Roda Group of Temples – The Group of Temples

Roda Group of Temples – The Group of Temples

The Roda Group of Temples consists of seven temples and a Kund. All these temples are facing towards east. Six temples are in good conditions with minimal damages and one shrine is completely destroyed of which only the base remains. These temples were damaged in 2001 earthquake but were restored later.

No mortar like fixing material is used for the construction of these temples and the lower parts of these temples are held together by the weight of the spires. The sculptures collected from the site are now housed at the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery in Vadodara. These sculptures depict various deities from Hindu pantheon including a unique sculpture of Surya.

Temple I:

This Temple is facing towards east and built over raised platform. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple consists of sanctum and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by two pillars and two pilasters. The shikara over the mukha mandapa follows phamsana style. The sanctum is triratha and square in plan. The shikara over the sanctum follows rekha prasada style of architecture. The shikara is crowned by amlaka. The exterior walls of the temple is devoid of ornamentation.

Temple II:

Temple II is called as Pakshi Mandir (Bird Temple). This Temple is facing towards east and is the smallest temple among the group. The shrine has no idols except carving of birds inside. Hence, it came to be called as Pakshi Mandir. The shikara over the shrine follows phamsana style. The shikara is lost except the lower portion. It has protruding makara heads on the corners of the adhisthana.

Temple III:

This Temple is facing towards east and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This Temple is situated in front of the Ladushah Kund. This Temple consists sanctum and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by two pillars and two pilasters. The shikara over the mukha mandapa follows phamsana style. The doorway of the sanctum is richly decorated, and door jambs are carved with cardinal deities. The sanctum enshrines a Shiva Linga. The sanctum is square in plan. The shikara over the sanctum follows rekha prasada style of architecture. The shikara is crowned by amlaka. The exterior walls of the temple is devoid of decoration. Temple III is almost similar to Temple No I except its triratha plan.

Temple IV:

This Temple is facing towards east. It is situated in between Temple III and V. This Temple is situated in front of the Ladushah Kund. The temple is smaller in size when compared to its neighbors. The temple is lost completely except its base.

Temple V:

This Temple is facing towards east and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This Temple is situated in front of the Ladushah Kund. This Temple consists sanctum and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by two pillars and two pilasters. The shikara over the mukha mandapa follows phamsana style. The sanctum is square in plan. The shikara over the sanctum follows rekha prasada style of architecture. The shikara is crowned by amlaka. The exterior walls of the temple is devoid of decoration except the niches on three sides. The niches houses the sculptures of Narsimha, Trivikram and Varaha. Temple V is almost similar to Temple No I.

Temple VI:

This Temple is facing towards east and situated on the opposite side of the temples III, IV & V. The temple is also called as Navagraha temple due to the depiction of Navagrahas (Nine Planets) on the door frame of the sanctum. This Temple consists sanctum and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by four pillars. It appears that the mukha mandapa was a later addition.

Apsaras carved inside a miniature niches can be seen on the top portion of the pillars. The temple has protruding makara heads on the corners of the adhisthana. The sanctum is triratha and square in plan. The shikara over the sanctum follows rekha prasada style of architecture. The shikara in partially destroyed.

The exterior walls of the temple is devoid of ornamentation except the niches housing sculptures on three sides. Damaged sculptures and architectural fragments can be seen scattered around the temple. There is an interesting pillar half buried in the soil. It has carvings of Sun, Moon, a warrior fighting and a Shaivite worshiping Shiva Linga.

Temple VII:

This Temple is considered as the biggest temple in the Roda Group of Temples. This Temple is facing towards east and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are stone steps near the temple leading to the river but are in dilapidated condition. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, sabha mandapa and mukha mandapa. The temple has protruding makara heads on the corners of the adhisthana.

The mukha mandapa is supported by four pillars. The roof of the mukha mandapa is lost completely. The shikara over the sabha mandapa follows phamsana style and is dilapidated state. The shikara over the sanctum follows rekha prasada style of architecture. The shikara is partially damaged. The sanctum doorway has an image of Lakulisa on the lalata bimba.

There are no decorations on the door jamb except the carvings of river goddesses and dvarapalas in the lower portion. Images of Brahma, Kubera, Shiva, Ganesa and Vishnu can be seen in miniature niches above the lintel. The exterior walls of the sanctum and sabha mandapa are devoid of any decoration except the niches housing sculptures of Ganesha, Chamunda, Durga etc.

Ladushah Kund:

Ladushah Kund is situated in front of the Temples III, IV & V. It is rectangular in plan. It is a large stepped reservoir with four shrines in four corners of the Kund. These shrines are dedicated to Surya, Ganesha, Vishnu and Durga. Images of Sapta Matrikas can be seen close to the Ganesha shrine. The kund is damaged on the northern side.