Battisa Temple, Barsur,
Chattisgarh
Battisa Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated
to the Lord Shiva located in Barsur Town in Dantewada District in
the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Barsur is located on the
banks of Indravati River. It is a unique Hindu Temple
having two sanctum sanctorums. The Temple is one of the protected
monuments in Chattisgarh declared by Archaeological Survey of
India.
History
As per the inscriptions
available in the temple, these two temples were constructed in 1209 AD (Shaka
Samvat 1130) by the Ganga Mahadevi, Queen of Nagavanshi ruler Someshwara Deva. One
temple was named as Someshwara after his husband and other was named as
Gangadeshwara. The inscription also states that Keramruka village was donated
for the expenses and maintenance of the temple. This inscription is
currently preserved in the museum of Nagpur.
The origin of the word Barsur is
believed to be from the word Balsuri, Balsuri became famous as Barsurgarh
later. Inscriptions and coins circulated
by Nala Dynasty Kings have been found in Chhattisgarh and Dandakaranya region.
King Bhavdatt Varman of Nala Dynasty gained victory over many places of Southern
Bastar. A Gangavanshi ruler of Odisha in 850 AD invaded Dandakaranya region and
established his Kingdom. One of his son, started ruling over Bastar. He made
village Barsur on the banks of river Indravati, as their capital.
Remnants of ancient capital can
be seen to this day. Gangavanshi rulers constructed many temples in Barsur,
among them Mama Banja temple is still in good condition. Nagavanshi rulers
gained victory over Gangavanshi rulers in 11th century CE, and they
also made Barsur as their capital. Later, Nagavanshi ruler Jagdeshbhusan
Dharavarsha transferred his capital from Barsur to Taaralpal, present day
Dantewada. Still Nagavanshi rulers built many temples and excavated lakes in
Barsur.
The last Nagavanshi ruler
Harishchandra was defeated by the ruler of Kakatiya dynasty, Raja Annamdev. After
this incident, importance of Barsur and Bastar went to obscurity. It is
believed that there were about 147 temples and an equal number of ponds here
during its heyday. Mama Bhanja Temple, Chandraditya Temple, Battisa Temple,
Twin Ganesha Temple, 16 Pillar Temple, Hiram Raj Temple, Bhairava Temple, few
ruined temples and lakes dated to 11th Century AD can be found at
present in Barsur.
The Temple
This temple is facing east. It is
built on three feet high platform. This temple has two rectangular sanctum
sanctorums with a joint Mandapam. Both the sanctum sanctorum houses Shivalingas
namely Someshwara and Gangadeshwara. The Shivalinga is in the Triratha style
and can be rotated. A relief image of Ganesha can be found on the lintel at the
entrance of the sanctum.
Nandi can be found facing each
sanctum. There is a circumbulatory path around each sanctum. The Shikara
over the sanctum is completely destroyed. The Sanctum walls are devoid of
sculptures, reliefs and ornamentation. The Mandapam consists of 32 stone
pillars having 4 rows and eight columns, due to which the temple came to be called
as Battisa Temple. There are gates in all three directions to enter the
pavilion.
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 21 Kms from Geedam Bus Station, 22 Kms from Geedam,
27 Kms from Geedam Railway Station, 41 Kms from Dantewada, 79 Kms from Bastar,
94 Kms from Jagdalpur, 96 Kms from Jagdalpur Railway Station, 97 Kms from
Jagdalpur Airport, 143 Kms from Bhopalpatnam, 308 Kms from Raipur and 317 Kms
from Raipur Airport. The temple is situated on Jagdalpur to Bhopalpatnam route.
Location
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