Bateshwar Hindu Temples, Padhawali – The Temple

Bateshwar Hindu Temples, Padhawali – The Temple

This temple complex houses around 200 temples made of sandstones. It can be considered as largest temple group in India. The temples are mostly small and spread over about 25 acres (10 ha) site. Most of the temples are in ruins. They are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti - representing the three major traditions within Hinduism. The site is within the Chambal River valley ravines, on the north-western slope of a hill near Padavali known for its major medieval era Vishnu temple.

Bhuteshvara Temple is the biggest temple in the complex. This is the only temple in worship in the complex. It is a group of 11 temples with one main shrine surrounded by 10 subsidiary shrines. The main shrine is facing towards east. The Temple is Pancha Ratha in plan. The main shrine consists of sanctum, antrala and a later period mandapa. This temple is dated to late 8^th Century CE.

The niches around the external walls houses Parvati, Kartikeya, Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu and Ashtadikpalakas. The Shikara is of five storied. The sanctum doorway was flanked by river goddesses Ganga & Yamuna and Dvarapalas. The Temple had a relief of Garuda on top. There is a roofed circumambulation path around the main shrine and the subsidiary shrines can be approached through this roofed circumambulation path.

There is a short inscription dated to Samvat era 1107 (1050 CE) in one of the small temples to the northwest of the Bhuteshvara temple. There was a large platform of about 42.67 feet (13.01 m) length and 29.67 feet (9.04 m) breadth, with an integrated platform projection of a square with 11.67 feet (3.56 m) side in north-northeast corner of the site. It might have been the largest temple at the Bateshvara site before its destruction.

The site had a water tank cut into the hill rock, with rows of small temples arranged to form a street to the tank. These temple houses idols of Shiva Linga, Trimurti, Ganesha and Lord Shiva & Parvati. There is a Vishnu Temple next to Shiva Temple about the same size of Shiva Temple.  It has a square sanctum of 6.67 feet (2.03 m) side with river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna flanking the doorway on its jambs.

The standing temples all had sides made from single slabs set upright, above which sat flat roofs then pyramidal top as a part of their architecture. Most of the temples in this complex follows Pancha Ratha style. The earliest temples are without roofs and later era temples are with Shikara. There are small sculptures of women playing the lute, veena or drums in Vishnu temples, suggesting that music profession in pre 11^th century India encouraged women to participate as musicians.

The temple doorways are either carved with four or five shakhas (segments). Ganga and Yamuna are present at the doorjambs riding their respective mounts, makara and tortoise respectively. They are sometimes accompanied with dvarapalas (guardians) but always with an umbrella bearer. The temple complex has many interesting lintels, such as one with Navagraha, many with Dashavatara (ten avatars of Vishnu) of the Vaishnavism tradition, frequent display of Saptamatrikas (seven mothers) from the Shaktism tradition. 

A common feature on door lintels is the presence of Garuda on lalata-bimba. He is either depicted holding the tails of serpents forming one of the shakha (segment) of the doorway or carrying Vishnu. In his former depiction, Garuda is the controller of the serpent instead of a Vaishnava symbol therefore his presence does not result in Vaishnava character of the edifice.

Some of the temples had a Nataraja on the Kirti-mukha, reliefs with exquisite carving of Lakulisa, reliefs of Siva holding the hand of Parvati, reliefs narrating the legend of Kalyana Sundara (the marriage of Shiva and Parvati with Vishnu, Brahma and others attending), Amorous couples in various stages of courtship and intimacy (Mithuna, Kama scenes), reliefs of men riding elephants & men wrestling lions, friezes with narratives from the Bhagavata Purana such as Krishna Leela scenes such as Devaki holding baby Krishna who is suckling her breasts in prison that is guarded by a woman, baby Krishna draining away the life of the demon with poisoned breasts.

Many of these temples depict a figure of Lakulisa holding a danda (rod). This suggests the influence of the Lakulisa sect in this region during the eight-ninth century CE. This complex would have been a major center of Lakulisa sect.  The diversity of the theological themes at the site suggest that Batesvar was once a hub for temple-related arts and artists.