Mahua Shivpuri

Author: Laxman Burdak IFS (R)

District map of Shivpuri

Mahua (महुआ) is a village in Khaniyadhana tahsil of Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh.

Variants

• Mahua Shivpuri (महुआ) (AS, p.728)

Location

Mahua is a Village in Khaniadhana Tehsil in Shivpuri District of Madhya Pradesh State, India. It belongs to Gwalior Division. It is situated 25km away from sub-district headquarter Khaniyadhana. It is located 73 KM towards East from District head quarters Shivpuri. 246 KM from State capital Bhopal. Mahua is surrounded by Pichhore Tehsil towards North , Jakhaura Tehsil towards South , Talbehat Tehsil towards East , Isagarh Tehsil towards west.

History

Mahua Shiva Temple is a gem from the pages of history as resplendent today as it was when constructed. Mahua, a small nondescript village in Shivpuri has treasures from the 6th and 7th century hidden in plain sight. Mahua village is a part of the ancient area known as Madhumati in the Ranod inscription. The inscriptions suggest the importance of the area amidst Shaiva Saiddhantika believers. There are a few temples that have survived the sands of time to stand resplendently today as a stark reminder of a long lost history. The Shiva Mandapika is one of the few monuments that can be assigned to the latter half of the 7th century CE. The temple as it stands today may point to an incomplete construction or an incomplete restoration. The Shiva temple in Mahua is an exemplary temple from the 7th century dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple reflects the Nagara style of architecture and has carvings depicting the river Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna on either side of the doorway that leads to the sanctum sanctorum.

Shiva Mandapika Temple, Mahua

Shiva Mandapika Temple, Mahua Shivpuri , MP

Shiva Mandapika Temple, an early example of Shaiva Siddhanta in Central India is located in the historical city of Mahua, formerly known as Madhumati. This 7th century temple known locally as Small Siva Temple is the oldest surviving temple of this village.

The temple stands on a low platform and is built as a pancharatha with a garbha griha, a mandapa and an ardha mandapa though the mandapa has since fallen off. It would appear that this temple might have been built without a shikhara over the sanctum or that it has fallen off or was desecrated.

The ardha mandapa is supported by two rather plain pillars and two pilasters. Interestingly, the entrance to the sanctum is bereft of decoration and carvings. There are some markings on the lintel of gavākṣha in the middle and on either side.

Yamuna is seen standing on the left on a tortoise with an attendant. There are foliage patterns on the left side but the right side is strangely bare.

This temple has one of the earliest experiments of recessed niches in the external facades. Four pilasters on each side have three niches with the middle one occupied by Lord Ganesha, Devi as Mahishasura Mardini and Lord Varaha on the three external walls.

The panels on either side of the central niche have animals, foliage and human figures. A sizeable section of the carvings on the temple are now faded.

This temple is a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Source - Lakshmi Subramanian

महुआ

महुआ (AS, p.728): भूतपूर्व रियासत ग्वालियर (मध्य प्रदेश) में तिराही से एक मील दक्षिण की ओर स्थित है. यहां तीन प्राचीन शिव मंदिरों के खंडहर हैं. एक मंदिर पर संभवतः सातवीं सदी ईसवी का अभिलेख उत्कीर्ण है.

Monuments

N-MP-257:

Small Siva Temple, Mahua, Shivpuri: The temple consists on plan sanctum, mandapa and ardhamandapa. The sanctum is crowned with sikhara. The mandapa and porch now lost. (C.7th 8th CAD).

Large Siva Temple, Mahua, Shivpuri:: The temple consists of a sanctum and porch on plan. It is highly ornamented but sikhara is lost. (C.7th 8th CAD).

External links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Monuments_of_National_Importance_in_Madhya_Pradesh/West

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