Kadwaha Pachhali Marghat-A Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Address

Kadwaha Pachhali Marghat-A Temple, Kadwaha, Ashoknagar district Madhya Pradesh 473335

Diety

Shiva, Vishnu

Introduction

Kadwaha is a small village located in Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh. It was a very important Shavite center during the eighth-ninth century CE as it is supposedly believed that the foundations of the Mattamayura Shaivite sect were laid here only. There are fifteen temples in sandstone construction at Kadwaha. All the temples are under protection of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

Puranic Significance

Pachhali Marghat, Temple A– This west facing temple is dedicated to Vishnu however a Shivalinga is put inside the sanctum. The sanctum doorway is exquisitely carved. Dashavatara (ten incarnations) of Vishnu are depicted on the top most beam. Below that are shown Sapta-matrikas with Ganesha and Nav-grihas (nine planets) in between the lintel panels. Brahma and Shiva are shown on extreme panels while Vishnu is shown in the central one. Two bands of images run across the temple vimana. Ashta-dikpalas are on their respective directions. The bhadra niches have, Bhu-Varaha on north, eastern niche is empty and Nar-Varaha on south. Vamana and Brahma are present on kapali niches. Parvati and Narsimha are also present in niches.