Akhati Group of Temples, Kadwaya, Madhya Pradesh

Akhati Group of Temples, Kadwaya, Madhya Pradesh

Akhati Group of Temples are group of Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located in Kadwaya Village in Isagarh Tehsil in Ashok Nagar District in Madhya Pradesh, India. The Kadwaya village is famous for its temples, sculptures and structures such as monasteries, ruined mosque, wells, tanks and baodi.

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2022/02/kadwaya-temples-history.html

The Group of Temples

The Akhati Group of Temples consists of three temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. All these temples lost their respective shikaras.

Temple A:

The temple is the largest and best-preserved temple in the group. The temple is facing towards east and is situated on the western corner of the group. The temple stands over a raised platform and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and mukha mandapa. This temple is the only temple in the group with an intact mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is supported by two pillars and two pilasters.

The small decorated chandrashila at the entrance of the mukha mandapa is engraved with a one-word inscription mentioning Pratihara. The door jamb of the sanctum is profusely carved and embellished with five bands of decorations. The lintel is decorated with Vishnu on his mount Garuda at the central position and Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva on the ends. Navagrahas can be seen in between them.

The architrave is carved with images of Dashavataras. The river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna with their respective mounts can be seen at the base of the doorjambs. The exterior wall is decorated with two bands of images. The upper row has smaller figures of vidyadharas while the lower row has the customary figures of deities at the bhadra & kapili projections, apsaras at the pratirathas, dikpalas at the karnas and vyalas & apsaras lies in salilantaras.

The images on the bhadra and kapili projections are in niches, which occupy the entire height of the jangha and of the kapili and are canopied by makara-toranas flanked by a decorative design of shikharas. The bhadra niches are topped by a frieze crowned with an udgama and only a mutilated figure of Narasimha in the north is now preserved.

The kapili niches have Vaikuntha in the south and Parvati in the north. The lateral south wall shows reclining figures of a mother feeding child, surmounted by Sheshashayi Vishnu and the north wall displays a standing figure of mother carrying a child. The west wall had a prominent recess flanked by pilasters carved with a pair of lotus-medallions on the upper part.

Temple B:

The temple is facing towards west and stands over a low raised platform The temple is pancharatha on plan and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple consisted of sanctum and entrance porch. The entrance porch and the shikara over the sanctum are lost completely. The sanctum enshrines a rectangular pedestal with Garuda image. The doorjamb is plain with three bands.

The dedicatory block at the lintel has an image of Lord Vishnu in standing posture while the terminal projections has images of Lord Vishnu & Lord Shiva with seated Saraswathi & Ganesh in the recesses. The river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna can be seen at the base of the doorjamb. The exterior wall is decorated with single band of images except the pratirathas has small images of ascetics seated posture.

The bhadra and the kapili projections are decorated with deities in niches crowned with udgamas while the karnas show dikpalas canopied by smaller udgamas. The bhadra niches has images of  Bhuvaraha on the south, Vamana on the east and Narasimha on the north. Ashta dikpalas can be seen in their respective coordinates on pratiratha niches.

Temple C:

The temple is facing towards east and stands over a low raised platform The temple is in ruined state and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple consisted of sanctum and entrance porch. The entrance porch and the shikara over the sanctum are lost completely. The sanctum enshrines a rectangular pedestal with Garuda image. The sanctum door is plain and is recently restored. The exterior wall is decorated with two band of images except the karna, which has dikpalas in niches canopied with an udgama.

The exterior wall is restored with new slabs during the recent renovations. The southern bhadra niches have sculptures of seated Sarasvati in the upper level & dancing Ganesha in the lower level and the northern bhadra niches have sculptures of seated Gaja Lakshmi in the upper level and standing Parvati in the lower level.

Connectivity

Kadwaya is located at about 18 Kms from Isagarh, 28 Kms from Khaniadhana, 51 Kms from Chanderi, 53 Kms from Ashok Nagar Railway Station, 54 Kms from Ashoknagar, 112 Kms from Jhansi, 245 Kms from Bhopal and 251 Kms from Bhopal Airport. Kadwaya is situated on Khaniadhana to Isagarh route.

Location