Kadwaha Shiva Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Address

Kadwaha Shiva Temple Kadwaya, Ashoknagar district Madhya Pradesh 473335

Diety

Shiva

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. The temples are under protection of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India).

Puranic Significance

There are fifteen temples in sandstone construction at Kadwaha. All the temples are under protection of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). Shiva Temple (Talao Group ‘A’) – This east facing temple is located in eastern most part, little far from the village and belongs to the third phase of temple construction at Kadwaha. It is locally known as Murayat, a corrupt form of Mattamayura as suggested by Krishna Deva. It is a very fine specimen of Nagara Latina style shikara. It is dedicated to Shiva who is sculpted in the lintel center. Ganesha is also found on the sanctum door beam, below the statue of Shiva. However most of these bands have secular images, i.e. of apsaras. There are niches on all three walls, however all are empty at present. A band, over the roof of the sanctum and mukha-mandapa, runs across the temple. This band has some marvelous statues. We find Shiva as Tripurantaka, Chamunda, Ashta-dikapalas among others on these bands.