Kawardha Mandwa Mahal, Chhattisgarh

Address

Kawardha Mandwa Mahal, Kawardha, Chhattisgarh 491995

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Bhoramdeo Temple towards Kawardha, is Mandwa Mahal temple is located. Madwa Mahal, located about a kilometer away from the main temple, is a west facing temple where a Shiva Linga is deified.

Puranic Significance

As the temple was built like a marriage hall or pandal (fabricated structure), known in local dialect as “Madwa”. It was built in remembrance of the wedding of Nagwanshi king Ramachandra Dev and Haihawanshi Queen Raj Kumari Ambika Devi that took place in 1349. Entrance to the temple has traditional architectural embellishments. The ceiling of the entrance hall or mandapa had a dilapidated shikara, which has been remodeled crudely. The entrance hall also has the usual feature of an image of Nandi (the bull) offering prayers to Shiva Linga, which is housed in the sanctum sanctorum. There is a stairway to approach the sanctum sanctorum from the main entrance.