>OAbot at 01:47, 17 May 2021

2021-05-17T01:47:47Z

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[[File:Kaleshwari Group of Monuments Map.png|thumb|450px|Map of Kaleshwari Group of Monuments:<br />
{{Ordered list
|Main Gate

|Vahu ni Vav
|Sasu ni Vav
|Ghummatvalu Mandir
|Kaleshvari Mata Temple
|Kund
|Well
|Well
|Sculpture Gallery
|Shikar Madhi
|Steps leading to hillock
|Bhim Chauri
|Arjun Chauri
|Hidimba Temple
|Checkdam
|Stream
|Cremation ground
}}
]]
The '''Kaleshwari Group of Monuments''' ({{lang-gu|કલેશ્વરી સ્મારક સમુહ}}), also known as '''Kaleshwari-Ni Nal''' ({{lang-gu|કલેશ્વરીની નાળ}}), is located near Lavana village, Khanpur Taluka of [[Mahisagar district]], [[Gujarat]], India. It is near the district headquarters [[Lunavada]] and near a stream in Hidimba Van, the forest of [[Hidimba]]. The group includes intricately-carved temple ruins, two stepwells, a reservoir, structures with panels of erotic sculptures and idols scattered all over the site. The ruins are located at the foothills and on the hillock. They were built between the 10th and 16th century; some monuments were reconstructed after the 18th century. These are State Protected Monuments.<ref name="divyabhaskar 2015"/><ref name="Bose 2001">{{cite web | last=Bose | first=Raja | title=Kaleswari sites set to be next tourist hot spot in state | website=The Times of India | date=19 December 2001 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Kaleswari-sites-set-to-be-next-tourist-hot-spot-in-state/articleshow/1008539275.cms | accessdate=24 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="db2016">{{cite web | title=ખાનપુરના કલેશ્વરી ખાતે ગોકુળ આઠમનો ભવ્ય મેળો | website=divyabhaskar | date=24 August 2016 | url=http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news/MGUJ-MAT-latest-godhra-news-023503-819736-NOR.html | language=gu | accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref>

==History==
There was an ancient settlement known as Lavaneshwari at this place is still known as Lavana. The site is located near a stream which is now a check-dammed up stream. Traditionally these places are associated with characters of ''[[Mahabharata]]''. The Shiva temple was erected with ''Mulaprasada'' (Shrine Proper) and ''Sabhamandapa'' (Assembly Hall) in the 10th century. The temple fell into ruins later. The ''Kund'' (reservoir) was constructed in the 11th or 12th century. The twin [[stepwell]]s were built in the 14th to 15th century. This was followed by the construction of Bhim Chauri in the 14th to 15th century, Arjun Chauri and Hidimba temple was built in the 15th to 16th century on the nearby hillock. All these temples are in ruins now.<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="Vyas 2015">{{cite web | last=Vyas | first=Khushboo | title=Kaleshwari Stepwells Analysis | website=Coroflot | date=25 April 2015 | url=http://www.coroflot.com/mattewhitenoise/Kaleshwari-Stepwells-Analysis-Louis-Kahn-Trophy-2012 | accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="MSUB"/><ref name="gurjari">{{cite web | title=પ્રાચીન શિલ્પ સ્થાપત્ય શૈલીની ઝાંખી કરાવતું કલેશ્વરી ધામ- ગુર્જરી.નેટ | website=gurjari.net | url=http://www.gurjari.net/details/kalkeshwari-dham.html | language=gu | accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref>

It is said that Mala Rana, the prince of [[Lunavada State]], restored it in 1549 but the inscription is worn out. The cella was rebuilt in reduced size and is now known as Ghummatvalu Mandir. The assembly hall of it is reconstructed and converted into a temple which is now known as Kaleshwari Mata Temple. The Shikar Madhi was built by Vakhat Singh from ruins of ancient structures in the first half of the 18th century.<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="MSUB"/><ref name="gurjari"/>

The ruins were restored in the 2000s by the State Archeology Department of Gujarat and are promoted as a tourism spot.<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="gurjari"/>

==Monuments==
The monuments include intricately-carved temple ruins, two stepwells, a ''kund'', structures with panels of erotic sculptures and idols scattered all over the site.<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="db2016"/><ref name="gurjari"/><ref name="guj1972">{{cite book|author=Government of Gujarat|title=Gujarat State Gazetteers: Panchmahals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nx8bAAAAIAAJ|year=1972|publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State|pages=92, 789}}</ref>

