Hindu Temples of India: Jageshwar Group of Temples

Monday, May 11, 2020

Jageshwar Group of Temples – Temple Complex

Jageshwar Group of Temples – Temple Complex

The Jageshwar group of temples spread over an area of about 2 sq. km on both the banks of the river Jatganga. The Jageshwar group of temples are similar to large historic cluster of Hindu temples found on the Indian subcontinent. Lingaraja group of temples, Bhubaneswar, Odisha and Batesvar temple complex in Chambal valley of Madhya Pradesh are similar temple clusters found in India. Jageshwar Group of Temples mainly consists of three clusters namely; Dandeshwar Cluster, Jageshwar Cluster and Kuber Cluster.

The temples in these clusters are made in different architectural styles namely Nagara style, Pidha style and Gajapristhakriti style. The Jageshwar and Mrityunjay temples are the best examples of Nagara style, Lakulisa, Nataraja and Baleshwar temples are best examples of Pidha style and the temples of Navdurga and Chandika are the best examples of Gajapristhakriti style.

There are about 124 temples in the Jageshwar Dham temple complex. Most of them are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Each of them were called by various names of Lord Shiva and Navagrahas. There are few temples dedicated to Sakthi, Hanuman and Nav Durga. The Jageshwar temples have a design that deliberately does not anticipate their use as house of worship. The sanctum space in most temples is generally too small (3 square feet) that a priest cannot sit inside, leave alone move around to complete a ritual.

Further, most of the lingas do not provide for a drain from abhisheka, a feature that Hindu temples from Gupta and post Gupta period include. There is no record of their being used for worship, nor traces at the site that would suggest unrecorded use. It is believed that most of these temples may have been memorials to Hindu monks or saints, or part of a dedication or grant to the monasteries.

The site is additionally notable for rock steles featuring Hindu theological themes. Included in these are all four major traditions of Hinduism: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Sauraism. Example steles include those of Ksemankari, Narayana, Revanta and Surya. Other significant reliefs include those of dancing Ganesha, seated and smiling Uma-Parvati and Saptamatrikas.

Jageshwar Temple:

Jageshwar Temple is one of the largest Hindu Temple in Jageshwar Temple Complex. It is numbered as Temple 37 in the complex. The entire Temple complex is named after this Temple. This Temple is active with worship. It is located at one end of the Jageshwar temple complex, facing the west direction. Jageshwar Temple is also considered as 8^th Jyotirlinga or Nagesh Jyotirlinga. The Temple has a mandapa, vestibule and sanctum. The Temple was believed to be built in 12^th century CE. The Vimana over the sanctum follows Nagara style.

The sanctum has two unusual dvarapalas added in the 14^th century or later. It stands on either side of the main entrance. They are called as Nandi and Skandi. One four-armed dvarapala holds a skull in the tradition of the Pasupatha Kapalikas in one of his hands, a rosary in other, a fruit in yet another and the fourth hand cradles an object. At his pedestal is a bull, both on a lotus. The left dvarapala is similar but differs in holding a serpent in his hand instead of the skull and other items.

The Sanctum houses the Jyotirlinga in the form of Nagesh or the king of Snakes. The Shivalinga here is adorned with a serpent. The Shivalinga, pair of two stones (representing the Shiva and the Shakti) can be seen on the ground. The stone is supposed to be Swayambhu. It seems there is an active water source that passes beneath the Shivalinga. Bubbles emerge from it can be witnessed in the sanctum. Idols of Ganesha and Parvati can be seen in the temple.

There are two metal images of Chand rulers – Deepchand and Tripalchand standing behind the Shivalinga. Deep Chand holds the Diya or lamp in his hands. This is an eternal flame that keeps burning all the time. It takes 1.25 kgs of pure ghee to keep it burning. Devotees offer this as an offering to the temple. It has been seen that an image of Gajsinghmurti is placed on the top of Sukanasa in the Jageshwar temple in which a lion is sitting over the elephant.

Temple 47:

Temple 47 is a unique Shiva temple, found at the Jageshwar Temple Complex. The Temple follows Nagara Style. The Temple can be dated back to 7^th or 8^th Century CE. Veenadhara Dakshinamoorthy, Ganesha and Saptamatrikas in yogic posture can be seen around the sanctum walls.

Batuk Bhairav Temple:

Batuk Bhairav Temple is situated next to the Shoes Stand where you leave your footwear to enter the temple complex. This Temple can be seen on the left side of the Shoes Stand. The Sanctum houses a form of Bhairava. It is a general practice to visit this Temple at the end.

Pushti Devi Temple:

This temple is located towards the extreme right of the Jageshwar Temple Complex and just behind Mahamritunjay Mahadev temple. This is a small temple with Nagara style architecture. The Sanctum houses an idol of Pushti Bhagwati.

Nau Durga Temple:

This temple is situated in the Jageshwar Temple Complex. The temple follows Gajapristhakriti style.

Dakshinmukhi Hanuman Temple:

This Temple houses a life size idol of Lord Hanuman. Hanuman Idol in the sanctum might be of later addition.

Nav Graha Temple:

Nav Graha Temple is a group of nine temples dedicated to nine planets in Hindu cosmology, including a temple dedicated to Sun God. These group of temples also forms part of Jageshwar Temple Complex.

Lakulisa Temple:

Lakulisa Temple is one of the oldest Temple in Jageshwar Temple Complex. It is numbered as Temple 2 in the complex. The Temple follows Pidha style architecture. Its square sanctum is preceded by an antarala. The platform and base mouldings resembles Temple 47. The temple also has a 7^th or 8^th century relief carving showing Lakulisa seated on lotus in water, in a yoga asana doing meditation where gods approach him from the skies and yogis surround him.

Tandeshwar Temple:

The temple is situated next to the Lakulisa Temple in the Jageshwar Temple Complex. It is a small temple housing a Shiva Linga in the sanctum. The front panel depicts a dancing Shiva.