Bahua Kakora Baba Temple - Uttar Pradesh

Address

Bahua Kakora Baba temple Bahua, Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh 212663

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Bahua is situated north on Fatehpur-Banda Road, 21 Km away from Fatehpur district headquarters. A medieval brick temple called as Kakora Baba temple is discovered in this village. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Present form of the temple is very poor condition. It seems that it has gained a new form created by the old bricks dressed on the pattern of an old and original temple. The entrance to the garbhagrih constructed later on. It is approached by a flight of steps constructed with stone architectural fragments and bricks.

Puranic Significance

The temple is built during the 10th-11th century AD. The doorframe is of panchasakha variety. Each jamb is decorated with patra, puspa, rupa, patra and khalva sakhas. Sakhas is given from inner to the outer side of a jamb. Lintel is created by continuation of all sakhas and one additional architrave. Rupasakhas exhibit eight panels, four on each jamb. Every panel contains a male divinity standing in tribhanga holding trisula and other objects, Flanked by two surasundaris, one on each side, This sakhat lintel shows three embossed niches and a navagraha-patta. The niches contain Brahma in left, Siva in centre and Vishnu in right. Siva seated in ardhaparvankasana, wielding a trisula, sarpa and kamandalu and the fourth, lower right hand is in abhaya mudra, is shown as lalatabimuryba Brahma is seated in maharajalalitasana. It carries sruva, pustaka and kalasa with kiwer right in abhayamudra. Vishnu is on the left of Siva. He has gada, cakra and sarikha. The navagra has namely Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budh, Guru, Sukra, Sani Rahu and Ketu are depicted, The Surya seated in utkutikasana and holding two lotuses. Garbhagrha is plain excepting for the four pilasters and the ceilling. The pilasters are of bhadraka type. The ceiling is nabhichandakavitana relieved with scrolls, foliage and lotus. A fragment, lower portion of Uma-Mahesa image of 8.5×5.0 cm and pieces of some other images are collected in the garbhagrih. An image of Nandi with broken head which might have been related to this temple.