===Temples===
[[File:Restored Hindu Shrine at Kaleshwari, Gujarat, India.jpg|thumb|Ghummatvalu Mandir]]
[[File:Shikari Madhi.jpg|thumb|Shikar Madhi]]

The Ghummatwalu Mandir is restored from the number of idols and pillars from the original temple belonging to the 10th century.<ref name="Bose 2001"/> The original temple was built in Anarta school of Maha-Gurjara style of North Indian temple architecture with Dravidian influences in sculptures. The restored temple is erected in reduced size by recreating cella (''Grabhagriha'') inside the original Shrine Proper (''Mulaprasada'') which can be identified by partially surviving ''pitha'' or plinth. The ''pitha'' is three buttressed. The sculptures of the ''jangha'' of the ''mandovara'' (middle part of temple) had ''[[Dikpala]]''s, ''[[Vyala]]''s and ''[[Apsara]]''s. The pillars were eight sided at the base, sixteen sided in middle and circular at the top. The pillars supported flat ceiling. An image of [[Durga|Mahishasurmardini]] is installed in the sanctum along with a [[Lingam]].<ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="MSUB">{{cite journal | title=Sculptures from Kaleshwari-Ni Nal|author1=Madhusudan Dhaky|author-link=Madhusudan Dhaky|author2=H. R. Gaudani | journal=Journal of the Oriental Institute| url=http://vmis.in/Resources/digital_publication_popup?id=83#page/1|date=June 1969|volume=XVIII| accessdate=24 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="gurjari"/><ref name="guj1972"/>

The Kaleshwari or Kaleshri Mata temple is located north of the Ghummatwalu Mandir. The temple has only ''mandapa'', a hall without any elaborate carvings which was the ''Sabhamandapa'' (assembly hall) of original temple. The level eaves are supported by ten pilasters and six columns. The niche in the wall is a later addition which has an image of [[Nataraja]] Shiva which is locally worshiped as Kaleshwari. Kaleshwari is a local goddess associated with folklore. Based on the inscription on one of the pillars, Mala Rana, the prince of [[Lunavada State]] restored the temple in 1549 but the inscription is worn out.<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="gurjari"/><ref name="guj1972"/><ref name="GS2012">{{cite web | title=મહાભારતકાળના પૌરાણિક સ્થળની હાલત બિસ્માર- પંચમહાલનું કલેશ્રી સ્થળ- ભીમનાં પગલાં પણ અહીં છે | website=[[Gujarat Samachar]] | date=4 June 2012 | url=http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/gujaratsamachar.com/20120604/gujarat/meh5.html | language=gu | accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref>

The Shikar Madhi was built by Vakhat Singh (1735-1757), the king of Lunavada, from ruins of ancient structures for night stay when he used to come here for hunting. It has panels of erotic sculptures and idols of the dancing [[Ganesha]], Maheshmardini, [[Vishnu]], [[Chamunda]] and Darpan Kanya, dating back to the 10th century.<ref name="Bose 2001"/> Some sculptures are collected in square gallery nearby.<ref name="db2016"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="gurjari"/>

East of the Shikar Madhi, there is another group of monuments on the hillock reached by flight of 230 steps. Bhima Chauri{{efn-ua|It is common in India to associate temples with [[Pandava]]s of ''[[Mahabharata]]''. [[Bhima]] is second among them while [[Arjuna]] is third.}} is the Shiva temple belonging to the 14th or 15th century suggested by its architectural style. Except the four-pillared entrance and the lower parts of the sanctum and ''mandap'', the temple has been recently restored. The lintel suggesting a circular roof has elaborate carvings. The sanctum threshold, ''Udumbar'', has notable carvings and a [[Ganesha]] sculpture. There is a ''kundi'' southwest of the temple. There is another temple north of it known as Arjuna Chauri. It is an ancient temple of Shiva which belongs to the 15th or 16th century. Only the lower parts of the temple sanctum and the entrance with the sculptures of Shiva survive. The upper panel of the entrance depicts Shiva in various positions while the lower part depicts her in a standing position.<ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="gurjari"/>

The Hidimba Temple is north of it. It is a temple with three entrances which has only its lowest part surviving thus nothing definite can be said except the floor plan. The image of the large feet in the temple is popularly associated with [[Hidimbi|Hidimba]], the demoness wife of [[Bhima]]. The scale of the feet suggests that they were brought from somewhere else and installed here. The forest is called Hidimba Van after her.<ref name="divyabhaskar 2015"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="gurjari"/><ref name="GS2012"/>

