Shiva Temple, Bavka, Gujarat

Shiva Temple, Bavka, Gujarat

Shiva Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Bavka Village in Dahod Taluk in Dahod District, in the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple is located on a small hill near Hirlav Lake between Chandwada and Bavka village. The temple is popularly known as Khajuraho of Gujarat due to the presence of erotic sculptures. The Temple is one of the protected monuments in Gujarat declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

As per legend, the temple was believed to be built by a Devadasi (temple dancer) in a single night.

History

The Temple was built during the reign of the last Chaulukya ruler Bhima II (1178 – 1240 CE). There is an inscription dated to 1234 CE in the temple. The temple was damaged by Mahmud of Ghazni and plundered for its riches during the later Muslim invasions. Several artifacts of the temples were stolen during these invasions.

The Temple

The Temple is facing towards east and follows Maru – Gurjara style of architecture. This temple is in the Panchayatana style of architecture. Panchayatana is an architectural style where the main shrine is built on a raised platform with four smaller subsidiary shrines at the four corners and making it a total of five shrines. The main shrine, platform and all the four subsidiary shrines are in ruined condition. The main shrine consists of sanctum, antrala and ranga mandapa.

The roof is lost completely and the side walls of the mandapa is in ruined state. The ranga mandapa is octagonal in plan. The dwarf pillars of the hall are simple, and the central pillars once supported the roof are found among the ruins scattered in the temple. This shikhara over the sanctum is no longer exist. The shikara had horizontal geometrical and figurative bands which rising to create the Mount Meru-like shikhara.

The central spire had Urushringa, the miniature shrines. It is judged by the fragments of collapsed shikara and the hall are scattered nearby. The outer walls and the door of sanctum is filled with carvings of deities and apsaras in dancing postures wearing attractive ornaments. It has numerous erotics sculptures, earning it the name, Khajuraho of Gujarat.

Festivals

Mahashivaratri, Shravan Month and Amalaka Ekadashi are the auspicious days to visit this temple.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 13 Kms from Dahod, 15 Kms from Dahod Bus Stand, 16 Kms from Dahod Railway Station, 23 Kms from Dhanpur, 200 Kms from Indore, 198 Kms from Indore Airport, 207 Kms from Ahmedabad and 211 Kms from Ahmedabad Airport. The temple is situated on Dahod to Dhanpur route.

Location