Amarkantak Karna Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Address

Amarkantak Karna Temple, Kalachuri complex, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh 484886

Diety

Trimukhi (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma)

Introduction

Karna Temple (Karan Mandir) is dedicated to Trimukhi (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma) Located in the Ancient temples of Kalachuri group, in Amarkantak, a pilgrimage town in Anuppur District in Madhya Pradesh State of India. The Temple Complex consists of six temples and a Kund. In these Karna Temple is most important one. The temple is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Puranic Significance

Karna Temple is famously known as Trimukhi Temple. It is considered as the largest and the most prominent temple in the Kalachuri Temple complex. The Temple was built by King Lakshmikarna (1041– 1073 CE) of Kalachuri Dynasty of Tripuri. The Temple consists of three shrines and is built over a raised platform. The temple can be accessed through flight of steps. These three temples might have shared a common mandapa in the past. However, the mandapa was lost completely. The bases of the pillars once supported the mandapa can be seen over the platform. All these shrines connected to the mandapa via vestibule. The vestibule and the shikara of the western and northern shrines are intact while the southern shrine is completely lost. The shikara over the sanctum follows Nagara style.