| Ranakdevi's Temple | |
|---|---|
 Ranakdevi's Temple | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Surendranagar district |
| Deity | Mahakali,Ranakdevi Shiva (original) |
| Location | |
| State | Gujarat |
| Country | India |
  Location within Gujarat | |
| Geographic coordinates | 22°42′49″N71°40′34″E / 22.7136°N 71.6761°E /22.7136; 71.6761 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | post-Maitraka and early Nagara phase ofMāru-Gurjara architecture |
| Completed | Last quarter of 9th century to 10th century |
Ranakdevi's Temple is a 9th- or 10th-centuryHindu temple dedicated toRanakdevi located inWadhwan inSurendranagar district ofGujarat, India.[1] It is built in post-Maitraka and earlyNagara phase ofMāru-Gurjara architecture style.
According to legend,Chaulukya kingJayasimha Siddharaja killedChudasama kingKhengara and abducted his queen Ranakdevi. On the way toPatan, Ranakdevi committed sati on the banks ofBhogavo river at Wadhwan. So Siddharaja built a temple dedicated to her.[1]
Ranakdevi'spaliya (memorial stone) and a shrine still stand on the southern banks of the Bhogavo river in Wadhwan.[2] Currently a Shiva temple near the fort of Wadhwan is identified as Ranakdevi's Temple by local people.[1]
The is no information about the time and construction of the temple. Based on the style of construction, the temple seems to have been built in 10th century as the design ofshikhara belongs to post-Maitraka period. It is unclear how the temple was associated with 12th century king Khengara's queen Ranakadevi.[1] According toMadhusudan Dhaky and Harishankar Shastri, it was probably in last quarter of the 9th century during the reign of Dharanivaraha of the Chhapa dynasty who ruled from Vardhamana (now Wadhwan).[1][2] According to Kantilal Sompura, it was built no earlier than 10th century.[1]James Burgess had listed it as the Memorial Temple of Ranakdevi.[1][2] It is listed as theMonuments of National Importance and maintained by theArchaeological Survey of India.
The temple is an example of post-Maitraka and early Nagara phase ofMāru-Gurjara architecture.[2] It is about 9 m high on a largepitha (platform).[1][2] Thegrass-patti (band of grass moulding) is first seen here which continued in later architecture of the style.[1][2] The shikhara has anamalaka andkalasha mouldings. The exterior walls had niches in all three direction devoid of any statues.[1] They have a miniaturephansana carving on top of it.[2] It also have carvings ofkirtimukha, chaitya,gavaksha and tamalapatra decorations. As it has water outlet in northern direction, it must be a Shiva temple. There is a statue ofNandi lying near the temple. In sanctum, the two simple statues are marked asMahakali and Ranakdevi. The doorframe of sanctum has statues ofBrahma,Shiva and others.[1]
