Polo Forest Sri Sharaneshwar Shiva Temple, Gujarat

Address

Sri Sharaneshwar Shiva temple Polo Forest Road, Bandhana, Vijayanagar, Sabarkantha district Gujarat 3834601

Diety

Sharaneshwar

Introduction

Vijaynagar forest also popular as Polo forest is dense forest near Abhapur village, 13 KM from Vijaynagar and around 44 KM from Idar in Sabarkantha district. Shiva temple is located in the dense Polo Forest and dedicated to Lord Shiva. Polo forest is situated at the foot of the Arvalli Range and on the bank of River Harnav and spread over around 400 sq km. Most of the parts of temples are damaged but yet consider as major shiva temple in surrounded area because of its design, carving on wall and statues. It resembles the ancient Shiva temples found in North India with attractive sandstone carved walls.

Puranic Significance

The 15th-century Sharaneshwar temple dedicated to Shiva is located in Abhapur. It is a three-storeyed temple with fortified wall around it having gates in east and west. It is in dilapidated condition. It has a grabhgriha, antarala, gudhamandpa (central shrine), nandi-mandapa/sabhamandpa in front and pradakshina (ambulatory) around the central shrine. There are two porches on the sides. There is a yagnakunda with well carved vedi in front of the temple.. The round pillars differ from this style and are plain with intervals of ringlets on the shaft and inverted lotus patterned capital and base. The shikhara and roofs of porches and mandapa are destroyed. The carvings on exterior walls include double jangha adorned with images of Yama, Bhairava, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Parvati, Indrani, Ganesha; social life scenes; bands of humans, elephants, swans and plants. There are ruins of some minor temples nearby. There is a temple of four-handed Chamunda nearby.