This video is based on my visit to Bateshwar Group of temples Morena(बटेश्वर मंदिर समूह मुरैना) which is a group of 200 temples located in Padhavali village of Morena District, MP. Bateshwar temple Morena Madhya Pradesh(बटेश्वर मंदिर मुरैना) were built by Gurjar Pratihar vansh rulers from 8th to 11th century. More than 200 temples were built in Bateshwar temple complex(बटेश्वर की कहानी) out of which 60 were restored in 2005 by Archaelogist KK Mohammad in Bateshwar temple restoration program. Bateshwar Group of temples are situated in Chambal ghati where dacoits used to live after the rule of other kings, so Bateshwar Temple MP became a good place to hide for dacoits. Morena Bateshwar mandir is where not only normal people but police also used to avoid their visits as it was completely occupied by dacoits. In this Bateshwar mandir ki video, I will tell you the Bateshwar Mandir ki kahani in which you will get to know Bateshwar Mandir kahan per hai, what is the History of Bateshwar Mandir Chambal.
The Bateshwar Hindu temples are known to be a group of 200 sandstone Hindu temples as well as their ruins in north Madhya Pradesh in post-Gupta, i.e., early Gurjara-Pratihara style of North Indian temple architecture. It is located at about 35 km north of Gwalior and about 30 km east of Morena town. These ancient temples are mostly small and spread over an area of 25 acres (10 ha) site. They are mostly dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Shakti - which are said to represent three major traditions within Hinduism. The site lies within the Chambal River valley ravines, which is on the north-western slope of a hill near Padavali Village which is known for its major medieval era Vishnu temple. The Bateshwar group of temples were known to be built between the 8th and the 11th-century. The site is named after the Bhuteshvar Temple, which is known to be the largest Shiva temple at this site. It is also called Batesvar temples site or Batesara temples site.
These temples were reconstructed from the fallen stones in a project that began by the ASI(Archaeological Survey of India) in the year 2005. Dacoit Nirbhay Singh Gujjar and his gang helped ASI restore this huge temple complex.
According to the MP Directorate of Archaeology, this group of 200 temples were known to be built during the reign of Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty. As per Michael Meister, who was an art historian and a professor who specialized in Indian temple architecture, the earliest temples in the Bateshwar group near Gwalior are said to be likely from the 750-800 CE period. Cunningham reports that one of the inscriptions on these temples was dated Samvat 1107 or 1050 AD.
The temples were said to be destroyed after the 13th century; clear evidence have not been found if this was done by an earthquake, or by Muslim forces.
In historical literature, this site is mentioned as Dharon or Paravali, later called as Padavali. The local name for this group of 200 temples is Batesvar or Bateshwar temples.
As per Cunningham's report in the year 1882, this site was a "confused assemblage of over one hundred temples of various sizes, but mostly small". The largest standing temple here was of Lord Shiva, wrote Cunningham, which was locally called Bhutesvara. However, to his surprise the temple was known to have a relief of Garuda on top, by which he speculated that the temple may have been a Vishnu temple before it was actually damaged and reused. The Bhutesvara temple had a square sanctum with a 6.75 feet (2.06 m) side, with a very small 20 square feet mahamandapa. The sanctum doorway was known to be flanked by river goddesses Ganga as well as Yamuna. The tower superstructure was a pyramid square which started off from a 15.33 feet (4.67 m) sided square seated on a flat roof, then slowly and rhythmically tapering off.
The standing temples here had sides that were made from single slabs which were set upright, above which sat flat roofs then had a pyramidal top as a part of their architecture. The site also had a water tank which was cut into the hill rock, with a number of rows of small temples arranged to form a street towards the tank. Cunningham also reported seeing Shivaling inside one of these temples, a trimurti statue, a Ganesha, Shiva and Parvati together around this temple. Very next to the Shiva temple was a Vishnu temple, which was about the same size as the Siva temple, again a square sanctum of 6.67 feet side with river goddesses Ganga as well as Yamuna flanking the doorway on its jambs.
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