Sahasrabahu or Harisadanam or Sasbahu Temple,Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh, India- RohitKumar Parmar

Sahasrabahu or Harisadanam or Sasbahu Temple,

Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India

- RohitKumar Parmar

Pic SasBah-01 Front view of Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Sahasrabahu or Harisadanam or Sasbahu Temple, is an 11th century temple in Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, dedicated to Vishnu in his Padmanabha form, and like most temples in this region, is in ruins, damaged by numerous invasions and wars in the region. The historical/mythological character Sahasrabahu (Sahasra bahu or 1000 arms) is also called Kartvirya Arjun.

सर्वजगतकारणं पद्मं नाभौ यस्य स पद्मनाभ: - The Lotus from which the entire universe was created, grows out of the navel of Bhagvan. पद्मस्य नाभौ मध्ये कर्णिकायां स्तिथ इति पद्मनाभ: -Bhagvan is situated in the middle (Nabhi) of Lotus flower. Hence he is called `Padmanabha’. Pic SasBah-02 is possibly an image of a lotus in the Sahasrabahu Temple.

Pic SasBah-02 Image of lotus in Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

As per an inscription found in the larger temple, these two temples were built in 1093 by King Mahipala of the Kachchhapaghata (कच्छपघात) dynasty. Archealogical Survey of India (ASI) could consider documenting all inscriptions alongwith translation/s and make them available to be further studied. This author has during visits to several temples (Ranakpur, Dilwara, other Jain Temples in Rajasthan; Kakanmath, Madhya Pradesh; Ramappa; and the thousand pillar temple, Warangal, Telangana) found that there is a smaller temple in the compound of the main temple. This could be a trial temple or a temple for use of other members of the society. ASI could consider documenting such sets of temples and make them available to be further studied.

The three storey plan with a foundation and balconies suggests that the temple had a North Indian Bhumija style architecture. The shikhar (tower) and garbha griha (sanctum) of the three storey temple has been destroyed, as can be seen from the following side view of the temple. (Pic SasBah-03)

Pic SasBah-03 Side view of three storey Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

The surviving parts of the temple are the entrance porch (passage/gallery) and the mandapa (a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals). (Pic SasBah-04 and Pic SasBah-05). The temple is covered with carvings, including of idols of deities at the entrance and the mandapa.

Pic SasBah-04 Entrance Porch, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-05 Mandappa, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

The high roof, large windows and balconies offering ventilation to the mandapa would have facilitated large gatherings for performance of Hindu prayers like meditation and/or arti and lighting of oil lamps.

The temple’s main entrance porch has four intricately carved Ruchaka ghatapallava (pot filled with flowers and leaves) style load-bearing stambha (pillars). (Pic SasBah-06).

Pic SasBah-06 Ornate porch and Mandappa, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Despite extensive damage, the architecture and carvings even today display fine art and sculpting. The temple ornamentation covers almost all exterior walls and interior surfaces. The carving/sculpting inside the mandapa is exquisite and fine. On the stambha (pillars) and lintels in the mandap, there is hardly any centimetre of space that is not minutely carved. (Pic SasBah-07).

Pic SasBah 07- Exquisite and fine carving covering every centimetre of the stambha (pillars) and lintels, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

The temple and the mandapa rest on stambha (pillars) and lintels, which serve as a structural support with decorative features. (Pic SasBah-08).

Pic SasBah 08- Decorative carving on the stambha (pillars) and lintels, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Indian temple architecture (including at the Sahasrabahu temple) has tall, slender, free-standing; stambha/ bhitti (pillars/ pilasters) supporting the lintel/beam; further supporting the structure, which are ornate with carvings of tales/stories of epics. The stambh (pillars) in the Sahasrabahu temple are similar to the basic parts of a pillar mentioned in ancient texts. (Pic SasBah-09).

Pic SasBah 09- Stambha (pillars) at Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior are similar to basic parts of the Stambha (pillars) in ancient texts

The two temples are more popularly called Sas-bahu temple. The word Sas-bahu translates `mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law’, and describes their relationship, which may have been critical even in those times. The Sas temple is typically the larger of the two. Both the temples offer a full view of each other from a vantage point. A view of the Sas temple from the Bahu temple and vice-versa are at Pic SasBah-10 and Pic SasBah-11 respectively. The bahu temple is on a higher platform, offering a grand view of the Gwalior city. (Pic SasBah-12).

Pic SasBah-10 View of the Sas temple from the Bahu temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-11 View of the Bahu temple from the Sas temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-12 View of the Gwalior city from the Bahu temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

A plan of the temple located from the web and pasted below (Pic SasBah-13), helps to better understand the same. ASI could consider preparing such plans for all the temples and make them available to be further studied.

Pic SasBah-13 Plan of the Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

The Sas temple has a square Garbha Griha (sanctum) attached to a rectangular two storey antarala and a closed three storey mandapa (pillared hall) with three entrances. The temple, like most historic temples in the vicinity provides multiple entrances to the devotee, possibly for ventilation and also to offer a view to devotees as they enter and to others who cannot enter due to crowds or other reasons.

The jagati (raised surface of the platform or terrace upon which some Hindu temples are built) platform has a square plan on which the Sas temple is built.

The Bahu temple also on a jagati, has a square sanctum with four central pillars, albeit at a higher level with a big courtyard to facilitate large gatherings. (Pic SasBah-14 and Pic SasBah-15).

Pic SasBah-14 Bahu temple on a vast courtyard, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-15 View of the courtyard outside the Bahu temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

There is visual evidence of damage to the interior and exterior structures, sculpted images, the garba griha (sanctum) of the Sas temple and also the Bahu temple.

The damage to the interior includes damage to the stambha (pillars) and lintels in the mandap (pillared hall) as can be seen in the following pictures. There is also evidence of strengthening of the stambha (pillars) and lintels in the mandap, which appears to have been done around a century ago. (Pic SasBah-16 to 20)

Pic SasBah-16 Evidence of damage to the lintels in the mandap, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-17 Evidence of damage and some repairs to the stambha (pillars) and lintels in the mandap, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-18 Evidence of damage and some repairs to the stambha (pillars) and lintels in the mandap, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-19 Evidence of damage and some repairs to the stambha (pillars) and lintels in the mandap, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-20 Evidence of damage and some repairs to the lintels in the mandap, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

There is damage to the exterior of the Sas temple also, other than the shikhar (tower) and the garba griha (sanctum) as can be seen from Pic SasBah-21 to 22.

Pic SasBah-21 Evidence of damage to the exterior of the Sas temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-22 Evidence of damage to the exterior of the Sas temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

The repairs to the garba graha (sanctum) which appears to be an attempt to save the structure from collapsing, displays poor workmanship. Pic SasBah-23

Pic SasBah-23 Poor workmanship in the repairs to the Garba Griha of the Sas temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

There is visual evidence of several of the sculpted images having been damaged as can be seen from Pic SasBah-24 to 25.

Pic SasBah-24 Evidence of damage to sculpted images in the Sas temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-25 Evidence of damage to sculpted images in the Sas temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

There is visual evidence of damage to the external structure and some of the sculpted images in the Bahu temple as can be seen from Pic SasBah-26 to 29.

Pic SasBah-26 Evidence of damage to the exterior of the Bahu temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-27 Evidence of damage to the exterior of the Bahu temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-28 Evidence of damage to the interior of the Bahu temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior

Pic SasBah-29 Evidence of damage to the interior of the Bahu temple, Sahasrabahu Temple, Gwalior