Gadarmal Devi Temple, Badoh – The Temple

Gadarmal Devi Temple, Badoh – The Temple

This temple is built in the Ashtayatana style of architecture. Ashtayatana is an architectural style where the main shrine is surrounded by seven smaller subsidiary shrines. The temple is similar to Teli-Ka Mandir in Gwalior fort showing two faces of architecture, Pratiharas and Parmaras. The ruined torana (gateway) in front of this temple originally would have been a very grand structure which is evident from its remains.

This temple is built over a raised platform and can be accessed through flight of steps. The entrance of the temple is flanked by the sculptures of two lions. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and mukha mandapa. The lower portion or basement of sanctum and mukha mandapa are originally of 9th Century AD.

It is made of heterogenous pieces picked up from the ruins of Jain and Hindu temples. The mukha mandapa is supported on eight pillars, some have elephant capitals on top.  The temple was dedicated to a goddess as seen from the images on the door lintel and around the temple exterior wall. The sanctum is oblong in plan. The sanctum is empty now.

The sanctum is crowned with tall and massive shikara. It seems to be a later addition to the temple. The shikara is partially damaged. There is a hypothesis it might have been a 42-niche yogini temple. 18 broken images of the goddesses that once fitted into grooves in the temple platform are preserved from the waist down. It must once have been hypaethral, open to the sky.