Maladevi Temple

Maladevi temple
Maladevi Temple
Maladevi Temple
Religion
AffiliationJainism
DeityAdinatha
FestivalsMahavir Jayanti
Location
LocationGyaraspur, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
Geographic coordinates23°39′32.1″N 78°06′49.1″E / 23.658917°N 78.113639°E / 23.658917; 78.113639
Architecture
StyleMāru-Gurjara
CreatorPratihara dynasty
Kalachuris of Tripuri
Date established850-900 CE
Temple(s)1

Maladevi Temple is a Jain temple located in Gyaraspur town of Vidisha in state of Madhya Pradesh, India.

History

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Maladevi Temple dates back to the 850-900 CE.worship site.[1] epigraphist Richard G. Salomon suggests that temple was originally built as Jaina-Brahmanical hybrid.[2] An Kalachuri inscription dating back to 850-885 CE, records the foundation of the temple during the reign of Valleka is preserved in British Museum. [3][4]

Temple

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Maladevi Temple is the largest and finest temple of Gyaraspur. It is famous for carvings and craftmanship, that are representative of post-Gupta architecture.[5] It is a rock-cut temple built in Gurjara Pratihara style. The temple was a constructed around a sanctified natural cavern as the garbhagriha.[6] The temple is rich with carvings of tirthankaras, yakshi, and yaksha. The temple consists of an entrance porch, mandapa garbhagriha and lofty shikhara bearing rich carvings.[1] The temple houses a number of Jain idols, yet the figures of Goddesses on the outer door-frame and the name of the temple indicates that it was originally a Brahmical temple.[7] The temple is dedicated to Adinatha.[8][9]

The temple is considered one of the best examples of collections of varied Jain sculptures.[10] The temple houses a carved idol of Shantinatha in lotus position with a symbol of deer and four armed yaksha and yakshi.[11] There is image of Goddess Chakreshvari carved on the lalata-bimba.[6] An idol of Parshvanatha dated 9th century is also enshrined inside the temple.[12] The presence of images of 24 yaksha and yakshi inside the temple indicates the worship of each yaksha and yakshi during the 9th century.[13]

The temple records various pilgrim sites such as Sobhasapranamati, Baswanapranamati, and Ambadevapranamati. It also houses an eigh-handed idol of Goddess with Tarapati engraved on leaves of lotus throne.[14]

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Restoration

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In 1930, Gwalior state stepped up to conserve Maladevi temple.[15] Maladevi temple in Vidisha is protected by Archaeological Survey of India.[16]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b ASI & Maladevi Temple.
  2. ^ Salomon 1996, p. 156.
  3. ^ Kooij 2018, p. 189.
  4. ^ Salomon 1996, p. 155.
  5. ^ Cohen & Cohen 2008, p. 1480.
  6. ^ a b Saxena 2022.
  7. ^ Ayyar 1987, p. 16.
  8. ^ Mitra 2010, p. 76.
  9. ^ Mitra 2012, p. 23.
  10. ^ Ghurye 2005, p. 39.
  11. ^ Shah 1987, p. 154.
  12. ^ Shah 1987, p. 175.
  13. ^ Shah 1987, p. 217.
  14. ^ Cunningham 1880, p. 34.
  15. ^ Kumar 2010.
  16. ^ ASI & Vidisha.

Sources

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Books

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Web

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