>Monkbot at 01:50, 12 December 2020

2020-12-12T01:50:00Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Galteshwar Mahadev Temple
| image = General view of the Galteshwar temple.jpg
| caption = General view of the temple from northeast corner
| map_type = India Gujarat
| map_caption = Location in Gujarat
| coordinates = {{coord|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| location = Sarnal village near [[Dakor]], [[Kheda district]], [[Gujarat]]
| locale =
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Chaulukya]] with Malwa influence
| temple_quantity = 1
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 12th century ([[Chaulukya]] period)
}}
The '''Galteshwar''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]], located at Sarnal village near [[Dakor]] in [[Kheda district]], [[Gujarat]], India. The 12th century temple is unique in its style and of its period because it is built in central Indian [[Malwa]] style, ''[[bhumija]]'', without influence of [[Paramara]] architecture and with influence of Gujarati [[Māru-Gurjara architecture|Chaulukya architecture]]. It has a square ''[[garbhagriha]]'' (shrine proper) as well as octagonal ''[[mandapa]]'' (dancing hall).

==Location==
The temple is located at the confluence of the Galta or Galti and [[Mahi river|Mahi]] rivers near Sarnal village.<ref name="Branch1977">{{cite book|author=Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Hyderabad Branch|title=Hindu Regeneration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TSInAQAAIAAJ|year=1977|page=313}}</ref> The temple received its name from the Galta river.<ref name="Gujarat1964">{{cite book|author=India. Superintendent of Census Operations, Gujarat|title=District Census Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsrUAAAAMAAJ|year=1964|publisher=Director, Government Print. and Stationery, Gujarat State|page=50}}</ref>

==History==
[[Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia|Hasmukh Sankalia]] has identified it with the [[Māru-Gurjara architecture|Chalukya architecture]] based on its circular shrine proper, crucifix-form dancing hall and the ornamentation.<ref name="Sankalia1941">{{cite book|last=Sankalia|first=Hasmukh|author-link=Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia|title=The Archaeology of Gujarat: Including Kathiawar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fvAdAAAAMAA|archive-url=http://www.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/51876|archive-date=2015|year=1941|publisher=Natwarlal & Company|pages=113–115|volume=Part II|chapter=III. Architecture. Section III. Medieval Period.}}</ref> [[Madhusudan Dhaky]] disputed it and mentioned the Gujarati architectural influence in ''shikhara'' and moldings and decorations on its basement and wall proper. Dhaky opines that the temple may have been constructed by someone who did not have first-hand information of the ''[[bhumija]]'' style of Malwa and rather depended on the Gujarat texts which treats ''bhumija'' style in Gujarati architecture. ''Aparajtaprccha'' is one such 12th century Gujarati text based on the Malwa text ''Samarangana Sutradhara''. So the temple must have been constructed in the 12th century. The moldings, decorations, and the sculptures resemble the Kumarapala Temple at [[Somnath]] and other shrines built in 12th century during the reign of the [[Chaulukya]] ruler [[Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)|Kumarapala]].<ref name="Dhaky1961"/>

The temple is associated with Galav, the [[Rishi]] from [[Purana]]s and a devoted king [[Chandrahasa|Chandrahas]] from [[Hindu mythology]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/6/196|title=Galteshwar, Shiva Temple, Dakor|website=www.gujarattourism.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-31}}</ref><ref name="GJ1977">{{cite book|author=Gujarat|title=Gujarat State Gazetteers: Kheda District|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCYbAAAAIAAJ|year=1977|publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State|page=825}}</ref>

The temple is the [[Monument of National Importance]] (N-GJ-144) protected by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="GJ1977"/>

==Architecture==
The Galteshwar temple is a ''bhumija'' style temple which is rarest known of Gujarat. The ''bhumija'' style was the popular style in the regions under the rule of [[Malwa]]. The temple is also rare ''ashtabhadra'' or ''ashtashala'' plan ''bhumija'' temple found rarely even in central India such as the [[Arang Jain temples|temple at Arang]]. The temple is completely devoid of the [[Paramara]] influence. The temple is ''nirandhara'' type having the ''garbhagriha'' (shrine proper) and the ''[[mandapa]]'' (dancing hall).<ref name="Sankalia1941"/><ref name="Dhaky1961">{{cite journal|first=Madhusudan A.|last=Dhaky|author-link=Madhusudan Dhaky|year=1961|editor-last=Deva|editor-first=Krishna|title=The Chronology of the Solanki Temples of Gujarat|url=http://vmis.in/Resources/digital_publication_popup?id=136#page/44|journal=Journal of the Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad|publisher=Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad|publication-place=[[Bhopal]]|volume=3|pages=61–62, 79–80}}</ref>

