>GreenC bot at 15:06, 14 April 2021

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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox Mandir
| name = Bhima Devi Temple Complex
| image = Bhima Devi.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Haryana#India
| map_caption = Location in Haryana
| coordinates = {{coord|30.7967929|N|76.9144668|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title|Name=Bhima Devi Temple Site Museum}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Haryana]]
| district =
| location = [[Pinjore]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Lord Shiva]]
| festivals=
| architecture = Indian architecture
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 8th to 12th century
| creator = Raja Ram Dev
| website =
}}

The '''Bhima Devi Temple Complex''', nicknamed '''Khajuraho of North India''' for its erotic sculptures, comprises the restored ruins of an ancient [[Hindu temple]] dating from between 8th and 11th century AD, together with the adjacent 17th-century [[Pinjore gardens]] (a variant of [[Mughal gardens]]), located in [[Pinjore]] town in [[Panchkula district]] of the state of [[Haryana]], India.<ref name=Haryana>{{Cite web|url=http://haryanatourism.gov.in/bhimadevi.asp|title=Bhima Devi Temple|access-date=2009-08-29|publisher=Government of Haryana Tourism Department|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925015255/http://haryanatourism.gov.in/bhimadevi.asp|archive-date=25 September 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=Heritage>{{Cite web |url=http://www.punjabheritage.org/content/view/615/32/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526215535/http://www.punjabheritage.org/content/view/615/32 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2009 |title=Haryana CM asks to develop Bhima Devi temple |access-date=2009-08-29 |publisher=Punjab Newsline |date=2007-07-05 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=Press>{{Cite web|url=http://haryanatourism.gov.in/writereaddata/News/38.doc|title= Bhima Devi Museum Opens to Public on 13th July|access-date=2009-08-29|publisher= Press release by Government of Haryana, Tourism Department}}</ref> The old temple was destroyed by Islamic invaders and the present 8-11th CE temple is likely built on the same place under the old name, and the nearby ancient [[baoli]] still has old Hindu pillars.<ref name=hargazc1>[http://revenueharyana.gov.in/Portals/0/hr-gaz-ch-5.pdf Haryana Gazateer], Revenue Department of Haryana, Capter-V.</ref> Bhimadevi belongs to the [[Shakti]] tradition that was derived from the [[Buddhist]] [[tantra|tantric]] goddess. Further, in the [[Devi Mahatmya]] it is said that in the [[West]]ern [[Himalayas]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]] ([[Pinjore]] region adjoins [[Himachal]] [[Himalayas]]), Bhimadevi appeared in an enormous form of Bhimarupa ([[Bhima]]’s form) and gave protection to the sages (''munis'' in [[Sanskrit]]).<ref name = "Hāṇḍā" >{{Cite book|last= Hāṇḍā|first= Omacanda|title= Temple architecture of the western Himalaya: wooden temples|work=Multi tiererd Pyramidal temples|page=237|access-date=2009-08-29|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_KmaKomlI-UC&q=Bhimadevi+Temple&pg=PA237|publisher= Indus Publishing|year=2001|isbn=978-81-7387-115-3}}</ref> The site was worked upon extensively by the team of Speaking Archaeologically from 2017 to 2019, with preliminary survey beginning as early as in 2015 and the report was published as the [[Speaking Archaeologically]] Journal Volume III:Bhima Devi Project Edition in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Speaking Archaeologically Bhima Devi Project|url=https://speakingarchaeologically.com/the-bhima-devi-temple-project/|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

The Bhima Devi temple was sculptured during the reign of [[Gurjara-Pratiharas]]. Most of the complex ruins comprising sculptures and architectural design, which were ruined during [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] period under [[Aurangzeb]], are of the times of the Gurjara-Pratiharas.<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian archaeology, a review|author=Archaeological Survey of India|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|year=1978|page=113}}</ref> Archaeological excavations done in 1974 revealed the temple, which was subsequently dated to 8th century to 11th century AD and declared as a protected monument under the ‘Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act-1964’. The unearthed findings cover over 100 [[antiquarian]] sculptures, apart from a layout plan indicating a five temples complex, including the main central shrine representing the [[Panchayatana (temple)|Panchayatana]] architectural style, similar to the styles seen in the contemporaneous [[Khajuraho]] and [[Bhubaneshwar]] temples. The temple complex adjoins the Pinjore Gardens, also known as Mughal gardens built by [[Aurangzeb]]’s foster brother using much of the ruins of the Hindu temples destroyed by the [[Muslim]] invaders from the 13th century onwards till the 17th century.<ref name="Haryana" /><ref name="Heritage" /><ref name="Press" />

