Osian (Rajasthan)
| Osian ओसियां |
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| State : |
 India
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| State : | Rajasthan | ||
| District : | Jodhpur | ||
| Sub-district : | Osian | ||
| Location : | 26 ° 44 ′ N , 72 ° 54 ′ E | ||
| Height : | 335 m | ||
| Area : | 10.43 km² | ||
| Residents : | 12,548 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 1203 inhabitants / km² | ||
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Osian or Osiyan ( Hindi : ओसियां) is a small town with about 12,500 inhabitants in the Indian state of Rajasthan , which is best known for its medieval temple ( mandira ). The old name of the place was Ukesha or Upkeshapur .
location
Osian is located on the western edge of the Aravalli Mountains in the transition to the Thar Desert at an altitude of about 335 m above sea level. d. M. about 68 km (driving distance) north of Jodhpur on the road towards Bikaner . The place also has a train station on the Jodhpur - Phalodi line . The climate is mostly hot and dry; Rain actually only falls in the summer monsoon months .
population
The population consists almost entirely of Hindus with a small proportion of Jains and Muslims . As is customary in censuses in northern India, the proportion of male residents exceeds that of females by around 10%.
economy
The place is a small economic center for the surrounding villages; retail trade, handicrafts and smaller service companies dominate. Tourism also plays an important role in the municipality's economic life. At the beginning of the 21st century, a solar power system with an output of 5 MW was installed in the municipality ( tehsil ) .
history
The verifiable history of the place goes back to the 8th century AD, when the Gurjara Pratihara king Vatsaraja (ruled around 775–805) founded a Mahavira temple for the mainly trading Jain community . The trade route leading via Osian was until the 15th and 16th centuries. Century of importance and so several Hindu temples as well as a step well- like temple pond were built in the place.
Attractions
- The Mahavira Temple dates back to 783 and is an important sanctuary for the Jain sect. It is dedicated to the 24th Tirthankara , whose historical authenticity is, however, controversial. The cella ( garbhagriha ) of the temple probably dates back to the early days - the plastic jewelry is quite simple and, above all, the pillar reliefs are only slightly deeply worked. The central cantilever dome standing on eight pillars and other components, on the other hand, show clearly more developed forms and seem to have been added later.
- The Sachiya Mata Temple , located on a small hill, probably also dates from the 8th century; however, it was later rebuilt and expanded several times. One of the most impressive structural details is the staircase spanned by several arches ( toranas ). The outer walls of the temple are adorned with figures that are similar in iconography and style to the figural architectural decorations of the temples of Khajuraho .
- The Surya Temple is part of the Sachiya Mata Temple and is dedicated to the sun god, whose imposing cult image is in the sanctum.
- There are three Harihara temples in Osian , of which the first and third are the most interesting. While the Harihara Temple I can still be assigned to the 8th century, the Harihara Temple III shows the developed, i.e. H. almost free plastic figure style of the first half of the 9th century, which should develop into bloom only a little later in Khajuraho .
- A muddy and silted up temple pond from the 8th century (?) Completes the architectural ensemble.
literature
- Asha Kalia: Art of Osian Temples. Socio-economic and Religious Life in India, 8th - 12th Centuries AD Abhinav Publications, New Delhi 1992, ISBN 0-391-02558-9 , pp. 10 ( preview in Google Book Search).
Web links
- Osian, temple - photos + information
- Impressions from Osian - video
- Osian, Temple - Photos and information (English)
- Narasimha figure at Harihara Temple - photo
Individual evidence
- ↑ Osian - data 2011
- ↑ Osian - map with altitude information
- ↑ Osian - climate tables
- ↑ Osian - Census 2011
- ↑ Osian - solar power system ( Memento of the original from February 21, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
