Sirpur Group of Monuments, Chattisgarh

Sirpur Group of Monuments, Chattisgarh

Sirpur Group of Monuments are an archaeological and tourism site containing Hindu, Jain and Buddhist monuments from the 5^th to 12^th centuries in Mahasamund district of the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The site is spread near the banks of the river Mahanadi. Sirpur Group of Monuments has been declared of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958.  Sirpur is a pilgrimage site for the followers of Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. 

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/sirpur-group-of-monuments-history.html

The Monuments

Sirpur has been significant for its temple ruins of Rama and Lakshmana of the Ramayana fame, as well as those related to Shaivism, Shaktism, Buddhism and Jainism. The site excavations after 1950, particularly after 2003, have yielded 22 Shiva temples, 5 Vishnu temples, 10 Buddha Viharas, 3 Jain Viharas, a 6^th /7^th century market, Palace and snana-Kund (bath house). The site shows extensive syncretism, where Buddhist and Jain statues or motifs intermingle with Shiva, Vishnu and Devi Temples.

Lakshmana Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/lakshmana-temple-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Rama Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/rama-temple-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Surang Tila:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/surang-tila-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Baleshwar Mahadev Temple Complex:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/baleshwar-mahadev-temple-complex-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Gandheshwar Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/gandheshwar-temple-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

 Ananda Prabhu Vihara:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/ananda-prabhu-vihara-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Teevardev Vihara:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/teevardev-vihara-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Swastika Vihara:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/swastika-vihara-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Sirpur Stupa:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/sirpur-stupa-chattisgarh.html

Ancient Citadel:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/ancient-citadel-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Rajmahal Complex:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/rajmahal-complex-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

ASI Museum:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/06/asi-museum-sirpur-chattisgarh.html

Jain Monuments:

One Jain Basati and monastery ruins has been discovered near the river banks and about 100 meters from an 8^th Century Shiva temple. A bronze image of Adinatha (Rishaba, the first Tirthankara) was found in the ruins, and the image is dated to the 9^th century CE.

Rakela Tal:

Rakela Tal is situated near the Rama Temple on the east side of the Sirpur road. It is a manmade lake. Ruins of an ancient fort, several Hindu and Buddhist monuments mixed in with farmlands and a modern era Krishna temple.  As per local folklore, the tank has a paras stone. In ancient times, a shepherd from Sirpur noticed a goat joins his herd in the day and left in the evening. He decided to find the reason behind this mysterious happening.

One evening, he followed the goat and noticed that the goat went into the tank and disappeared. He was surprised to see the miracle and got confused. A stone was thrown to him and a divine voice was heard. It stated that the stone was the reward to his work in herding the goat. The cowherder got angry on seeing the stone as his reward. He struck the stone back to the tank with his axe. Later, he found his axe got turned into gold. He searched for the stone in tank, but he did not find.

Shiva Temple – 1:

This Shiva Temple was excavated in the premises near to Teevardev Monastery. It houses a 4.5 feet tall Shiva Linga in the sanctum.

Shiva Temple – 2:

This Shiva Temple is situated near to Ananda Prabhu Kuti Vihara, on the way to Senkapat. This Shiva Temple houses a Shiva Linga in its sanctum.

Shiva Temple – 3:

The Temple was Pancharatha on plan. It houses a 4 feet tall Shiva Linga in the sanctum.

Metal Idols

Sirpur was known for the mastery of creating metal idols in the 8^th Century AD. Metal idols were discovered in Sirpur as early as in 1939. Metal idols found here are showcased in Raipur, Nagpur, New Delhi museums and Mumbai's Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. Sirpur has always been in international limelight for its amazing excavations including the metal idols. These idols have also been sported in Germany, England and America. Some of the famous idols are Buddha, Avalokitesawara Padampani, Vajrapani, Manjushri, Tara and intricately crafted Vishnu & Rishabhnath idols.

Connectivity

Sirpur is located at about 37 Kms from Mahasamund, 38 Kms from Mahasamund Railway Station, 45 Kms from Arang, 74 Kms from Raipur Airport and 82 Kms from Raipur. Sirpur Village is situated on the banks of the river Mahanadi in Mahasamund District in the state of Chhattisgarh. Sirpur is accessible from Raipur by a four-lane National Highway 53. Regular bus services connect Raipur and Sirpur. The nearest railway station is Mahasamund Railway Station. The nearest airport is the Swami Vivekananda airport at Raipur with daily flights to major cities in India.

Location