>KartikMistry at 06:11, 8 July 2020

2020-07-08T06:11:12Z

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{{Infobox building
| name = Firangi Deval
| logo =
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| image = Firangi Deval, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India.jpg
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| coordinates = {{coord|21.0717|71.5348|region:IN-GJ|display=inline, title}}
| pushpin_map = India Gujarat#India
| map_caption = Location in Gujarat
| map_dot_label = Firangi Deval
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| former_names =
| alternate_names = Devalvasi, Maitraka Temple of Kalsar
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| building_type = Temple
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| location = Kalsar village near Mahuva, [[Bhavnagar district]], [[Gujarat]]
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| location_country = [[India]]
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| designations = [[Archeological Survey of India|ASI]] State Protected Monument (S-GJ-33)
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'''Firangi Deval''', also known as '''Devalvasi''', is an old temple monument located in Kalsar village near [[Mahuva, Bhavnagar|Mahuva]], [[Bhavnagar district]], [[Gujarat]], India.<ref name="GS2013"/>

==History==
It is constructed in 7th century during the [[Maitraka]] rule.<ref name="GS2013"/><ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969"/> It is said locally that the temple was used to hoist flag to warn citizens to return to castle in case of raid. The temple is about two kilometres from sea. The claim can not be historically verified.<ref name="GS2013"/>

It is state protected monument (S-GJ-33).<ref name="GSPM2016">{{cite web | title=Monuments of Bhavnagar district| website=Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat State | date=26 December 2016| url=http://www.sycd.gujarat.gov.in/showpage.aspx?contentid=4844&lang=English | language=gu | accessdate=30 December 2016}}</ref> It is now poorly maintained.<ref name="divyabhaskar 2011">{{cite web | title=બેદરકારીને લીધે પુરાતન સ્થાપત્યોનું સૌંદર્ય નષ્ટ | website=Divyabhaskar | date=21 October 2011 | url=http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news/SAU-bhavnagars-acient-place-in-bad-position-2516042.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230055958/http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news/SAU-bhavnagars-acient-place-in-bad-position-2516042.html | language=gu | accessdate=30 December 2016|archive-date=30 December 2016}}</ref> [[Ravishankar Raval]] had first described the temple in 1947-48 as the Sun Temple.<ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969"/>

The temple has close affinity with the temples of [[Bileshwar]], [[Visavada]] and [[Sutrapada]].<ref name="Sompura1968"/>

==Architecture==
This east facing shrine proper is slight oblong in plan with small ''mandapa'' hall in front of it. The structure is built on plain ''upapitha'', plinth. The walls are plain except the upper most area where there is ''Dantavali'', a carved band of stylized rafter's end with minor ''kapota'' at the top. The superstructure above the temple is built by ''tritala'', three courses with all three having ''Karnakuta'' carvings in order of 4, 3 and 2. The upper most crowning stone is missing which may have been ''Sala-shikhara''. The ''mandapa'' too has superstructure ''vimana'' with one less course, which let into fronton of ''vimana'' over cella. The crowning stone has large ''Surpa'' with prominent ''Chandrasala'' in front of it. ''Karnakuta'' is used to decorate both superstructures but they are not decorated with ''Chaitya'' dormers here.<ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969"/> No mortar is used to fix the stones.<ref name="Sompura1968">{{cite book|last=Sompura|first=Kantilal F.|title=The Structural Temples of Gujarat, Upto 1600 A.D.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dXTqAAAAMAAJ|year=1968|publisher=Gujarat University|pages=93}}</ref>

The temple is not used for worship now and does not contain any idol of deity. The temple was probably used as Buddhist or Brahminical shrine identified by ''Chaitya'' dormers on the courses of ''vimana''.<ref name="GS2013">{{cite web | title=મહુવા નજીક કળસારમાં છે, મૈત્રક સમયનું ૭મી સદીનું ફિરંગી દેવળ | website=[[Gujarat Samachar]] | date=28 December 2016| url=http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/index.php/articles/display_article/bhavnagar/rajkot-talaja-kalasara-closer-instantly-at-the-time-of-the-7th-century-church-ferengi | language=gu | accessdate=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230055933/http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/index.php/articles/display_article/bhavnagar/rajkot-talaja-kalasara-closer-instantly-at-the-time-of-the-7th-century-church-ferengi|archive-date=30 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Nanavati Dhaky 1969">{{cite journal | last=Nanavati | first=J. M. | last2=Dhaky | first2=M. A. | title=The Maitraka and the Saindhava Temples of Gujarat| journal=Artibus Asiae. Supplementum | volume=26 | year=1969 | doi=10.2307/1522666 |pages=33–40, 53| jstor=1522666 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Hindu temples in Gujarat}}
[[Category:Hindu temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:History of Gujarat]]
[[Category:7th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Cultural history of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bhavnagar district]]

Firangi Deval - Revision history

>KartikMistry at 06:11, 8 July 2020