| Baroli Temples Complex | |
|---|---|
 Ghateshwara Mahadeva temple, Baroli Temples Complex | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Rawatbhata town,Chittorgarh district |
| Deity | Shiva |
| Location | |
| Location | Baroli |
| State | Rajasthan |
| Country | India |
  Location within Rajasthan | |
| Coordinates | 24°57′29″N75°35′37″E / 24.95806°N 75.59361°E /24.95806; 75.59361 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Gurjara-Pratihara |
| Completed | 10th century |
TheBaroli Temples Complex, also known as theBadoli temples, is located in Baroli village inRawatbhata City inChittorgarh district ofRajasthan, India. The complex of eight temples is situated within a walled enclosure; an additional temple is about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) away. They are built in theGurjara Pratihara style of temple architecture dated to the tenth century CE and today show various degree of preservation, decay and destruction.[1][failed verification][2][unreliable source?][failed verification] All nine temples are under the control of theArchaeological Survey of India for conservation and protection.[3] A well known art critic[who?] characterised "the creations of Badoli as the most perfect of their age that he had encountered within that part of the country and, in their own peculiar style."[4]
The Baroli Temples Complex is located in Baroli village inRawatbhata City inChittorgarh district in Rajasthan, India. The complex is located close to the rocky bank of theChambal River, 45 kilometres (28 mi) south east ofKota, on the outer limits of Rawatbhata City. Set around a natural fountain, they are positioned in two zones in the midst of a forest containingpeepal,kadamba,mango, andjamun trees.[2][3][5]
Though the history of the Baroli Temples is not very clear,[6] they are reported to have been built during theGurjara-Pratihara Empire in the 10th–11th centuries.[3] They are one of the earliest temple complexes in Rajasthan.[1][5] A carved stone image of the godNataraja was stolen from the Baroli temple complex in 1998. It has been traced to a private collector in London. However, the statue has now been recovered.[7][8]
The 10th-century Baroli Temples are of great architectural interest, consisting of temple structures built in the Gurjara-Pratihara architectural style, with exquisitely carved stonework. They are in differing stages of upkeep, with some in a semi-ruined state.[1]
There are 8 major temples in Baroli and a ninth about one kilometre away. Four temples are dedicated toShiva (including Ghateshwara Mahadeva Temple), two toDurga and one each to Shiva-Trimurti,Vishnu andGanesha.[1]
TheNataraja (Natesha) images carved in these temples are similar to those seen at Upramala. The sculpture has 16 arms and its headdress is matted. There is a largediadem carved at the centre top of the skull, which is "garnished with beaded swags." The facial features are very fine, with high arched brows and full mouth.[9]
TheGhateshwara Mahadeva temple is the most prominent and the largest in the complex.[5] The main temple structure comprises the sanctum (garbhagriha) and themukhamandapa, a frontmandapa or hall.[1] Dated to the early 10th century, it is an intact structure that has the god Shiva depicted in the form of fivelingas. One linga appears like an invertedghata or pot, and hence the name was given to the temple of "Ghateshwara" (pot-Lord), while "Mahadeva" is a term for Shiva. The sanctum has a ceiling in the form of a large blossominglotus. The temple has a finely carvedshikara(pinnacle) above the sanctum.[1][5] The superstructure has been described as alatina and the pinnacle is aphamsana. The entire superstructure is supported by six pillars and twopilasters. The pilasters, which are part of the sanctum wall, project from the wallby two-thirds of its width, and have niches encased with sculptures.[10]
Themukhamandapa serves as a pillared entrance that leads to the sanctum. Shiva's mountNandi (the bull) is installed between themukhamandapa and the sanctum. The niches inside the temple are decorated with elegantly carved images ofAndhakantaka (shiva slaying the demonAndhaka),Nataraja (Shiva as the Lord of dance) and the goddessChamunda; similar images are also carved on thelintel above the entrance door. Themukhamandapa also has many carved images of semi-clad, dancingapsaras (heavenly nymphs). The ceiling is decorated with concentric forms with coiffured cusps.[1]
TheSringar Chauri orrangamandapa (the hall of dance) is a later addition to the temple, situated just outside it. The large pillared hall is built over a raised platform called apitha, which has decorative carvings. Thetransepts of the hall have co-axial entrances, both on the east and the west, ensconced inkakshasanabalustrades. The four central pillars supporting the hall are very well ornamented. The images include the river goddessesGanga andYamuna asdwarapalas (door-keepers), the trinity images ofBrahma-Vishnu-Shiva, and several depictions of Shiva in his different incarnations. Twenty pillars around the perimeter of the hall are simple in design.[11]
There is a sacred tank next to the temple which has a tiered approach leading to the edge of the water.[1]
Dedicated toGanesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, this temple faces east. While the main temple structure is built of stones, the superstructure of theshikara is brick. Dated to the 10th century, the shrine has a projecting vestibule and anatiratha sanctum. The door is without any decorations. The arms and feet of the image of Ganesha have been cut off, possibly by invading Islamic armies.[12]
This Shiva temple, also dated to the 10th century, has a sanctum with the divine linga in the middle of the sacred tank. Built in thePancharatha style, it faces east. The portico in front of the sanctum is a single bay built with pillars.[13]
The 10th-century Vamanavatar temple is a small shrine dedicated to a four-armed image ofVamana, the fifthavatar of the god Vishnu. The sanctum is covered with a flat slab as a ceiling. While a vestibule and an entrance are extant, the pinnacle is missing.[1][14]
The Trimurti temple, dated to the 10th century, is partially damaged. It is situated in the south east of the temple complex. The extant structures, in the Gujara-Pratihara style of architecture, consist of apancharatha-style sanctum topped with an elegantshikhara inNagara architectural style, and also a vestibule. However, themukhamandapa has been damaged. The lintel of the entrance of the sanctum has Nataraja as thelalatabimba (central protective image). The sanctum is deified with a Trimurti-Shiva (triple headed Shiva) or Mahesha-murti, which is defaced.[5][15]
TheAshtamata temple, also known as the Mahishamardini temple, is located to the south of the Ghatesvara Mahadeva temple. The east-facing shrine was also built in the 10th century in the Pratihara architectural style. The temple, built in stone, consists of the sanctum,antarala (secondary chamber) and amukhamandapa. ThePancharatha-style sanctum is topped by the ten-tiered shikhara, built in the Nagara style, separated bybhumi-amalakas,amalakas (crowns) separating the tiers (bhumi). The entrance door to the sanctum has three panels (tri-sakha). A dancingMaheshvari is carved on the lintel as theLalatabimba. A carvedParvati image occupies the central niche in thesukanasa (portion of the pinnacle over the portico). These features of the temple support the conjecture that the temple is dedicated to the goddess Durga (Mahishamardini).[1][15]
The Sheshashyan temple is a stone temple which is damaged. It was built in the 10th century in the Parihara style of architecture. Its existing feature consists of a sanctum in rectangular plan with projecting vestibule. The sanctum was probably topped by aValabhi (wagon vault), now missing. The entrance to the sanctum does not have any decorations.[16]
