Sirpur Baleshwar Mahadev Temples, Chhattisgarh

Address

Sirpur Baleshwar Mahadev Temples SH 9, Sirpur, Chhattisgarh 493445

Diety

Baleshwar

Introduction

Sirpur Group of Monuments are an archaeological temple in the 5th to 12th centuries in Mahasamund district of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. Located near an eponymous village, it is 78 kilometres (48 mi) east of Raipur, the capital of the state. The site is spread near the banks of the river Mahanadi. The town of Sirpur (aka Shirpur) has been mentioned in epigraphic and textual records dated to the 5th to the 8th centuries CE. The city was once the capital of the Sharbhapuriya and Somavamshi kings of Dakshina Kosala state. Baleshwar Mahadev temples group, A Shiva temple about 50 meter northwest of the Teevar dev monument, across the Sirpur road. For three Shiva temples excavated, a circumambulatory Jagati in the form of a high rise platform, similar to Lakshmana temple survives. For another only the foundation is visible. The cluster was built by the Shaiva king Shivagupta Balarjuna, and is dated to the mid 8th century. Two of the temple are located side by side, and unlike most Sirpur temples, these open to the west. Both have a mandapa, an antarala and have a star shaped garbha griya made out of bricks and stone. The stellate sanctum is formed out of two squares, one rotated by 45 degrees. Some of the artwork discovered during excavations are displayed, and these show women and couple standing dressed up in 8th-century attire. The sanctum has Shiva lingam made from marble. All the Shiva lingam are in ruins.