>Pratyk321 at 18:42, 9 August 2021

2021-08-09T18:42:22Z

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{{short description|Town in Kanpur district famous for its ancient Hindu temple}}
{{about|the town in Uttar Pradesh|the village in Maharashtra|Bitargaon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Bhitargaon
| native_name =
| alternate_name =
| image = File:Gupt kalin mandir bhitargaon (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption = Bhitargaon temple.
| map_type = South Asia#Uttar Pradesh
| map_alt =
| map_size =
| map_dot_label = Bhitargaon
| relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|26.210556|80.276111|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| region =
| type = Hindu Temple
| part_of =
| length =
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| builder =
| material =
| built = Late 5th century [[Common era|CE]]
| abandoned =
| epochs = 
| cultures = [[Gupta Empire]]
| dependency_of =
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| excavations =
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| management =
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| notes =
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'''Bhitargaon''' is a town in [[Kanpur Nagar district|Kanpur district]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]], known for its ancient [[Hindu temple]], the largest Indian brick temple to survive from the time of the [[Gupta Empire]]. Despite being heavily restored, a number of original features remain.<ref>Michell, George, ''The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu'', p. 157, 1989, Penguin Books, {{ISBN|0140081445}}</ref> It is dated to the late 5th century.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Harle |first1=James C. |title=The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-06217-5 |page=116 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LwcBVvdqyBkC&pg=PA116 |language=en}}</ref>

==Bhitargaon Temple==
[[File:Bhitargaon back.jpg|thumb|250px|Rear view of the temple at Bhitargaon, 1875.]]
The Bhitargaon Temple is a terraced brick building fronted with a [[terracotta]] panel. Built in the 5th century during the [[Gupta period]],<ref>Schastok, Sara L., [https://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/amit/bicycling/bhitargaon/], [https://books.google.com/books?id=jh1fF8HvJmMC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31 ''The Śāmalājī Sculptures and 6th Century Art in Western India'']. BRILL, 1985.</ref><ref>Jayewardene-Pillai, Shanti, [https://books.google.com/books?id=36IBkEKlEC8C&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92 ''Imperial Conversations: Indo-Britons and the Architecture of South India'']. Yoda Press, 2007.</ref><ref>Begler, Joseph David, [http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/r/019pho000001003u00677000.html Rear view of the temple at Bhitargaon, Kanpur District]. British Library, 2009.</ref><ref>Brown, Percy, ''Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods)''. D B Taraporevala, Mumbai, 1959.</ref><ref>Harle, J. C., ''Gupta Sculpture''. Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, 1974. {{ISBN|8121506417}}.</ref><ref>Dalal, Roshen, [https://books.google.com/books?id=pNmfdAKFpkQC&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60 ''The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths'']. Penguin Books India, 2010.</ref><ref>Kramrisch, Stella and Raymond Burnier, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NNcXrBlI9S0C&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101 ''The Hindu Temple, Volume 1'']. Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1976.</ref><ref>de Laet, Sigfried J., [https://books.google.com/books?id=PvlthkbFU1UC&pg=PA1005&lpg=PA1005 ''History of Humanity: From the seventh to the sixteenth century'']. UNESCO, 1994.</ref> it is the oldest remaining brick/terracotta [[Hindu]] shrine with a roof and a high [[shikhara]], though its upper chamber did sustain some damage in the 18th century.

The temple is built on a square plan with double-recessed corners and faces east. There is a tall pyramidal spire over the [[garbhagriha]]. The walls are decorated with terracotta panels depicting aquatic monsters, [[Shiva]] and [[Vishnu]] etc. When [[Alexander Cunningham]] first visited the site, the remains of the porch and of the [[ardhamandapa]] were still visible, which later collapsed.

===Description of the architecture and layout of Bhitargaon temple ===
The construction material is bricks and terracotta. The brick size is 18" x 9'' x 3" and the other salient features are following:
*The size of platform on which the temple is built is 36 feet x 47 feet.
*The santum is 15 feet x 15 feet internally.
*The santum is double story.
*The wall thickness is 8 feet.
*The total height from ground to top is 68.25 feet.
*There is no window.
*The terracotta sculpture depicts both secular and religious theme such as deities like [[Ganesha]] and [[Durga]] [[Mahisasurmardini]]. Myths and stories representing abduction of [[Sita]] and the penance of [[Nara-Narayana]].
*Shikara is a stepped pyramid and got damaged by thunder in 1894.
*The first story of sanctum felled in 1850.

==Behta Bujurg temple==
There is another ancient temple in Behta Bujurg (or Behata Bujurg) village which is only 4.3 km far from bhitargaon, also protected by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>[[:File:Behta bujurg temple (ASI inscription).jpg|ASI notice]]</ref> The temple is dedicated to Lord [[Jagannath]], and has a highly unusual curving shape, with buddhist stupa(Mound) like resemblance. However a close look reveals nagara style curvilinear shape. There are significant detached ancient sculptures: Lord Jagannath idol, a [[Surya]] (sun deity) sculpture and a Lord Vishnu sculpture carved on a large block of stone depicting lord vishnu resting on seshnaga. The temple is known locally as the "Rain Temple" as the ceiling is said to drip water several days before the rain arrive, which is of great interest to local farmers.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KPh23Wj9zY ''News Express'' video] (3:02, in Hindi)</ref>

==Other historic brick temples==
* [[Po Nagar]] and [[Po Klong Garai]]
* [[Mahabodhi Temple]]
* [[:id:Candi Bima]] Dieng Candi Bima
* [[Sambor Prei Kuk]]
* [[Sirpur, Mahasamund]] Laksman temple
* [[Rajgir]] Maniyar Math, Vaibhar giri temples
* [[Bishnupur, Bankura]]
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3249898] Kherahat temple<ref>A Brick Temple of the Ninth Century, Michael D. Willis, Artibus Asiae, Vol. 52, No. 1/2 (1992), pp. 25-46, Artibus Asiae Publishers</ref>
* [http://www.arthistory.upenn.edu/saltrange/george/Kalar.html] Kalar, brick temple

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Bhitargaon front.jpg|Front view of the temple at Bhitargaon, 1875
File:Brick temple.jpg|The oldest remaining Hindu shrine Brick Temple
File:Bhitargaon details2.jpg|Close view of façade showing the detail of mouldings and sculpture niches, 1875
File:Bhitargaon details.jpg|Close view of temple façade showing the detail of mouldings and sculpture niches, 1878
File:Behta bujurg temple complex..jpg|Behta Bujurg temple
File:Bhitargaon temple .jpg|Rear view of the Bhitargaon temple.
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Gupta art]]
* [[Hindu temple architecture#Historical Chronology|Hindu temple architecture (Historical Chronology)]]
* [[Gwalior#Teli k.C4.81 Mandir|Teli Ka Mandir, Gwalior]]

==References==
{{commons category|Temple of Bhitargaon}}

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.india9.com/i9show/Bhitargaon-41339.htm Bhitargaon]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110727202446/http://www.rcueslko.org/jnnurm/Kanpur/10%20Chapter%2010%20Heritage%20and%20Tourism.pdf Heritage and Tourism], Kanpur City Development Plan
* Brick temples [http://www.prasada.org.uk/indian_temple/production_flash_gallerys/brick/production_brick_temples.html]

{{Kanpur Nagar district}}
{{Kanpur}}
{{Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh}}

[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Kanpur]]
[[Category:5th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kanpur Nagar district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Gupta art]]

Bhitargaon - Revision history

>Pratyk321 at 18:42, 9 August 2021