It is difficult to ascertain the extent of damage inflicted by the Delhi Sultanate, but a fair number of mosques and tombs built on the sites of temples during this period using the stones of the temples demolished are still visible in the city. It has been documented that Razia Sultana had built a mosque... Continue Reading →
The lesser-known Khedapati Mata Mandir in Kagpur village is an architectural gem of the Paramaras. Built between the 10th - 11th century, this temple structure has been desecrated multiple times by Muslim invaders and the British. The structure that stands today is the collective effort of the residents of the village after it collapsed. ... Continue Reading →
The second attack by the Muslim invader Qutb al-Din Aibak in 1197 - 98 effectively ended the golden period of the Gahadavalas and established a violent intolerant Muslim rule that was determined to destroy every trace of the glorious heritage of Kashi. Kashi, a city that has existed since the dawn of creation grew in... Continue Reading →
The stature of Benares as the seat of learning, knowledge and wisdom grew under the patronage of the Maukharis of Kannauj, Gurjara-Pratiharas and the mighty Kalachuris towards the end of the 10th century. The period of the Kalachuris is often referred to as the golden era in the city's history marked with the construction... Continue Reading →
Madhya Bharat is dotted with exquisite temples, forts, palaces and mathas of different periods. Each and every village in this central province of India has at least one temple, a pillar with an inscription mentioning the names of great warriors and a fort or a grand structure built by the reigning kings that is either severely... Continue Reading →
Banaras, the golden city of knowledge, wisdom, spirituality and Advaita, has from the ancient times been considered to be one of the most sacrosanct places of Akhanda Bharat. This glorious city has a rich history that can be traced back to the time of creation. Archaeological excavations have uncovered rare artefacts from the Vedic Period... Continue Reading →
Veni Madhav Mandir located at Daranganj close to the sacrosanct Triveni Sangam is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Prayag. This is one of the Dwadasha Madhav Temples of this historical city. This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lakshmi Devi has been mentioned in the Matsya Purana, Agni Purana and Padma Purana... Continue Reading →
Bilhari village in Katni district has many abandoned and forgotten temples and grand structures of the early medieval period. One among them is the Vishnu Varaha Temple, a lesser-known architectural gem of the Chedi kings built in the 11th century located at a little distance from the Kamakandla Fort. The temple sits on a... Continue Reading →
Akhanda Bharat has many stunning gems in its bosom but the crown jewel is undoubtedly the ancient Patalpuri Temple and the extraordinary Akshayavata. Akshayavata is derived from the Sanskrit words akshaya meaning eternal or imperishable or indestructible and vata meaning banyan or sacred fig and therefore, literally translates to the eternal banyan (fig). According to the Hindu scriptures,... Continue Reading →
A stunning fragment of the glorious reign of Maharaja Yuvarajadeva I of the Kalachuris of Tripuri (also known as Kalachuris of Chedi) that has largely remained in obscurity owing to its dilapidated state is the ancient building of Kamakandla. Though it is called as Kamakandla Fort, the typical architectural styling of a fort is missing.... Continue Reading →
Someshwar Mahadev Mandir (also known as Someshwar Nath Mandir) situated across the holy Yamuna River in Arail village is one of the eight important tirthsthalas of Prayagraj. This sacrosanct temple finds mention in the Padma Purana and Shiva Purana and is worshipped by all the devotees who participate in the Kumbha, Ardha Kumbha and Magha Mela. According to the... Continue Reading →
Shiva Mandapika Temple, an early example of Shaiva Siddhanta in Central India is located in the historical city of Mahua, formerly known as Madhumati. This 7th century temple known locally as Small Siva Temple is the oldest surviving temple of this village. The temple stands on a low platform and is built as a... Continue Reading →
