Bharmour Lakshana Devi Temple, Himachal Pradesh

Address

Bharmour Lakshana Devi Temple, Himachal Pradesh

Bharmour, Bharmour Taluk,

Chamba District,

Himachal Pradesh 176315

Amman

Lakshana Devi

Introduction

• Dedicated to: Goddess Durga, locally known as Lakshana Devi.
• Location: Bharmour Town in Bharmour Taluk, Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh, India.
• Situated inside the Chaurasi Temple Complex, considered the oldest temple in the complex.
• Recognized as one of the oldest surviving wooden temples in India.
• Bharmour is referred to as the “Machu Picchu of Himachal Pradesh”, located at an altitude of 2,100 meters in the Budhil Valley.
• Surrounded by the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges, with Ravi and Chenab rivers flowing on either side.
• Predominantly inhabited by Gaddis and serves as a base town for the Manimahesh Kailash pilgrimage.

Puranic Significance

• Built by: King Meru Varman, the founder of the Chamba State, in the 7th century CE.
• An inscription on the pedestal of the bronze Durga idol mentions King Meru Varman, three of his ancestors, and the sculptor Gugga.
• Alexander Cunningham (1839) and Jean Vogel (1900s) studied and documented the temple’s history and architecture.
• Bharmour was historically called Bharmaur, Barmawar, Brahmor, or Brahmpura.
• King Meru Varman, belonging to the ruling family of Ayodhya, invaded the Himalayan region via the Ravi Valley.
• He defeated the local rulers (Ranas) and established Bharmour as the capital of the newly founded Chamba State in the 7th century CE.
• The capital was shifted to Chamba in the 10th century CE by King Sahil Varman.

Special Features

Architectural Highlights

• Oldest temple in the Chaurasi Temple Complex, facing north, reflecting Gupta era architecture.
• Structure:
  • Rectangular in plan, standing on a square wooden platform.
  • External walls plastered with mud (0.85 meters thick).
  • Entrance and façade: Late Gupta style with intricate carvings.
  • Doorway flanked by river goddesses Ganga (on Makara) and Yamuna (on tortoise).
• Wooden Carvings:
  • Three parallel panels on the doorway, separated by floral scrolls.
  • Outer band: Reliefs of tribhanga female figures and amorous couples.
  • Middle band: Depictions of Hindu deities, including Shiva, Vishnu, Skanda, and others.
  • Inner band: Natural motifs (leaves, flowers), peacock designs, and mithuna (amorous) scenes.
  • A triangular pediment above the entrance with carvings of Vishnu, Garuda, and intimate kama scenes.

Interior Layout

• Architecture:
  • Sandhara plan with features like ardha mandapa, mukhya mandapa, circumambulatory path, and rectangular sanctum.
  • Mukhya mandapa supported by six square wooden pillars.
  • Roof: Pitch-gabled, originally extended to the entrance; later modified to protect carvings.
  • Roof projection added by the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Enshrines a 7th-century brass idol of Durga.

Idol Description

• Durga is depicted with:
  • Four arms: Holding a trishula, sword, bell, and the tail of Mahishasura (buffalo demon).
  • Her right foot rests on the buffalo demon’s head, symbolizing the slaying of evil.

Historical Evolution

• The original open twin-tiered hansakara plan evolved into a nirandhara plan due to snow/weather conditions.
• Eventually modified to the current sandhara plan for better protection.

Century/Period

7th century CE

Nearest Bus Station

Bharmour

Nearest Railway Station

Pathankot Junction

Nearest Airport

Pathankot

Location on Map

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