Dithwara Jogia Baba Ka Sthan, Madhya Pradesh

Address

Dithwara Jogia Baba Ka Sthan, Madhya Pradesh

Dithwara, Murwara Tehsil,

Katni District,

Madhya Pradesh 483501

Moolavar

Vishnu

Introduction

Jogia Baba Ka Sthan, located in Dithwara Village in Katni District, Madhya Pradesh, India, is a historical temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple has been recognized as a state-protected monument in Madhya Pradesh by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Dithwara Village, where the temple is situated, is approximately 3 kilometers from Jatwara. It can be reached via the Katni to Vijayraghavgarh route.

Puranic Significance

Jogia Baba Ka Sthan is a ruined brick temple that dates back to the Gupta period. The Gupta dynasty, known for its cultural and architectural contributions, ruled a significant part of ancient India during this period. The temple is believed to be built in 7th century CE during the post Gupta period.

Discovery and Clearance: The temple gained attention in 1964 during a survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). In 1978, the Department of Archaeology and Museums in Madhya Pradesh took steps to clear the site of debris, revealing the plinth of the brick temple.

Current Name: The temple is now referred to as “Jogia Baba ka Sthan” because it was used as shelter by a baba (a religious ascetic or holy person) at some point in the past.

Temple Layout: While much of the temple’s superstructure has been destroyed, its plinth remains largely intact. The plinth is approximately 21 meters in length and 15 meters in breadth. It consists of sixteen cells arranged in a box pattern, suggesting the original temple’s layout.

Original Configuration: The temple likely had a traditional layout, including a sanctum (garbha griha), a hall (sabha mandapa), and a front porch (mukha mandapa). The sanctum measures 3.47 meters in length and 3.5 meters in breadth, with walls approximately 2.35 meters high.

Decorative Elements: The temple’s walls feature a molded brick frieze in the center for decorative purposes. During excavations, various sculptures and idols were discovered, including representations of Chaturbuja Vishnu, the upper portion of Vishnu, Balarama, and Saraswathi.

Idol Theft: Unfortunately, some of the idols, including those of Vishnu and Saraswathi, were stolen from the temple. To protect the remaining artifacts, other idols found during the excavation were relocated to the Rani Durgavati Museum in Jabalpur.

The discovery and excavation of Jogia Baba Ka Sthan provide valuable insights into the region’s historical and architectural heritage. While the temple may have suffered damage and theft over the years, its surviving plinth and artifacts contribute to our understanding of ancient temple architecture and religious practices in the Gupta period.