Lavana Arjunchori shiva temple – Gujarat

Address

Lavana Arjunchori shiva temple – Kaleshwari groups of Monuments, Lavana, Gujarat 389230

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Arjunchori is dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Lavana Village in Khanpur Taluk in Mahisagar District of Gujarat, India. Lavana is situated on Lunavada to Modasa route. The temple is well connected to Lunavada by buses.

Puranic Significance

This temple is commonly believed to have been constructed during the 15th century CE. Local residents refer to it as “Arjunchori” in honor of Arjuna, one of the Pandavas. However, it’s important to note that there is no literary or authenticated evidence to support this particular name. This temple is perched at the highest point of Kaleshwari.

Special Features

This temple is an integral part of the Kaleswari group of monuments, located on the eastern side of Shikaar Madhi. Distinguished by its remarkable ornamentation and intricate carvings, it stands out among the other temples within the Kaleswari group of monuments. It’s worth noting that this temple enjoys protected status as one of the designated historical sites in Gujarat, according to the Archaeological Survey of India.

Accessing this temple requires climbing approximately 230 steps. The temple itself comprises a Sanctum and an entrance porch. As of today, the exterior wall of the sanctum and the temple’s plinth remain intact. However, the superstructure over the sanctum has been completely lost over time. The sanctum follows an orthogonal and pancharatha plan and is adorned with a series of sculptures on its exterior wall. The upper panel of the entrance showcases various postures of Lord Shiva, while the lower part depicts him in a standing position.