Gyaraspur
| Gyaraspur ग्यारसपुर |
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| State : |
 India
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| State : | Madhya Pradesh | ||
| District : | Vidisha | ||
| Sub-district : | Gyaraspur | ||
| Location : | 23 ° 40 ′ N , 78 ° 7 ′ E | ||
| Height : | 429 m | ||
| Area : | 17 km² | ||
| Residents : | 6,271 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 369 inhabitants / km² | ||
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In Gyaraspur ( Hindi ग्यारसपुर ) - today a place of around 6,500 inhabitants in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh - there were once several extraordinary temples, most of which, however, have been destroyed.
location
Gyaraspur is located about 45 km northeast of Sanchi and about 35 km northeast of Vidisha and can be easily reached from there by bus.
population
The Hindi and Urdu- speaking population of Gyaraspur consists of about 89% Hindus and about 10% Muslims ; Jains , Christians , Sikhs , Buddhists and others are numerically small minorities . As is common in censuses in northern India, the male population is around 10% higher than the female.
economy
The area around Gyaraspur is largely agricultural; the place itself functions as a trade, craft and service center of regional importance.
history
Written evidence of the history of the place is not available. In medieval times, however, the place must have played a not insignificant role, because the ruins of several temples have survived, which were probably destroyed during Islamic conquests and raids. Only the Maladevi Temple, which is located away from the village and is easy to defend, is still comparatively well preserved.
Maladevi temple
location
The Maladevi Temple (around 875), which consists of several components joined together, stands on an artificially created terrace that is partially carved out of the rock about 1.5 km from the town center. He is an example of the late Pratihara style.
Consecration
The attribution of the Maladevi temple is unclear: Inside, several smaller and larger Jaina figures can be seen, which - according to RK Trivedi - do not really fit the building and therefore could have been brought here at a later time. On the other hand, the somewhat remote location of the temple speaks in favor of a Jaina cult site, which K. Deva accepts accordingly, but the - almost missing - figure decorations on the outer wall offer no clues for this hypothesis.
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architecture
The location of the east-facing temple on the edge of a rock above a ravine is quite unusual. The builders of the Indian Middle Ages nevertheless managed to carve a terrace out of the rock and to erect a comparatively large temple of around 31.20 meters (length) × 16.50 meters (width). Parts of the terrace and the sanctuary area are carved out of the rear rock wall. In contrast to the early Pratihara temples (e.g. Amrol ), this relatively late building (around 875) consists of several components: pillar vestibule ( mukhamandapa ), vestibule ( mandapa ), vestibule ( antarala ) and cella ( garbhagriha ) with one Handling ( pradakshinapatha ). Inside the vestibule ( mandapa ) and the walk-around area are roughly square and the same size (approx. 10 × 10 meters); they are - after the early model of the Kalika Mata temple in the fort of Chittorgarh - open to the outside through balconies ( jarokas ). The roof of the vestibule is supported by six massive pillars and even inside the inside and outside of the richly structured cella ( garbhagriha ) - until then absolutely unusual - there are three slender pillars. The cella with a large piece of rock protruding into it, which also replaces the fourth pillar, makes an unfinished impression.
The multi-structured Shikhara -Turm above the Cella ( garbhagriha ) concludes with a round and ribbed amalaka from -Stein on which is still in the north Indian Nagara style always ensure aufruhende Kalasha vase, an ancient fertility and good luck symbol, is located.
Architectural jewelry
The temple building is loosened up by several balconies with - arranged in groups of three and more often found in North India (cf. Khajuraho ) - turned stone pillars; the wall for the walkway is pierced by several Jali windows with a checkerboard pattern . The decoration of the outer walls consists essentially of large decorative fields ( udgamas ) above the empty wall niches and on the Shikhara tower; These decorative fields - typical of the Pratihara period - are composed of small window niches ( chandrasalas ) stacked on top of one another and recur - in reduced form - also in different places inside. The pillars of the vestibule are richly decorated (jugs, vases, bells, etc.); the portal garment is downgraded several times and shows - in addition to the obligatory Ganga and Yamuna figures and the recurring fields with "Heavenly Lovers" ( mithunas ) - rich vegetal tendrils in which - very rarely in India - also small human and animal figures are incorporated are.
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Other temple ruins
- Bhajra Matha Temple (10th Century)
- Nowadays the temple consists of only three shrines lying next to each other on a single platform - a rather unusual constellation in India. The shrines were probably originally - as can be deduced from surviving inscriptions - dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Brahma (or Surya ), Shiva and Vishnu ; the exterior sculptures ( Narasimha , Varaha, etc.) also suggest a Hindu temple. Later, d. H. after its destruction, the shrines were reconstructed by the Jainas and occupied for the cult of their tirthankaras .
- Athakambha (10th century)
- Eight - standing on a platform - stepped back and richly decorated pillars at the corners with a beautiful torana arch have been preserved from the former temple and have been erected again.
- Hindola Torana (10th / 11th century)
- To the left of the path to the Maladevi Temple, there is a richly decorated free-standing gate with two smaller decorative arches in the upper area, which was formerly probably placed in front of a - long destroyed - temple. The gate was reconstructed in the 20th century.
- Chaukambha (10th century)
- The four richly decorated columns with projecting lion capitals and preserved architraves indicate a vestibule ( mandapa ) to a destroyed temple. This building was also erected again.
meaning
The Maladevi Temple is a late example of the central Indian Pratihara style from the late 9th century. The largely destroyed buildings from the 10th and 11th centuries, with their extraordinary décor, of which little has survived, are evidence of the outstanding craftsmanship and artistic expressiveness of their builders.
Gyaraspur is also famous all over India for the torso of a tree nymph ( salabhanjika ) or a 'heavenly dancer' ( apsara ), which is now kept in the Gujari Mahal Museum in Gwalior (photo → Weblink).
Surroundings
About one and a half kilometers outside of Gyaraspur is the restored Dhaikinath stupa , which is now about 6 m high and about 18.50 meters in diameter. Remnants of the fence ( vedika ) and a seated Buddha image in the gesture ( mudra ) of touching the earth ( bhumisparsha ) have been preserved.
See also
Other Pratihara temples are:
literature
- RD Trivedi: Temples of the Pratihara Period in Central India. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi 1990, pp. 155ff
- Michael W. Meister, MA Dhaky (Ed.): Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture. North India - Period of Early Maturity. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1991, pp. 49ff, ISBN 0-691-04094-X
- Dev Raj Birdi: Gyaraspur. A Heritage of Excellence. Sharada Publishing 1992, ISBN 978-8-185-32012-0
Web links
- Photos and information on structures and buildings in Gyraspur (English)
- Information about the structures in Gyaraspur and photo of the Salabhanjika (English)
- Photos and information on structures and buildings in Gyraspur (English)
- Photo of the Athakambha
- Vidisha district map