Sahastra Baahu Temple Nagda about 22 km from Udaipur is also known as Saas Bahu Ka Mandir, a twin Vaishnav Mandir, here are group of temples of early 7th century, dedicated to lord Vishnu, there use to be a town in the East of this temple, in 15th Century the Gohila King Mokala constructed a lake ( Baghela Talav) after his brother’s name Bagh Singh and town was relocated . This temple is no more in use , it is in partial ruins, tourists main attraction is of it’s architecture and rare artistic beauty of carvings of more than thousand years ago.
Makar Torna Gate, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
The Twin temple are on a raised platform , The entrance use to be from east through a Makar Torna ( arched gate), there are ten small temples around the large temple The Vishnu Temple, built by Yasomati, wife of the commander in chief of the Mewar rulers ( Saas or Mother-in-Law) and five small temples around the small ( Bahu or Daughter-in-Law) temple.
The twin temples view from West Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
The Saas temple is large and Bahu temple is small , The Bahu temple has the Octagon ceiling, there are eight female figures, the Saas temple has the Torna , the walls are not much decorated but pillars , roof and projections are full of carvings.
Kirtimukha at the entrance, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
Temples are constructed on “Pancharatha” plan , The Garbhagriha, Antryalaya, Ardhmandapm, Mandapam and Varandha ( Sanctum, Vestibule, Hall and Porch ). Kirtimukha is at the main entrance of temple.
Sahastrabahu Temple, Saasbahu Mandir, Nagda, Udaipur
The outer walls are decorated with carvings of people in their daily life work, inlaid work are remarkable , lady playing with child, churning curd, potter making pots, elephant punishing a culprit etc.
Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu incarnations, Lord Brahma, Lord Ram, Balram, Parshuram, epics from Mahabharat, Ramayana and Lord Krishna’s life are very well preserved .
Lord Vishnu riding Garuda’s sholders, Sahatrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
Lord Shiva and above is Parshuram, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
Lord Shiva and Parsuram in meditation are on the west wall ( rear ) of Sahastrabahu temple
Carved Torna Mandap , Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
The mandap of Sahastrabahu temple is beautiful carved pillars and Toranas , the carvings are of Lord Shiva with Parvati, Godess Chamamunda , Godess Ma Kali, Godess Ma Mahishasur Mardani .
Carvings in Mandap above Torna , Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
The walls above the Tornas are carved with epics from Ramayana and Mahabharat.
Butifull carved lotus, ceiling of Mandap, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipr
The ceiling above in the Mandap is beautifully carved lotus flower floating in a water pool .
Mahishasur Mardan, pillar of Mandap, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
One of the Mandap pillar carved to show Ma Mahishasur Mardani .
Lord Krishna and Arjun on chariot scene from Mahabharat , Sahstrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
The projections of the roof plate ( chajja) depicting the Lord Krishna and Arjun on a chariot at Mahabharat battle field.
Lord Shiva with scaled snake skin, skull in one hand, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
One of the rare carving of Lord Shiva with four hands one of the left hand is carrying a skull trident in right hand and other two arms are carrying flowers , it is showing lord Shiva’s body skin of a snake with scales .
Balram in medation with club and Plough, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
Just above the lord Shiva statue is the Balram , lord Krishna’s brother carrying a club and a plough in his hands, sitting in deep meditation .
Ma Kali with skull in hand and Lord Shiva lying on ground, Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
One of the outer wall is having Ma Kali with a skull in one hand a trishool in another hand and lord Shiva is lying on the ground with Ma Kali above the lord.
Carving Hindu Mythology Kalpavirksha a divine tree , Sahastrabahu Temple, Nagda, Udaipur
Kalpavirksha or Kalpa padap is a divine tree as per the Hindu mythology , it is carved in the inner wall of the temple, it is said it is a wish fulfilling tree.
Ravaged and plundered by the invading Muslim armies in the 14th century, this temple has survived the turns of history gracefully. Worth visiting for its architectural beauty .
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