===''Garbhagriha''===
The shrine proper is located lower to the level of the ''mandapa'' and is square from inside. From outside, the shrine is circular with a diameter of 24 feet with numerous projections and recesses. The recesses have seven niches with the images of [[Dikpala]]s, the guardian deities of the eight directions. The front wall of the shrine proper is carved with ornamentation and figures which include different forms of [[Shiva]] which are now badly mutilated. The doorway is profusely ornamented with ''rupastambha''s of [[Mount Abu|Abu]] style.<ref name="Sankalia1941"/><ref name="Dhaky1961"/> The figures and carvings include ''[[gandharva]]''s, ascetics, horse riders, elephant riders, chariots, palanquins and the events of life, from birth to death.<ref name=":0" />

===''Mandapa''===
[[File:Pillars in the temple of Galteshwar.jpg|thumb|Pillars of the ''mandapa''|left]][[File:Karotaka, circular celling with Gajtalu and Karnadardarika at Galteshwar.jpg|thumb|''Karotaka'', circular ceiling with ''Gajtalu'' and ''Karnadardarika'']]
The eight-sided ''mandapa'' has several projecting angles similar to Chaulukya temples in Gujarat like the [[Sun Temple, Modhera|sun temple of Modhera]], [[Somnath temple]] and [[Sejakpur, Jhalawar|Sejakpur]] temple. The ''mandapa'' is in the crucifix form. It has three ''bhuja''s instead of usual two ''bhuja''s in the rear part.<ref name="Sankalia1941"/><ref name="Dhaky1961"/>

There are eight inner pillars and sixteen outer smaller pillars which supports the roof of the ''mandapa''. The smaller pillars have the smaller shaft, capital, and the brackets. The inner pillars have a square base with cut corners followed by two small necks. It is followed by the square shaft for the one-third height of the pillar, then octagonal for the half of the height of the pillar, then smaller sixteen sided shaft and then a circular shaft decorated with a band of the ''[[kirtimukha]]''s. It is crowned by the capital with dripping leaves ornamentation separated from the shaft by the narrow neck. The brackets have dwarfs and the ''kirtimukha''s. The sub-capital is vase shaped and the brackets is ornamented with dwarfs and volutes. They do not have ''padmashila'' carving.<ref name="Sankalia1941"/><ref name="Dhaky1961"/> The ''[[shikhara]]'' as well as the ''mandapa'' collapsed in 1908.<ref name="Sankalia1941"/> The ''shikhara'' was also ''bhumija'' in interpretation and Gujarat style components such as ''kutastambhika''s and ''shringa''s. The ''surasenaka'' of ''bhumija'' styled ''shikhara'' is also present but its morphology is different than the Paramara style.<ref name="Dhaky1961"/>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Galteshwar Mahadev Temple Gujarat.jpg|General view of the temple
File:Adhisthana (base) of Galteshwar temple.jpg|Adhisthana (base) of the temple
File:Back view of the Galteshwar temple.jpg|Back view of ''Garbhagriha''
File:Close view of Mandapa, Galteshwar temple.jpg|''Mandapa'' pillars of the left

</gallery>

==Culture==
Two fairs are held at Galteshwar every year, on [[Janmashtami]] and on [[Sharad Purnima]]. The temple is visited by large number of devotees on [[Mahashivaratri]].<ref name="aa">{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1991: Kheda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HmPeIkzT2gEC|year=1992|publisher=Government Photo Litho Press|page=30}}</ref>

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{Hindu temples in Gujarat}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:12th-century Hindu temples]]
[[Category:Cultural history of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kheda district]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Gujarat]]
[[Category:12th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Gujarat]]

Galteshwar Temple - Revision history

>Monkbot at 01:50, 12 December 2020