Muslim invasions of Pinjore town started with [[Nasiruddin Mahmud (grandson of Iltutmish)|Nasiruddin Mahmud]] ([[Iltumish]]'s grandson) in 1254 AD, continued with other invaders like [[Timurlane]] and lasted till Governor of [[Sirhind]] [[Fidai Khan Koka]]’s (foster brother of [[Aurangzeb]]) onslaught in 1666. These islamist invasions were responsible for the wanton destruction of this ancient Hindu temple complex. The Pinjore gardens (now renamed as Yadvendra Gardens after [[Yadavindra Singh]] [[Maharaja]] of the former princely state of [[Patiala]]) developed in the 17th century, by Fidai Khan (who was also the architect), was reportedly constructed partly with ruins of the destroyed temple. This garden is considered as a lovely Mughal garden, one of the oldest in northern India.<ref name =Heritage/><ref name=Press/>

An open-air museum with the Bhima Devi temple ruins (85 % of the ancient sculptures have been aesthetically installed at different places of the open-air museum). Integrated with the Yadavindra Gardens, it has been developed with attractive modern illumination arrangements.<ref name=times>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-13/chandigarh/28167354_1_temple-12th-century-ad-yadavindra-gardens|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024162028/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-13/chandigarh/28167354_1_temple-12th-century-ad-yadavindra-gardens|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-10-24|title= Pinjore adds to its history of attraction|access-date=2009-08-29|date=2009-07-13|first1=Manveer|work=[[The Times of India]]|last1=Saini}}</ref> The garden and the temple complex laid in an open-air museum are integrated through well laid out and well drained (to remove any water logging) pathways and the whole complex has been beautifully illuminated. A heritage train has been introduced to visit all the monuments and the gardens in the complex.<ref name=times/><ref name=India/>

==Location==
[[Pinjore]], where the Bhimadevi temple complex is located, is approachable by road, rail and air from all parts of the country. It is well connected with [[Chandigarh]], which is the capital region of both Haryana and [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] states and a [[Union Territory]] administered by the [[Government of India]], at a road distance of {{convert|20|km|mi}}. It is {{convert|5|km|mi}} from [[Kalka]], on the road to [[Shimla]].<ref name=tour/>

Its distance from other major cities is as follows: [[Panipat]] 57 km, [[Shimla]] 92 km, [[Kurukshetra]] 105 km, [[Ludhiana]] 123 km, [[Dehradun]] 165 km, [[Dharamsala|Dharamshala]] 231 km, [[Amritsar]] 242 km, [[Hisar (city)|Hisar]] 240 km, [[Delhi]] 267 km, [[Agra]] 467 km and [[Khajuraho]] 886 km.

==History==
The temple, located in [[Pinjore]], is dated from archaeological excavations as an ancient historical and religious place. Archaeological excavations have revealed that this region, extending from [[Pinjore]] to [[Nalagarh]], establishes earliest habitation by man to 1.5 million years ago. This is based on tools of [[Paleolithic]] period found in [[quartzite]] formations in the region.<ref name =Pinjore/>{{better source needed|reason=Not a scholarly source, government babus are not authorities on this topic. Moreover, the source says "it is said", but doesn't mention who says this. |date=May 2019}}

Also, from the rock edicts found from the temple ruins in the area during excavations, it has been conjectured that they were constructed during the reign of Raja Ram Dev.<ref name=Press/>

But Muslim invasions from 13th century onwards resulted in repeated destruction of the temple complex. The first act of depredation was carried out by Nasir-u-Din Mahmood, son of [[Iltutmish]] of the [[Slave Dynasty]] rule (1206-1290 AD) in the year 1254 A.D. [[Timurlane]] who invaded India in 1399 AD destroyed the temples further. This was followed by Changez Khan's destruction in 1507 A.D. The final total destruction of these [[Hindu]] temples was effected in 1661 by Muzzaffar Hussain, also known as Fidai Khan Koka, who was the foster brother of the infamous [[Mughal emperors|Mughal]] iconoclast badshah of Delhi [[Aurangzeb]], Koka means foster brother to the king. Fidai Khan Koka was then Nawab (governor) of [[Sirhind]] who razed this temple and built the [[Pinjore]] gardens in the Islamic style using the ruins of [[Hindu]] temples he destroyed.<ref name=Haryana/><ref name=Press/> Later in 1671, Fidai Khan Koka was appointed as governor of [[Lahore]] for the purpose of building [[Badshahi Mosque]] there, which was later conquered by the [[Sikh]] ruler [[Maharaja]] [[Ranjit Singh]] in 1799 who used that [[Badshahi Mosque]] built by Fidai Khan as stable for the horses.

