Mahua Shiva Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Address

Mahua Shiva Temple, Mahuwa, Madhya Pradesh 473990

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Mahua is a village in Shivapuri district Mahua, like Kadwaha, Ranod and Terahi, is associated with the Mattamayura sect. It has been identified with ancient Madhumati which is mentioned in the Ranod inscription These inscriptions provide enough support to suggest that Madhumati was an important center of the Shaiva followers. Many disciples of this centers played instrumental part in the religious activities of the Kalchuri kings.

Puranic Significance

This is the earliest temple at Mahua and can be assigned to the latter half of the seventh century CE based upon the foundation inscription over the porch lintel of the temple. The temple is constructed without a shikhara (tower) which is usually considered as a characteristic of early period temples. The temple is constituted of a garbhagriha (sanctum), an antarala and a mukha-mandapa supported on two pillars and two pilasters. The sanctum door is probably left unfinished as we find one plain doorjamb devoid of any decoration. On the base of the left jams is seen Yamuna standing over a tortoise and accompanied by an umbrella bearer. The door lintel has a wagon-vault shapes chaitya in middle and two regular chaitya-dormers on its either side. The sanctum is empty at present. The temple is constructed in pancharatha style with a niche on each side however the niche is not protruding outwards. Four pilasters on each side provides space for three niches, the central one is occupied by a deity while the rest two have foliage designs with animals or human groups at the base. These niches are topped with a shikhara, resulting in mini shrines. Ganesha, standing and shown with two arms, is present on southern niche, Durga as Mahishasuramardini on western niche and Vishnu as Varaha on northern one.