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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Bisaldeo temple
| native_name = बीसलदेव मन्दिर
| native_name_lang = sa
| alt = A Hindu temple with water submerged courtyard near a dam's reservoir.
| image = Bisaldeo temple.jpg
| caption = Bisaldeo temple in 2016 with submerged courtyard
| map_type = India Rajasthan#India
| map_caption = Location in Rajasthan, India
| location = [[Bisalpur, Rajasthan|Bisalpur]]
| coordinates = {{coord|25.9271197|75.4571403|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| district = [[Tonk district|Tonk]]
| state = [[Rajasthan]]
| country = India
| established = 1150–1164 CE
| religious_affiliation = [[Shaivism]]
| deity = [[Shiva]]
}}
'''Bisaldeo temple''', also known as Bisaldev temple or Bisal Deoji's temple, is a [[Hindu temple]] in [[Bisalpur, Rajasthan|Bisalpur]], India. It is located beside the Bisalpur Dam on the [[Banas River]], in the [[Tonk district]] of [[Rajasthan]] state. The temple is dedicated to Gokarneshvara, an aspect of [[Shiva]]. A [[Lists of Indian Monuments of National Importance|Monument of National Importance]], it was commissioned by the 12th century [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari|Chahamana]] ruler [[Vigraharaja IV]], who is also known as Bisal Deo.

== History ==

[[File:Bisal Deo ji Temple.jpg|thumb|left|View of the temple with low water level in the reservoir]]
The temple is located in Bisalpur or Visalpur, which was also earlier known as Vigrahapura. The town was established by the [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari|Chahamana]] king [[Vigraharaja IV]] alias Visala or Bisal Deo (r. c. 1150–1164 CE). The king commissioned the temple that is now known as Bisal Deoji's temple.<ref name="ASI_Bisaldeo">{{cite web |url=http://asijaipurcircle.nic.in/Bisalpur-%20Bisaldeo%20temple,%20Todarai%20Singh.html |title=Bisaldeo temple |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |accessdate=6 December 2016 }}</ref>

The courtyard of the temple is now partly submerged by the waters of the [[Bisalpur Dam]] reservoir whenever the water level is high; before the construction of the dam in the 1990s, the temple stood on the top of a hill overlooking the confluence of the [[Banas River|Banas]] and the [[Dai River (India)|Dai]] rivers.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Amita Baviskar |title=Resettlement Issues: A dam and displacement |journal=Frontline |volume=14 |issue=1–7 |year=1997 |publisher=S. Rangarajan for Kasturi & Sons |page=133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b59KAQAAIAAJ }}</ref>

The [[Archaeological Survey of India]] has classified the structure as a [[Lists of Indian Monuments of National Importance|Monument of National Importance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_rajasthan.asp |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments – Rajasthan |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |accessdate=6 December 2016 }}</ref> The organization has also carried out a restoration of the temple.<ref>{{cite book |editor=Rakesh Tewari |url=http://asi.nic.in/PDF_data/iar_2006-07.pdf |title=Indian Archaeology 2006–07: A Review |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |year=2016 |page=332 |access-date=6 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220230225/http://asi.nic.in/PDF_data/iar_2006-07.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Architecture ==

The [[architectural plan]] of the temple measures {{convert|22.2|by|15.3|m|ft}}. The building comprises a ''[[garbhagriha]]'' (sanctum), a ''[[shikhara]]'' (tower), an ''[[antarala]]'' (vestibule), a square ''[[mandapa]]'' (hall) with a hemispherical dome, and a portico. It features a [[pancharatha]] projection. The sanctum houses a [[lingam|linga]] (a symbol of Shiva).<ref name="ASI_Bisaldeo"/>

The pillars of the temple feature carvings of floral [[festoon]]s, chain-and-bell and circular [[medal]]s.<ref name="ASI_Bisaldeo"/>

== Inscriptions ==

Multiple short inscriptions recording pilgrim visits have been discovered at the site.<ref name="ASI_Bisaldeo"/> Two of these are dated to the 12th century CE. An 1164–65 CE inscription records the visit of a [[Kayastha]] pilgrim. The name of the pilgrim is not clear, but his father's name can be read as [[Thakur (title)|Thakkura]] Shrivatsa. The inscription is dated to 15th day of the [[Shukla Paksha]] (fortnight) of the [[Pausha]] month of the [[Vikrama Samvat]] year 1221. An 1187–88 CE inscription records the donation of two sword handles in the ''[[mandapa]]'' (hall) of the temple of Śri Gokarṇa. It is dated to the Vikrama Samvat year 1244, which makes it one of the few extant inscriptions issued during the reign of Vigraharaja's nephew [[Prithviraja III]].<ref name="Circle1922">{{cite book |title=Archaeology, Progress Report |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Western Circle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XWJBAQAAIAAJ |year=1922 |page=56 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Kailash Chand Jain |title=Ancient Cities and Towns of Rajasthan: A Study of Culture and Civilization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FQx5a48dzlYC |year=1972 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |pages=410–411 }}</ref>

Besides these, some shorter inscriptions have also been discovered at the site:<ref name="ACL_1878">{{cite book |author1=A. C. L. Carlleyle |author2=Sir Alexander Cunningham |title=Report of a Tour in Eastern Rajputana in 1871–72 and 1872–73 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35451 |year=1878 |publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing |pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35451/page/n161 155]–156}}</ref>

* A one-line pillar inscription at the temple entrance
* A three-line pillar inscription in the vestibule, which reads "''Jogi Achpantadhaja''"
* A two-line pillar inscription in the vestibule, which reads "''Navva Guhilait''"
* A three-line inscription, which simply mentions the word "''Nava''" three times

== References ==
{{commons category|Bisaldeo Temple}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tonk district]]
[[Category:12th-century Hindu temples]]

Bisaldeo temple - Revision history

>InternetArchiveBot at 22:34, 26 February 2020