Gyaraspur

In Gyraspur - now a place of about 2500 inhabitants in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh - were formerly several extraordinary temples, but of which a large part is destroyed.

Location

Gyraspur lies about 45 kilometers northeast of Sanchi and about 35 kilometers northeast of Vidisha and can be reached from there good with buses.

History

Written records about the history of the place are not available. In medieval times, the place must, however, have played a significant role, because there are the ruins of several temples have received that were probably destroyed in the Islamic conquest and raids. Only the approximately 1.5 km Away from the resort and well defensible Maladevi Temple is still relatively well preserved.

Maladevi Temple

Ordination

The attribution of Maladevi Temple is unclear: Inside a number of smaller and larger Jain statues are seen, but which - in the opinion of RK Trivedis - not quite fit for the construction and therefore could have been brought here at a later time. On the other hand, speaks the slightly offbeat location of the temple quite a Jain place of worship, which is also accepted as a measure of K. Deva, but offer in - almost missing - figure decoration of the outer wall is no evidence for this hypothesis.

Architecture

The location of the temple facing east on a ledge above a gorge is quite unusual. The architects of the Indian Middle Ages still managed to work out a deck off the rock and build a relatively large temple of about 31.20 meters ( length) x 16.50 meters ( width). Parts of the terrace and the Sanktumsbereichs are worked out of the rear wall of rock. In contrast to the early Pratihara temples (eg Amrol ) consists of relatively late construction (about 875 ) consists of several components: portico ( mukhamandapa ), porch ( mandapa ), vestibule ( antarala ) and Cella ( garbhagriha ) with a handling ( pradakshinapatha ). Porch ( mandapa ) and handling area are within approximately square and the same size (about 10 x 10 meters); they are - after the early model of the Kalika Mata Temple in the fort of Chittorgarh - by balconies ( jarokas ) open outwards. The roof of the porch is supported by six massive pillars and even the inside of the inside and richly structured Cella ( garbhagriha ) are - until then, absolutely unusual - three slender pillars. The cella with a large protruding rock piece that replaced the fourth pillar, makes an unfinished impression.

The multi- structured shikhara tower over the cella ( garbhagriha ) concludes with a round and ribbed amalaka - stone, on which is still in the north Indian Nagara style always on aufruhende Kalasha Vase, an ancient fertility and good luck symbol is located.

Architectural decoration

The temple is broken up by several balconies with - arranged in groups of three in North India frequently encountered (see Khajuraho ) - stilted Steinsäulchen; the wall for dealing is pierced by several Jali windows with checkerboard patterns. The Bauzier the exterior walls consists mainly of large -scale decorative panels ( udgamas ) above the blank wall niches and the shikhara tower; this - typical of the Pratihara period - Decor fields are composed of stacked small window niche ( chandrasalas ) and return - in a reduced form - at various points in the interior again. The pillars of the porch are richly decorated ( jars, vases, bells, etc. ); the Portalgewände is downgraded several times and shows - in addition to the mandatory Ganga and Yamuna figures and the ever-recurring fields with " heavenly love couples " ( mithunas ) - rich vegetabilisches tendrils, in which - in India very rarely - also incorporated small human and animal figures are.

Other temple ruins

Importance

The Maladevi Temple is a late example of central Indian Pratihara style from the period of the late 9th century. The largely destroyed buildings from the 10th and 11th centuries failed in its exceptional decor joy of which, however, little has received testimony to the outstanding quality craftsmanship and artistic expression of their builders.

Throughout India famous Gyraspur is also because of the torso of a tree nymph ( salabhanjika ) or ' Celestial Dancer ' ( apsara ), which is now preserved in Gujari Mahal Museum Gwalior ( Photo → weblink).

Environment

Approximately one and a half miles outside of Gyraspur is located approximately four meters high Dhaikinath Stupa with a diameter of about 18.50 meters. Remains of the fence enclosure ( Vedika ) and a seated Buddha portrait in gesture ( mudra ) of ground contact ( bhumisparsha ) have survived.