The fifth and final paṛāva (halt) of the divine Kashi Panchkroshi Yatra is the Kapildhara Temple also known as Kapileshwar Mahadev Mandir. After offering prayers at Kardameshwar Mahadev Mandir, Bhimchandi Mandir, Rameshwar Mandir and Shivpur Mandir, devotees take a dip in the three ancient ponds of Sona Talab, Saranga Talab and Kapildhara Talab that are at the final... Continue Reading →
Nohleshwar Shiv Mandir is a lesser-known architectural masterpiece built by the Kalachuris of Tripuri (also known as Kalachuris of Chedi) in the mid to late 10th century. Though locals opine that this temple was built by Yuvarajadeva I in honour of his wife Nohla Devi (Nohala according to some), the architectural style and detailing suggests... Continue Reading →
The fourth paṛāva (halt) of the sacrosanct Kashi Panchkroshi Yatra is the Pancho Pandava Mandir (Pancha Pandeshwar Mandir) located in the bustling Shivpur village. After having darshan at Kardameshwar Mahadev Mandir, Bhimchandi Mandir and Rameshwar Mandir, pilgrims head to Draupadi Kund that is located near a huge tank known as Manasarovar tirth. According to the... Continue Reading →
A fine example of the Bhumija style of architecture that made its mark during the reign of the Paramara dynasty (Paramaras of Malwa) is the Shiva Mandir located in the sleepy village of Bari Kanoda in Damoh district. This west-facing temple has likely been built towards the end of the 12th century by a local... Continue Reading →
The next stop on the sacrosanct Kashi Panchkroshi Yatra after Kardameshwar Mahadev Mandir and Bhimchandi Mandir is the ancient Rameshwar Mandir situated on the bank of the Varuna River in Rameshwar village. This temple of great antiquity is considered by many to be the most important kshetra or tirthasthala in the Panchkroshi Yatra. According to the Kashi Khanda... Continue Reading →
The Kashi Panchkroshi Yatra is considered to be one of the oldest pilgrimage routes of the world. According to the Hindu scriptures, Lord Rama along with Sita Mata and his brothers had visited the important tirthsthalas on this ancient route to liberate his father Raja Dasharatha from the curse of the parents of Shravana Kumar (Putrashoka).... Continue Reading →
One of the oldest surviving temples of Varanasi that holds the rare distinction of escaping the ruthless desecration by Muslim invaders especially the Mughals is the Kardameshwar Mahadev Mandir located near Kandwa Pokhra. This ancient Shiva Temple that forms a part of the sacrosanct Panchkroshi Yatra is one of the best preserved temples of Varanasi.... Continue Reading →
One of the most unusual temples of Varanasi is the Pita Maheshwar Mandir located in Sheetla Gali. As the name suggests, this temple is dedicated to Parama Pita Maheshwar Mahadev, the Father of Lord Shiva! As astounding as it sounds, this temple has been described in detail in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana as... Continue Reading →
One of the most ancient and lesser-known temples of Varanasi located in Vishwanath Gali is the Sri Tripura Bhairavi Mandir. As the name suggests, this form of Divine Mother is the fifth manifestation in the Dasha Mahavidya. This unique form of Divine Mother is written about in detail in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana as... Continue Reading →
Mata Annapurneshwari Temple, located near Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Vishwanath Gali area is one of the oldest temples of Kashi. This sacred temple is dedicated to Annapurna Devi also known as Bhavani Devi by the locals and is revered as the Goddess who bestows annam (food) or alms which in reality represents knowledge and dispassion.... Continue Reading →
The Kaal Bhairav Mandir located in Bharonath is one of the most mysterious and interesting temples of Varanasi. Popularly known as Kashi ke Kotwal (Kōtavāla) that translates to the guardian or officer of Kashi, this temple is said to have existed since the ancient times. Legend has it that one time Lord Vishnu and... Continue Reading →
Situated on the western bank of the sacrosanct Ganga River in Varanasi is the grand temple of Kashi Vishwanath. As the name suggests, this ancient temple is dedicated to Vishwanatha or Vishweshwara meaning 'Ruler of the Universe' and is the first and only Jyotirlinga located on the banks of the Ganges. Varanasi also known... Continue Reading →
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