==Temple complex==
The temple complex comprises the ruins of the temple, aesthetically arranged in an open-air museum (patterned on the original Panchayatana layout) housing 80 pedestals fixed with the excavated sculptures, and the Pinjore gardens with which the temple complex is fully integrated (with 150 focus lights).<ref name=Haryana/><ref name=Press/>

[[Pinjore#Islamic_invasion_of_Pinjore|Some parts]] of current Pinjore town are situated atop an [[Medieval_India#Early_medieval_period|early medieval era]] mound. Artifacts belonging to 9th century CE to 12th century CE, which show the development and diversity of [[Hinduism]], were excavated from here. These include ornamental structural pieces, pillars, sculptures and inscriptions, ; two figures of Ayudha Puras, fragments of a colossal image of [[Vishnu]], statue of [[Shiva]], another four armed Shiva, large head of [[Bhairava]] (hindu [[Tantras|tantric]] deity), [[Kubera]], seated [[Ganesha]], head of [[Surya]] (sun god), [[Shakti]] images of [[Shiva|Saivi]] (feminine form of Shiva), [[Durga]], [[Parvati]], [[Chamunda]], standing [[Tirthankaras]], another headless [[Tirthankara]] statue and other minor sculptures.<ref name=hargazc1/> Some of these have bene displayed in the Bhima Devi Temple Site Museum.

The excavation of the ancient temple in 1974 was a historic discovery linking the antiquarian finds to the establishment of the temple to the period between 8th and 12th centuries of [[Gurjara-Pratihara#Gurjara-Pratihara art|Gurjara-Pratihara School of Art]]. The excavations have revealed five ancient plinths or pedestals and over 100 beautiful sculptures. The direction of these plinths indicate that the temple was stylized to the [[Panchayatana (temple)|Panchayatan]] group of temples, where the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines, which is contemporaneous to the temples of [[Khajuraho Group of Monuments|
Khajuraho]] and [[List of temples in Bhubaneswar|Bhubaneshwar]]. Erotic images of the Bhima Devi temple contemporary to [[Khajuraho Group of Monuments|Khajuraho temples]], have earned it a nickname of ''Khajuraho of North India''. In keeping with Hindu tradition of temple architecture, the outer walls of the temple complex are adorned with statues [[Ashta-Dikpalas]] like, [[Indra]], [[Agni]], [[Vayu]], [[Varuna|Varun]] & [[Ishan]] in the cardinal directions. The idols of [[Hindu]] gods and goddesses such as [[Shiva]], [[Parvati]], [[Vishnu]], [[Ganesha]] and [[Kartikeya]] have been unearthed and most of them are now displayed in the museum (spread over an area of {{convert|8|acre|ha}}) here. From these findings, the Archaeological Department has conjectured that the main deity at the temple may have been of Lord [[Shiva]].<ref name=Haryana/><ref name =Heritage/><ref name=India>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiapost.com/travel/4808-Pinjore-heritage-site-gets-face-lift.html|title= Pinjore heritage site gets a face-lift|access-date=2009-08-29|publisher=India Post|date=2009-07-13}}</ref>

Gray and green sandstone available locally in the region are the main source of material used to carve the stone sculptures. Archeologists have classified the sculptures under four categories, namely:<ref name=Haryana/>

:# Sculptures of [[Hindu]] Gods & Goddesses,
:# Idols of [[Apsaras]], attendants, [[Gandharvas]] and celestial musicians
:# Motifs of Animals
:# Erotic images of the contemporary times

The most outstanding sculpture displayed in the temple complex is that of [[Lord Shiva]] (see infobox), which has been described as in:<ref name=Handa>{{Cite book|last=Handa|first=Devendra|title= Sculptures from Haryana: iconography and style|pages= 141, 222 and 223|access-date=2009-08-29|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dfDVAAAAMAAJ&q=Bhimadevi+Temple |publisher= Indian Institute of Advanced Study|year=2006|isbn=978-81-7305-307-8}}</ref>

<blockquote>''Sarma Bhanga (contraposto) bearing a high ''jata'' or ''juta,'' ear ornaments, ekavali, sacred thread, armlets, wristlets, long garland, dhoti secured by an elaborate girdle, etc, holding a trident with its upper portion damaged in the rear right hand and a snake in the back left. The proper right hand of the God is in ''Varadmudra'', touching the head of a small human figure standing in ''[[tribhanga]]'' standing behind the bull at right of the God.''
</blockquote>

Splinters or pieces of [[Yama]] image in the form of "the head and ''Khajvanga'' in a pedimented ''rathika'' have also been deciphered and linked to an image of [[Yama]] found in Chandi Mandir, nearby."<ref name=Handa/>

