Mama Bhanja Temple, Barsur, Chattisgarh

Mama Bhanja Temple, Barsur, Chattisgarh

Mama Bhanja 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. The Temple is one of the protected monuments in Chattisgarh declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

Story 1:

Once, a Nagavanshi ruler, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva decided to build a mighty Shiva Temple in just one day so that his fame and his dynasty greatness would spread all over the known world. Two architects were called to finish this herculean task. Both were related to each other (One was uncle (Mama) to the other, other was nephew (Bhanja) to him). Both of them built a grand edifice in a single day fulfilling King’s wish. Happy King called the architects, thanked them and paid their wages. Also, the king honored the duo by naming the temple after them. Thus, the temple came be called as Mama Bhanja Temple.

Story 2:

A Gangavanshi King were ruling the surrounding areas with Barsur as its capital. The king's nephew was an avid lover of art and architecture. He called an architect from Utkal country to build a grand temple without telling his maternal uncle, reigning King. When the king heard about this news, he was angry and tortured his nephew. Out of rage, his nephew killed his maternal uncle, the reigning king. King’s nephew later regretted for his sin a lot. He installed an idol of the king in the shape of king’s head in the temple in memory of him. Later, after king’s nephew death, his idol was also installed in the temple in his memory. Thus, due to these idols, the temple came to be called as Mama Bhanja Temple. 

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/03/barsur-chattisgarh-history.html

The Temple

The temple is about 50 feet (16 meter) high with a well preserved imposing curvilinear Sikhara over the sanctum. The temple is built upon a moulded base. There is an image of Ganesh on the lalatabimba (lintel). Two Ganesha Idols and Narasimha can be found in the temple. The adhisthana and the door jambs are decorated with excellent carvings of foliage, lotuses etc. Sculptures of the architects Mama (maternal uncle) and Bhanja (nephew) can be found little below the top of the temple. An inscription in Telugu characters datable to the 13^th Century A.D. is found on the temple platform. The Temple had some Dravidian influence in its architecture.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Battisa Temple, 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