasthan, Nagda India".
Carving on ceiling of temple 2 Samudra Manthan ceiling sculpture.jpg
Carving on ceiling of temple 2
Reliefs on temple 2 External carving on temple 2.jpg
Reliefs on temple 2

Spelling confusion

Sahasra [1] is the correct prefix that means "a thousand", not SahasTra. However, it is invariably misspelled as the latter. Notice how the same prefix is spelled when referring to the crown chakra: "Sahasrara Chakra" or when it occurs in family names (example: Sahasrabuddhe [2] ) without a T. Also see Sahasralinga. The confusion arises because the Devanagari letter "sa" (स) merges with "ra" (र) to make "sra" (स्र), which looks like "stra" (स्त्र).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampi</span> Ancient and medieval monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India

Hampi or Hampe, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hampi (City), Ballari district now Vijayanagara district, east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Empire; it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas of Hinduism as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. Hampi continues as a religious centre, with the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pattadakal</span> World Heritage site with 7th- and 8th-century temples in India

Pattadakal, also called Raktapura, is a complex of 7th and 8th century CE Hindu and Jain temples in northern Karnataka, India. Located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River in Bagalkot district, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Badami and about 9.7 kilometres (6 mi) from Aihole, both of which are historically significant centres of Chalukya monuments. The monument is a protected site under Indian law and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dilwara Temples</span> Group of Svetambara Jain temples in Rajasthan, India

The Dilwara Temples or Delvada Temples are a group of Śvētāmbara Jain temples located about 2+12 kilometres from the Mount Abu settlement in Sirohi District, Rajasthan's only hill station. The earliest were built by Bhima I and supposedly designed or at least financed by Vastupala, Jain minister of Dholka. They date between the 11th and 16th centuries, forming some of the most famous monuments in the style of Māru-Gurjara architecture, famous for their use of a very pure white marble and intricate marble carvings. They are managed by Seth Shri Kalyanji Anandji Pedhi, Sirohi and are a pilgrimage place for Jains, and a significant general tourist attraction. The Dilwara temples are regarded as the most impressive among Jain temples in Rajasthan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aihole</span> Historic site in Karnataka, India

Aihole (ಐಹೊಳೆ), also referred to as Aivalli, Ahivolal or Aryapura, is a historic site of ancient and medieval era Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments in Karnataka, India that dates from the sixth century through the twelfth century CE. Most of the surviving monuments at the site date from the 7th to 10th centuries. Located around an eponymous small village surrounded by farmlands and sandstone hills, Aihole is a major archaeological site, featuring over 120 stone and cave temples spread along the Malaprabha river valley, in Bagalakote district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badami cave temples</span> 6th-8th century Hindu and Jain cave temples in Karnataka, India

The Badami cave temples are a complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples located in Badami, a town in the Bagalkot district in northern part of Karnataka, India. The caves are important examples of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya architecture, and the earliest date from the 6th century. Badami is a modern name and was previously known as "Vataapi", the capital of the early Chalukya dynasty, which ruled much of Karnataka from the 6th to the 8th century. Badami is situated on the west bank of a man-made lake ringed by an earthen wall with stone steps; it is surrounded on the north and south by forts built during Early Chalukya and in later times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Rajasthan</span> Architecture in the Indian state of Rajasthan

The architecture of the Indian state of Rajasthan has usually been a regional variant of the style of Indian architecture prevailing in north India at the time. Rajasthan is especially notable for the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers, which are popular tourist attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiv Mandir, Ambarnath</span> Hindu Temple in India

The Shiv Mandir of Ambarnath is a historic 11th-century Hindu temple, at Ambarnath near Mumbai, in Maharashtra, India. It is also known as the Ambreshwar Shiva Temple, and known locally as Puratana Shivalaya. It is situated on the bank of the Waldhuni river, 2 km away from Ambarnath railway station (East). The temple was built in 1060 AD beautifully carved in stone. It was probably built by Shilahara king Chhittaraja, it may also have been rebuilt by his son Mummuni.