A beautiful image of [[Varuna]] (as per [[Hinduism]] Varuna is the lord of water and sea, and the guardian of the western quarter) has been found here in a<ref name=Handa/><blockquote>
''standing pose in ''dvibhanga'' bearing a high ''jata'' or ''jita'' adorned with jewels and wearing the usual ornaments with proper right hand in a ''varada'' pose probably also with a rosary.''</blockquote>

;Pinjore gardens
{{main|Pinjore gardens}}
[[File:Mughal Gardens Pinjore.jpg|right|thumb|Pinjore Gardens
Beauty to meet history at Bhima Devi museum in Yadvendra Gardens]]
[[File:Pinjore Gardens.JPG|right|thumb|Pinjore Gardens at night]]

Pinjore Garden was created in the 17th century by Fidai Khan, the Governor of Sirhind who completely destroyed the adjacent ancient temple of Bhima Deva. In recent times, it has been renamed as 'Yadavindra Garden' in the memory of Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of the former princely state of Patiala.<ref name =Pinjore/> After it was initially built by Fidai Khan, the garden was refurbished by Yadevendra Singh and restored to its former spledour, since it had grown into a wild jungle after initially built due to long years of neglect.<ref name=tour>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tourism-of-india.com/pinjore.html|title=Tourism of India|access-date=2009-09-04}}</ref>

The garden has been laid in seven terraces with the main gate of the garden opening into the highest first terrace which has a palace built in [[Rajasthani architecture|Rajasthani]]–[[Mughal architecture|Mughal]] style. It is called the "Shish Mahal" (Palace of Mirrors), which is adjoined by a romantic "Hawa Mahal" (Breezy Palace). The second terrace with arched doorways has the "Rang Mahal" (Palace of Colors) since it was brightly painted and decorated to be used to house the ruler's wives and mistresses. The third terrace has [[cypress]] trees and flowerbeds leading to dense groves of fruit trees. The next terrace has the "Jal Mahal" (palace of water) with a square fountain bed and a platform to relax. Fountains and tree groves are provided in the next terrace. The lowermost terrace has an open-air theatre, which is designed as a disc-like structure. A zoo adjoins the gardens.<ref name =Pinjore/>

Special festivals such as the [[Baisakhi]] (spring) festival in April and the [[Mango]] festival in June and July are major attractions at the gardens.<ref name=tour/>

==Panchpura baoli==
{{anchor | Pandava baoli | Panchpura baoli | Pinjore baoli}}
[[Pinjore]] town where the temple complex is located has historic link to the [[Pandavas]], heroes of [[Mahabharata]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]]. An inscription in the [[Pinjore]] [[Baoli]] (‘Baoli’ means "step well") described this place as Panchpura (now known by the shorter name [[Pinjore]]). It is said that the [[Pandavas]] remained here for about one year on their way to the [[Himalayas]] to spend the forced exile period (''agyaatvaas'' or living incognito) of 13 years. It is also said that the Pandavas worshipped goddess [[Mahakali]] here and performed [[yagna]].<ref name=Pinjore>{{Cite web|url=http://panchkula.nic.in/places.html |title=Places of Interest |access-date=2009-08-29 |publisher=National Informatics Centre (NIC), Government of India, Panchkula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410003249/http://panchkula.nic.in/places.html |archive-date=10 April 2009 }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wikimapia.org/5976450/Bhima-Devi-Kali-Bhairva-Temple|title=Bhima-Devi-Kali-Bhairva-Temple|access-date=2009-08-29}}</ref> [[Alexander Cunningham]], founding Director-general of [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]], decipher the worn out letters of Pinjore Baoli inscription, which mentions that the old name of the place was Panchpura.<ref>Alexander Cunningham : Archaeological Survey of India, Report XIV, p.70.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Ruins_of_Bhima_Devi.JPG

File:Image_of_Bhima_Devi_Ruins.JPG

File:Pinjore Gardens at night.jpg
File:Pinjore Gardens.JPG
</gallery>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Kalayat Ancient Bricks Temple Complex]]
* [[Khajuraho Group of Monuments|Khajuraho temples]]
* [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Haryana]]
* [[List of State Protected Monuments in Haryana]]
* [[List of Indus Valley Civilization sites]] in [[Haryana]]
* [[List of National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana, India]]
* [[Haryana Tourism]]
{{div col end}}
{{Haryana}}

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}
{{Haryana}}
{{Hindu temples in Haryana}}

[[Category:Gardens in India]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Haryana]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in India]]
[[Category:8th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:State Protected Monuments in Haryana]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Panchkula district]]

Bhima Devi Temple Site Museum - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 15:06, 14 April 2021