Neelkantheshwar Temple, Udaypur – The Temple

Neelkantheshwar Temple, Udaypur – The Temple

This is an east facing Temple. The Temple was built of red sandstone and standing over a raised platform. This temple is Saptayatana (Seven shrine type) with one central large shrine surrounded by six smaller shrines. It is one of the earliest example of Bhumija temple architecture of Paramara Dynasty. The entrance to the temple is originally from east but it is closed now. The entrance is from western side. The temple consists of sanctum, Assembly Hall and three entrance porches. The assembly hall has three entrance porches, one to the front and two to the sides.

Sculptures of Ardhanareeshwara, Andhakantaka, Natesha, Mahakala, and Chamundi can be found in the external walls of assembly hall. There are Ashtadikpalakas (guardian deities of eight directions) can also be found in the external walls. Navadurgas can be found on the lintel of sanctum door and Navagrahas on assembly hall lintel. The Sanctum houses Neelkantheshwar, in the form of Lingam. The original Shiva Linga is covered by a brass Linga.

The brass one is lifted up to reveal the original for worship only during the festival of Mahashivaratri. It is said that the first rays of the Sun in the morning fall directly on the Shiva Linga twice a year around the equinoxes. The Shikhara is made up of miniature shrines of this temple all the way up culminating in the horizontal fluted disc called the Amalaka ending with the Kalash. There are even plans found etched in stone in the courtyard which are said to be the rudimentary drawings that were made prior to building this temple.

There are about 60 inscriptions at the entrance porch at eastern side.  These inscriptions belonged to Paramaras, Tughluqs and various other dynasties who ruled over this region. There are inscriptions talks about the grants from King Udayaditya to this temple. There is an inscription mentions a festival of the god Udayesvara in 1338, the same year as the Tughluq inscription recording the construction of the mosque in the temple precinct.