Badoh – Pathari Group of
Monuments – The Group of Monuments
The
Badoh & Pathari Villages contain several Hindu temples, Jain temples
and Buddhist monuments. Majority of the temples are smaller in size with plain roof,
sometimes the ceiling is carved with a single lotus. Mandapika type of temples
are found in significant number here.
Dasavathara
Group of Temples (Temple Group – 1), Badoh:
For brief details, please refer
below link;
https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/11/dasavathara-group-of-temples-badoh-madhya-pradesh.html
Temple
Group – 2:
The Temple
Group – 2 is situated to the south east of Dasavathara Group of Temples (Temple
Group – 1) in Badoh Village. This group consists of
mainly two Mandapika type temples and a well in one corner of the temple group.
Both the temples are in ruined condition. One of the
temple is comparatively in good condition in the group. This temple is facing towards
east. This temple consisted of sanctum and a mukha mandapa.
The
mukha mandapa and the doorway of the sanctum are completely lost. The sanctum
is triratha in plan. The exterior walls are decorated with pilasters adorned
with pot & foliage motif and lattice
designs along with a low relief
sculpture under a niche in each of the bhadra ratha canopied by a long
udgama. The temple group might have been dedicated to
Lord Shiva as a Shaiva sculpture was found in the complex.
Temple
Group – 3:
The Temple Group – 3 is situated
to the south west of Dasavathara Group of Temples (Temple Group – 1) in Badoh
Village. This group consists of mainly two Mandapika type temples and a Shiva
Linga. The temples are much dilapidated. The south facing temple in the group
consisted of sanctum and a mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is completely lost.
The exterior walls are decorated with Ganesha, Mahishasura Mardini and a seated deity on three sides. The temple group
might have been dedicated to Lord Shiva as a Shiva Linga was found in the
complex.
Shiva Temple near water
reservoir in Badoh:
This temple
is situated on the bank of a reservoir in Badoh Village. The temple is facing towards
east and in dilapidated condition. The temple is built over a raised platform. The
presiding deity in the sanctum is missing. The northern and the western wall of
the sanctum is completely missing except the corner pillars.
The lintel
of the sanctum doorway has a highly eroded image of Nataraja flanked by Brahma
and Vishnu at the cardinal ends. The sanctum doorway has five bands of decoration.
River Goddesses Ganga & Yamuna accompanied by their female attendants can
be seen at the base of the doorjambs. The shikara over the sanctum is missing.
Satmarhi Group of Temples (Temple
Group – 4):
The Satmarhi
Group of Temples (Temple Group – 4) is situated at about 3 Kms at the foot of a
hill to the north east of Dasavathara Group of Temples (Temple Group – 1) in Pathari
Village. The temple group consists of seven temples. Out of seven temples, four
temples follow Mandapika style. The temples are in dilapidated state and stands
over a common platform. The temples are devoid of central deity. The temples in
the group are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
There
is a west facing Vishnu temple in the temple group. The
lintel of the sanctum doorway has an image of Lord Vishnu riding over Garuda
flanked by flying Vidyadharas and female figure holding veena at the cardinal
ends. The doorway has
four bands of decoration. River Goddesses Ganga &
Yamuna accompanied by their female attendants can be seen at the base of the
doorjambs. The exterior wall is devoid of any decoration. The shikara over the sanctum is missing.
There
is a Shiva temple situated to the left side of the Vishnu temple in the temple
group. The temple consists of sanctum and a mukha mandapa. The sanctum is triratha
in plan. The lintel of the sanctum doorway has an image of Nataraja flanked by Navagrahas
and Sapta Matrikas & Ganesha at the left side. The exterior wall is
decorated with figures of Ganesha, Yama, Surya, etc. The shikara over the sanctum
is missing.
Temple Group – 5:
The Temple
Group – 5 is situated to the south west of the Satmarhi Group of Temples
(Temple Group – 4) in Pathari Village. The temple group consists of two
Mandapika style temples. Both the temples are in dilapidated state and
consisted sanctum and a pillared mandapa. A portion of the mandapa is survived
in one of the temple while the mandapa is completely lost in the other temple.
The Temple No – 1 in this group is facing towards east.
There
is no deity in the sanctum. The bhadra niches houses images of Ganesha on the
southern side, Kartikeya on the western side and Parvati on the northern side
of the sanctum. This temple might have been dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Temple
No – 2 is similar to the Temple No – 1 in plan. The lintel of the sanctum
doorway has a badly eroded central figure flanked by Navagrahas.
Bhim Gaja:
Bhim
Gaja (Garuda Dhwaja), a monolithic pillar, is situated in Pathari village.
It is about 40 metres tall with two faced Garuda on top and stands over a
raised platform. The capital of the pillar has not survived. There are two sati
stones near to this pillar with Sanskrit inscriptions. There is an inscription
on this pillar dated to 861 CE. It records that the pillar was installed by the
minister of Rashtrakuta King Prabala. It further records that the Kinga Prabala
built a Vishnu temple nearby. The Vishnu temple built by him was converted to a
Shiva temple and can be seen nearby.
Shiva Temple near Bhimgaja:
This Temple
is situated close to Bhimgaja in Gadi Mohalla in Pathari Village. This temple
is facing towards east. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and mukha
mandapa. The sanctum is intact but the antrala and mukha mandapa are survived
only in their lower portion. The sanctum enshrines a Shiva Linga. The lintel of
the sanctum doorway has a central image of Vishnu over Garuda. Navagrahas are shown in architrave of the lintel. The
exterior wall of the sanctum is damaged. The shikara over the sanctum is
missing.
Kutakeswara Temple:
For brief details, please refer
below link;
https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/11/kutakeswara-temple-pathari-madhya-pradesh.html
Solah Khambi:
Solah
Khambi is a flat roofed structure supported by sixteen pillars. The structure
is named after the sixteen pillars (Solah Khambi). The structure is believed to
be built in 8th century CE.
Gyannath Hill Shiva Temples:
There
are two temples situated on the Gyannath hill in Badoh Village. Both the temples
are in dilapidated condition. One temple consists of pillars and architectural
fragments while the other temple has only its foundation.
Gadarmal Devi Temple:
For brief details, please refer
below link;
https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/11/gadarmal-devi-temple-badoh-madhya-pradesh.html
Jain Temple Complex, Badoh:
For brief details, please refer
below link;
https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/11/jain-temple-complex-badoh-madhya-pradesh.html
Relief of Sapta Matrikas:
This
cave temple is situated at the southwestern foot Gyannath Hill. This temple
might have been built in 5th century CE by the rulers of later Gupta
period. The cave would have enshrined a four faced Linga in ancient times. There
is a relief depicting the Sapta Matrikas (Seven mother goddesses) to the right
side of the cave. The relief is similar to the Saptamatrikas panel at Udayagiri
and considered to be one of the earliest representations of Sapta Matrikas.
The
relief is eroded and depicts the goddesses in bhadrasana posture. A carving of
a male figure probably Veerabhadra, in lalitasana posture can be seen on the
far-left side of the Sapta Matrikas. The inscription in the site refer to a
king named Maharaja Jayatsena. Most of the lines in the inscription are not
legible.
Buddhist Stupa:
A
remain of a circular stupa can be seen on Gyannath hill in Badoh Village. There
is an image of Buddha in Vidisha State museum. It is said that the image was
brought from this place. The image might belong to this stupa.