===Kund===
The almost square reservoir, ''Kund'', also known as Hidimba Kund, is 22 m × 22 m. It was built in the 11th or 12th century from [[laterite]] sandstone. Each side has a short flight of five steps perpendicular to the edge and also facing each other leading down to the lower apron. The central flight of each side has a niche with images. Notable among them are images dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu reclining on [[Shesha]] and an image depicting local folk dance group. Traditionally the water was used for only ritual bathing and washing, not for drinking. It was repaired with new masonry in 1973 by the [[Archeological Survey of India]]. There are two wells located north and east of it.<ref name="db2016"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="gurjari"/>

===Stepwells===
[[File:Sasu ni wav Front.jpg|thumb|Sasu ni Vav from above ground level, Vahu ni Vav is visible in distance]]
[[File:Sasu ni Vav.jpg|thumb|Information on Sasu ni Vav]]
[[File:Sculptures of Navagraha in Vahu-ni Vav, Kaleshwari, Gujarat, India.jpg|thumb|Sculptures of [[Navagraha]] in Vahu ni Vav]]
There are two stepwells; Sasu ni Vav and Vahu ni Vav in the north-west of ''Kund''.<ref name="Shukla 2014">{{cite web | last=Shukla | first=Rakesh | title=ક્યારેક લોકોની તરસ છિપાવતા હતા ગુજરાતના આ જળ મંદિરો-સાસુ-વહુની વાવ | website=gujarati.oneindia.com | date=24 June 2014 | url=http://gujarati.oneindia.com/features/some-interesting-stepwell-gujarat/slider-pf63031-019322.html | language=gu | accessdate=20 November 2016}}</ref> They were built by a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law according to a myth which may not be historically true. The legend says that the mother-in-law denied water to her daughter-in-law from her stepwell so the daughter-in-law built her own stepwell. She built a longer but narrower stepwell which offended her mother-in-law so she cursed the water with impurity. These stepwells were built in the Nanda style in the 14th or 15th century and have exquisitely carved sculptures. Their iconography resembles that of [[Rani ki vav]] so these stepwells may belong to the 10th century also.<ref name="Jain-Neubauer1981">{{cite book|author=Jutta Jain-Neubauer|title=The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=61fSwBF4bbYC|date=1 January 1981|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-0-391-02284-3|page=21}}</ref> Sasu ni Vav is broader while Vahu ni Vav is narrower. The stepwells have four ''kuta''s (pavilion towers) and four ''mandapa''s supported by four pilasters without any pillars. The pilasters have monolithic shafts and are of Ruchaka type. Vahu ni Vav is two storied while Sasu ni Vav is four storied.<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="gurjari"/><ref name="Bhatt2014">{{cite book|author=Purnima Mehta Bhatt|title=Her Space, Her Story: Exploring the Stepwells of Gujarat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tWmiDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT46|date=16 December 2014|publisher=Zubaan|isbn=978-93-84757-08-3|pages=46–47}}</ref>

The northern wall of Sasu ni Vav has sculptures of [[Lajja Gauri]], a woman giving birth to a child; of [[Shitala]] with four hands, one having a broom, and riding a donkey. In the first ''kuta'', there are panels dedicated to [[Navagraha]] (nine planets) and [[Dasavatara]], the ten incarnations of [[Vishnu]] which includes [[Balarama]] as an incarnation. Two other incarnations, [[Matsya]] and [[Kurma]], are depicted on a lotus. There are sculptures of [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]] and snakes which are related to water architecture. The second ''kuta'' has [[Shesha|Sheshayin Vishnu]], [[Vishnu]] reclining on [[Shesha]]; and a panel of ten figures including [[Saptamatrika]] or seven mothers. The third ''kuta'' has panels of [[Saptarshi]] and two images of [[Vaishno Devi|Vaishnavi]].<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="Bhatt2014"/>

The Vahu ni Vav is entered from the south by climbing four steps while the well is in the north. The west wall of the first ''kuta'' has Dashavatara. The second ''kuta'' has a sculpture of Sheshayin Vishnu on the right while Saptamatrika is on the left. It has carved shaft brackets and is deeper than the other stepwell suggesting the underground flow following the slope of the site. The lower two ''kuta'' are narrower than the previous ones.<ref name="Bose 2001"/><ref name="Vyas 2015"/><ref name="Bhatt2014"/>

==Culture==
[[File:Kaleshwari Art Fair 2017.jpg|thumb|Kaleshwari Art Fair held on Mahashivratri, 2017]]
[[File:Folks dance by Saharia tribe of Rajasthan1.jpg|thumb|Folks dance by [[Saharia]] tribe of Rajasthan in the fair]]

