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| 750 CE Shiva- Vishnu temple Teli Ka mandir, Gwalior fort. twitter.com |
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| Shiva- Vishnu temple Teli Ka mandir, Gwalior fort. in.worldorgs.com |
Above image: An ancient Shiva- Vishnu temple called Teli Ka Mandir in Gwalior fort. Built during 750 CE in Gwalior, it is a 100 foot tall stricture with different types of architectural features, a sort of con concotion of South and North Indian design elements. Invaded by the Delhi sultanate army in 1232 CE the temple faced severe destruction. Subsequently in 1882 it was restored by the Maratha rulers.
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| Shiva and Vishnu mandir Teli Ka temple,Gwalior en. wikipedia org |
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| Shive- Vishnu temple, Gwalior Teli Ka mandir side view.en.wikipedia.org |
In the North Indian states seldom do we run into an ancient temple collectively dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Sakthi that too with a unique architecture. Built in 750 CE inside the famous Gwalior fort in Gwalior, MP, age of this temple is a bone of contention among Western scholars; it is not older than 7th century. Indian scholar Bajpai has mentioned that the temple may have come up during the reign of the Gurjara-Pratihara Mihira Bhoja. Nearby located are countless temple clusters including damaged ones built with Nagara, Pancharatha (five rathas) style adhering to Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shakism sects and most of them are dated between the 6th and 10th century. What is special about this temple is its mixed design - Valabhi shikhara similar to the gopuram of Dravidian - styled temples and its Nagara base. Carvings on the temple's outer walls is extensive.
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| Tele Ka mandir.kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com |
The visitors to this place are appalled by the enormity of damages inflicted on this beautiful ancient temple by the invading army of the Delhi Sultanate It was during the reign of Qutb-ud-din Aibak and his successor Iltutmish in 1232 CE the temple was plundered and looted. The invaders expected vast valuable treasures in the temple. Soon after plundering women folks in the fort committed Jauhar - self immolation to avoid being abused by the enemies. There are evidences that attempts had been made by the Sultanate to build a mosque nearby. In the later years the Maratha army razed the mosque and rebuilt the temple.
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| 8th-9th century restoration work 1882 Telika mandir en.wikipedia.org |
The credit goes to a good-hearted European - Major Keith, an officer of the Royal Scots Regiment stationed in Gwalior. Between 1881 and 1883, restoration of this amazing temple was undertaken at his initiative. By 1885 restoration was over and a sculpture garden was added.
Nowhere in Northern states one can witness Shiva, Vishnu and Durga (Sakthi) being worshipped on the same temple premises and it is corroborated by icons and inscriptions related to major traditions of Hinduism, Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism. A devotional hymn about Durga, the relief work on Garuda, the Vahana of Vishnu and a Shiva linga in the temple suggest the blend of three worship traditions.
Yet another contentious issue is the origin of this temple. Who had built the Teli Ka Mandir? In the absence of related inscriptions it is difficult to come up with an acceptable solution. Local folks are of strong view that the temple was built by people belonging to oil (edible) business caste and neither princely nor priestly class had established the temple.
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| Telika mandir Ornate pillar, flicker.com |
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| eli ka mandir ground planen.wikipedia.org |
The sanctum or garbagriha is the most important part any temple where the deity or deities are enshrined. A unique feature is the triratha (three rathas) sanctum has a rectangular plan that built on sits on a jagati platform (raised from the ground) and it has a large 20.
kapili projecting portico of about 11 feet (3.4 m) towards the east. The gopuram or tower rises about the rectangular sanctum to a height of 80 feet. This feature differs from south Indian temples with some exceptions. Above the tower it is a barrel vault shaped cap of 30 feet, more or less similar to South Indian gopuram. Amalaka, kalasha and other ornaments atop are missing. There are countless niches on the wall for stone images of deities, etc. The walls of temple has numerous niches for statues. But, now they are empty owing to damages. The niches are topped by tall pediments. The outer dimensions of the sanctum are 60 x40 feet with an 80 feet tower above the sanctum.
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| Teli Ka mandir entrance with defaced images upload.wikimedia.org |
The temple entrance way that has male and female dwarapalas (in Shiva -Sakthi tradition) is accessible through a a flight of stairs and the ornate door way has sculptures of river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. A rare feature is mithuna - amorous couples in various stages of courtship and intimacy. Chaitya-hall style gavaksha ornamentation reminds one of the Buddhist designs.
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| a structure close to Teli Ka mandir, Gwalior fort.upload.wikimedia.org |
As to the primary deity of this temple some historians say that it was not dedicated to all three tradition of Vaishvavism, Shivaism and Sakthism. Michael Meister, a professor specializing on Indian temple architecture postulates in the colonial era it would have been a Vishnu temple, later converted into Shiva temple. The temple may have actually started as a temple dedicated to the Matrikas (mother goddesses), but one that included the motifs of Vaishnanism and Shaivism.
https://travelmelodies.com/temples-in-gwalior/