DASHAVATARA TEMPLE

WHY IN NEWS?

The Hindu: Dashavatara temple in dilapidated condition.

BACKGROUND

It is temple belonging to the Gupta period , built in 6 CE in Deogarh UP.

GUPTA TEMPLES mark the formative phase of temple construction in India that continued to influence temple-building right up to the medieval period.

DASHAVATARA TEMPLE AT DEOGARH

• Built in the panchayatan style (central main shrine surrounded by subsidiary shrines at 4 corners).
• Faces West ( usually temples in India face East).
• Dedicated to the avatars of Vishnu.
• Probably the oldest structural temple in India with the remains of a Shikara.

 Sculptural panels along the 3 walls of the Dashavatara temple

1.Anantashayi  Vishnu (Vishnu reclining on Adishesha)

2.Nara Narayana (twin brother avatar of Vishnu)

3.Gajendramoksha (Vishnu on Garuda saving Elephant king from serpents)

It also contains  small footprint images of various deities such as Shiva, Parvati, Kartikeya, Brahma, Indra, River goddesses Ganga and Yamuna, as well as a panel showing the five Pandavas of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and secular images such as mithunas (couples)