Annual tribal fairs are organised on [[Mahashivaratri]] and [[Janmashtami]] which are attended by many people and artists. Traditional and tribal dances, folk music and performances are presented by artists from Gujarat and elsewhere.<ref name="divyabhaskar 2015">{{cite web | title=ખાનપુરમાં પરંપરાગત કલેશ્વરી મહા શિવરાત્રીનો મેળો ભરાયો | website=divyabhaskar | date=19 February 2015 | url=http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news/MGUJ-MAT-latest-godhra-news-020504-1376545-NOR.html | language=gu | accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="gurjari"/><ref name="Sandesh 2016">{{cite web | title=ખાનપુર તાલુકાના કલેશ્વરી ખાતે ગોકુળ આઠમનો મેળો ભરાશે | website=Sandesh | date=23 August 2016 | url=http://sandesh.com/%e0%aa%96%e0%aa%be%e0%aa%a8%e0%aa%aa%e0%ab%81%e0%aa%b0-%e0%aa%a4%e0%aa%be%e0%aa%b2%e0%ab%81%e0%aa%95%e0%aa%be%e0%aa%a8%e0%aa%be-%e0%aa%95%e0%aa%b2%e0%ab%87%e0%aa%b6%e0%ab%8d%e0%aa%b5%e0%aa%b0%e0%ab%80/ | language=gu | accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="BhardwajRay2004">{{cite book|author1=Nandita Bhardwaj|author2=Tirna Ray|author3=Smita Mishra Chaturvedi|title=Storytellers @ Work|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ah8qnXeeHKAC&pg=PA45|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Katha|isbn=978-81-89020-01-9|page=45}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Johnston|first=Caleb|last2=Bajrange|first2=Dakxin|date=2014-03-01|title=Street Theatre as Democratic Politics in Ahmedabad|journal=Antipode|language=en|volume=46|issue=2|pages=455–476|doi=10.1111/anti.12053|issn=1467-8330|url=https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/11917298/StreetTheatre2014REVISED.pdf|hdl=20.500.11820/aeb034f2-eac8-4597-a7df-015ce8982b12|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

The fair is mentioned in ''[[Malela Jeev]]'', a novel by [[Pannalal Patel]]. Some scenes of the Gujarati film ''[[Manvini Bhavai|Manavi-Ni Bhavai]]'' were shot here.<ref name="db2016"/>

==Heritage status==
{{GeoGroupTemplate}}
The Kaleshwari group of monuments include nine State Protected Monuments maintained by the State Archeology Department of Government of Gujarat.<ref name="db2016"/><ref name="gurjari"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!ASI Monument No.
!Inscribed name
!Also known as
!Coordinates
|-
|S-GJ-234
|Arjun Chauri
|Shiva temple
|{{coord|23.322187|N|73.585347|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Arjun Chauri}}
|-
|S-GJ-235
|Kund
|Hidimba Kund
|{{coord|23.321049|N|73.582539|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Kund}}
|-
|S-GJ-236
|Temple with Three Entrances
|Hidimba Temple
|{{coord|23.322295|N|73.585460|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Hidimba Temple}}
|-
|S-GJ-237
|Ancient Temple of Shiva
|Ghummatvalu Mandir/Domed temple
|{{coord|23.321372|N|73.582523|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Ghummatvalu Mandir}}
|-
|S-GJ-238
|Bhim Chauri
|Shiva temple
|{{coord|23.321639|N|73.585071|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Bhim Chauri}}
|-
|S-GJ-239
|Vahu Ni Vav
|Daughter-in-law's stepwell
|{{coord|23.321792|N|73.581871|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Vahu ni Vav}}
|-
|S-GJ-240
|Shikar Madhi
|
|{{coord|23.321269|N|73.583031|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Shikar Madhi}}
|-
|S-GJ-241
|Temple with stone Inscription
|Kaleshwari Mata Temple/Shilalekhwalu Mandir
|{{coord|23.321500|N|73.582467|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Kaleshwari Temple}}
|-
|S-GJ-242
|Sasu Ni Vav
|Mother-in-law's stepwell
|{{coord|23.321235|N|73.581879|E|display=inline|type:landmark|name=Sasu ni Vav}}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of State Protected Monuments in Gujarat]]

==Notes and references==

===Notes===
{{notelist-ua}}

===References===
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtgllWOA-uU A documentary on Kaleshwari fair in Gujarati]
{{Hindu temples in Gujarat}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Mahisagar district]]
[[Category:Shiva temples in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Stepwells in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Fairs in India]]
[[Category:Cultural history of Gujarat]]

Kaleshwari Group of Monuments - Revision history

>OAbot at 01:47, 17 May 2021