Teli ka Mandir, Gwalior – The Temple

Teli ka Mandir, Gwalior – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east and built over a raised platform. The platform is square on plan and measures 60 sq. metres. The temple consists of sanctum and portico. The temple is approached through a flight of stairs from the platform. The doorway into the temple is 35 feet high and is profusely carved. The base of the doorway has sculptures of river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna with their waists leaning towards the center, each with a boy and a girl on the lower part.

Amorous couples in various stages of courtship and intimacy (mithuna) can be seen above them. Dvarapalas can be seen on either side of the doorway. There is a relief of Garuda above the doorway. The lintel of the sanctum doorway has a relief of Ganesha. Dvarapalas can be seen on either side of the doorway. The sanctum is rectangular and triratha on plan. The sanctum enshrines a Shiva Linga and a Nandi can be seen facing the sanctum.

The tower over the sanctum is about 80 feet tall. The tower is crowned with barrel vault shaped cap. It would have had amalaka, kalasha and other ornaments on top, but all of these were lost completely. It integrates the architectural elements of the Nagara style and the Valabhi prasada that looks like the Dravidian wagon-vault topped gopuram superstructure. The temple is based on a Pratihara-Gopagiri style North Indian architecture.

The exterior walls contains several niches, but all the niches are empty. The niches are topped by tall pediments. The temple entrance and panels have several inscriptions, three short inscriptions are dated to pre 10^th century CE while the others are dated to 15^th century CE. One of the inscriptions is a metrical hymn about Durga, which suggests a Shakta tradition influence. There is also a Garuda monument near the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.