<i>Garbhagriha</i> Innermost sanctum of Hindu and Jain temples

A garbhagriha is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, what may be called the "holy of holies" or "sanctum sanctorum".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Rajasthan</span> Overview of Rajasthans culture

The culture of Rajasthan includes many artistic traditions that reflect the ancient Indian way of life. This historical state of India attracts tourists and vacationers with its rich culture, tradition, heritage and monuments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Rajasthan</span>

Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, for both domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture with its slogan "Padharo Mhare Desh " The capital city, Jaipur, also known as Pink City, is a very popular tourist destination and is a part of the Golden Triangle. The Walled City of Jaipur is only the second Indian city to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after Ahmedabad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sasbahu Temple, Gwalior</span>

Sas Bahu Temples, also called the Sas aur Bahu ke Mandir, Sas-Bahu Twin Temples, are the11th-century twin temples in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. Within the Gwalior Fort complex and dedicated to Vishnu & Shiva, like most Hindu and Jain temples in this region, they were mostly in ruins and were badly damaged from numerous invasions and Hindu-Muslim wars in the region. They were built in 1093 by King Mahipala of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty, the larger one (Saas) was constructed for his wife and the smaller one ( Bahu) was constructed for his daughter-in-law, according to an inscription found in the larger of the twin temple. The twin temples are situated in the Gwalior Fort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hutheesing Jain Temple</span> Śvetāmbara Jain Temple in Gujarat, India

Hutheesing Temple is a Jain temple in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. It was constructed in 1848 by the Hutheesing family. The temple blends the old Maru-Gurjara temple architecture style with new architectural elements of haveli in its design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chalukya Shiva Temple</span> Hindu temple in Karnataka, India

The Chalukya Shiva Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is one of the oldest Hindu temples and is located in the group of monuments at Aihole in the state of Karnataka, India. Formerly dated to the 7th or 8th century, it is now dated to about the 5th century. It is located to the south of the Durga temple, Aihole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durga temple, Aihole</span> 8th-century Hindu temple in Aihole, Karnataka, India

The Durga temple is an early 8th-century Hindu temple located in Aihole, Karnataka, India. Originally dedicated to Surya, it has the most embellished and largest relief panels in Aihole depicting artwork of Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Vedic deities. Apart from its fine carvings, it is notable for its apsidal plan – a rare example among early Chalukyan Hindu temple architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahasrakund Waterfall</span> River waterfall in Western India

Sahasrakund Waterfall is a waterfall on the Painganga River of Nanded district, Maharashtra, India. This town is on the boundary of the Yavatmal and Nanded districts on the Painganga River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagda, Rajasthan</span> Historical Place in Rajasthan, India

Nagda is a village in Udaipur district of Rajasthan state in India. It was once a prominent city in the early Mewar state. Today it is known primarily for the remains of the Sahasra Bahu Temples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Māru-Gurjara architecture</span> Style of north Indian temple architecture

Māru-Gurjarat architecture or Solaṅkī style, is the style of West Indian temple architecture that originated in Gujarat and Rajasthan from the 11th to 13th centuries, under the Chaulukya dynasty. Although originating as a regional style in Hindu temple architecture, it became especially popular in Jain temples, and mainly under Jain patronage later spread across India, then later to diaspora communities around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahavira Jain temple, Osian</span> Śvetāmbara Jain temple in Rajasthan, India

The Mahavira Jain temple is built in Osian of Jodhpur District, Rajasthan. The temple is an important pilgrimage of the Oswal Jain community. This temple is the oldest surviving Jain temple in Western India and was built in 457 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar</span> 11th-12th century Shiva temple

The Gondeshwar Temple is an 11th-12th century Hindu temple located in Sinnar, a town in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. It features a panchayatana plan; with a main shrine dedicated to Shiva; and four subsidiary shrines dedicated to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajput architecture</span> Overview of the architecture by the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan

Rajput architecture is an architectural style associated with the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers. Many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and popular tourist attractions.

References

  1. "Sahasra".
  2. "Sahasrabuddhe".