Surendra Sharma at 15:20, 17 February 2026

2026-02-17T15:20:44Z

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{{Short description|Pratihara-style panchayatana Shiva temple complex (1000–1025 CE)}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Kakanmath
| native_name = ककनमठ
| native_name_lang = sa
| image = Kakan Math.jpg
| caption = Kakanmath in 2015
| map_type = India Madhya Pradesh#India
| map_caption = Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
| location = [[Sihoniya]]
| coordinates = {{coord|26.5849309|78.2485567|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Shaivism]]
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| district = [[Morena district|Morena]]
| state = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| established = 1015-1035 CE
}}
'''Kakanmaṭh''' is a ruined 11th century [[Shiva]] temple located at [[Sihoniya]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]. It was built by the [[Kachchhapaghata dynasty|Kachchhapaghata]] ruler Kirttiraja. Only a part of the original temple complex now survives. Some of the sculptures from the site are now located at [[Gwalior]].

== History ==

The Kakanmath temple was commissioned by [[Kachchhapaghata dynasty|Kachchhapaghata]] ruler Kirttiraja (r. c. 1015-1035 CE).{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Kakanmath|2016}} This can be inferred from a Kachchhapaghata inscription found at the [[Sas-Bahu Temple]] in [[Gwalior]]. The inscription states that Kirttiraja built an extraordinary temple devoted to [[Parvati]]'s lord (Shiva) at Siṁhapānīya (modern Sihoniya).{{sfn|Michael Architecture|1996|pp=13-32}}{{sfn|Harihar Vitthal Trivedi|1991|p=542}}

According to a folk legend, the temple was named "Kakanmadh" after Kakanavati or Kakanade, who was the queen of one Surajpala. The historicity of this legend is doubtful. One possibility is that the name of the temple derives from the words ''kanak'' (gold) and ''[[matha|maṭha]]'' (shrine).{{sfn|R. K. Sharma|Ramesh Chandra Agrawal|1995|p=251}}

Originally, the site had a temple complex, with a central temple surrounded by four subsidiary shrines. Only the ruins of the central temple stand now: its outer walls, balconies and a part of its [[shikhara|spire]] have fallen. This damage probably happened during an earthquake.{{sfn|Michael Architecture|1996|p=16}} A [[Sanskrit]]-language pillar inscription dated 1[4]50 [[Vikram Samvat|VS]] (1393-94 CE) records the renovation of the Mahadeva temple (that is, Kakanmath) by one Durgaprasada.{{sfn|Michael Inscriptions|1996|p=27}} A 1497 VS (1440-41 CE) pillar inscription records the visit of a pilgrim named Dekhana during the reign of Dungara (a [[Tomaras of Gwalior|Tomara]] ruler of [[Gwalior Fort|Gwalior]]). It states that Dekhana was the son of Kakaka, and a resident of [[Narwar Fort|Nalapuragaḍha]].{{sfn|Michael Inscriptions|1996|p=30}}

Now, the temple has been classified as a [[Lists of Indian Monuments of National Importance|Monument of National Importance]] by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI).{{sfn|ASI MP List|2016}}

== Architecture ==
[[File:Kakanmath Temple, Morena.jpg|thumb|left|Kakanmath]]
[[File:Mythological statue guarding Gujari Mahal.JPG|thumb|right|Lion statues, now at Gwalior]]
The temple stands on an ornate base (''pitha''). The building includes a [[garbhagriha|sanctum]], a [[antarala|vestibule]], and two [[mandapa|halls]] (''gudha-mandapa'' and ''mukha-mandapa''). The sanctum has a [[parikrama|circumambulatory]] path with three [[transept]]s. The ''gudha-mandapa'' has lateral transepts, and four clusters of pillars; each cluster contains four pillars. The vestibule has four pillars in a row, which are aligned with the four clusters of the ''gudha-mandapa''. The [[shikhara]] (tower) of the shrine makes it around 30 m high.{{sfn|ASI Bhopal Kakanmath|2016}}

The steps at the entrance had two large lion statues, which are now located at the entrance of the Archaeological Museum, Gwalior. Many other sculptures have also been taken to Gwalior.{{sfn|Michael Architecture|1996|p=16}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{commons category}}

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite web |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle |title=Kakanmath Temple |url=http://www.asibhopal.nic.in/monument/morena_suhania_kakanmathtemple.html |access-date=2016-11-16 |ref={{harvid|ASI Bhopal Kakanmath|2016}} }}
* {{cite web |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Madhya Pradesh |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_mp.asp |access-date=2016-11-16 |ref={{harvid|ASI MP List|2016}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102195954/http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_mp.asp |archive-date=2016-11-02 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |author=Harihar Vitthal Trivedi |title=Inscriptions of the Paramāras (Part 2) |series=Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume VII: Inscriptions of the Paramāras, Chandēllas, Kachchapaghātas, and two minor dynasties |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8B4LAQAAMAAJ |year=1991 |publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] }}
* {{cite journal |author=Michael D. Willis |title=Architecture in Central India under the Kacchapaghata Rulers |journal=South Asian Studies |volume=12 |issue=1 |year=1996 |pages=13–32 |ref={{harvid|Michael Architecture|1996}} |doi=10.1080/02666030.1996.9628506 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/4264424 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite book |author=Michael D. Willis |title=Inscriptions of Gopakṣetra: materials for the history of Central India |publisher=British Museum Press |year=1996 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jl5mAAAAMAAJ |ref={{harvid|Michael Inscriptions|1996}} |isbn=9780714114750 }}
* {{cite book |author1=R. K. Sharma |author2=Ramesh Chandra Agrawal |title=Kr̥ṣṇa-smr̥ti: Studies in Indian Art and Archaeology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5Rp_wtgqCbMC |publisher=Aryan Books |year=1995 |isbn=9788173050558 }}
{{ref end}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Morena district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:11th-century Hindu temples]]

Kakanmath - Revision history

Surendra Sharma at 15:20, 17 February 2026