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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Kiradu Temples
| image = The Kiradu Temples in perspective (cropped).jpg
| caption = [[Shiva]] temple at Kiradu, another behind
| alt =
| map_type = India Rajasthan#India
| map_caption = Location in Barmer Rajasthan
| coordinates = {{coord|25.7528|71.0977|type:landmark_region:IN-RJ|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Rajasthan]]
| district = [[Barmer district|Barmer]]
| location = [[Barmer, Rajasthan|Barmer]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| temple_quantity = 5
}}

The '''Kiradu temples''' are a group of ruined [[Hindu temple]]s located in the [[Barmer district]] of [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]. Kiradu town is located in the [[Thar desert]], about 35 km from [[Barmer, Rajasthan|Barmer]] and 157 km from [[Jaisalmer]].

The ruins of at least five temples exist at Kiradu. Of these, the Someshvara temple, dedicated to [[Shiva]], is the best-preserved structure. Epigraphic evidence suggests that the temples were constructed during the 11-12th century by the vassals of the [[Chalukya]] (Solanki) monarchs.

== The temples ==
The remains of at least five temples have been discovered at Kiradu. Of these, the Someshvara temple, nearest to the road, is in the most complete condition. Its surviving parts are sufficient to reconstruct the original temple design, although the [[shikhara]] has collapsed and the [[mandapa]] is missing most of its roof. The walls and columns are highly decorated with sculptures, including figures of animals and humans, which mostly remain in place. The mandapa columns form an octagonal shape.<ref>Michell, 296</ref> The art historian [[Percy Brown (art historian)|Percy Brown]] termed the architecture style as "[[Chaulukya dynasty|Solanki]] mode".{{sfn|Govind Sadashiv Ghurye|1968|p=12}} Today the style is more often called [[Māru-Gurjara architecture]].

The [[Vishnu]] temple is at the other end of the group, with only the highly carved columns of the mandapa still standing; Michell dates this a century earlier.<ref>Michell, 296</ref> In between these two are three [[Shiva]] temples in varied condition, with mostly only the sanctuaries remaining, and a [[stepwell]].<ref>Michell, 296</ref>

==History==
Inscriptions dated 1153-1178 CE have been found at Kiradu. Based on this, Indian historian [[Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha|Gaurishankar Ojha]] assigned the temples to the 12th century CE.{{sfn|Govind Sadashiv Ghurye|1968|p=12}} Art historians Ratna Chandra Agrawala and [[Stella Kramrisch]] have also dated the Someshvara temple to the 12th century.{{sfn|John Stratton Hawley|2014|p=358}} However, art historians [[Madhusudan Dhaky]] and [[Percy Brown (art historian)|Percy Brown]] dated the temple to the 11th century CE.{{sfn|Govind Sadashiv Ghurye|1968|p=12}}{{sfn|John Stratton Hawley|2014|p=358}} More recently, Michell dates the Someshvara temple precisely to 1020, and the Vishnu temple to the early 10th century.<ref>Michell, 296</ref>

Kiradu was originally known as Kiratakupa. During the 12th century, it was controlled by several small dynasties, which ruled as vassals of the [[Chaulukya]]s. Someshvara, who belonged to a [[Paramara dynasty#Branches and claimed descendants|Paramara branch]], rose to prominence in the 1140s CE after gaining favour of the Chaulukya rulers [[Jayasimha Siddharaja]] and [[Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)|Kumarapala]].{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=111}}

In the 1150s, the [[Chahamanas of Naddula|Naddula Chahamana]] ruler [[Alhanadeva|Alhana]] (also a Chaulukya vassal) seems to have been appointed as a governor of Kiradu, as attested by an 1152 CE inscription.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=111}} The area was restored to Someshvara by the 1160s. Sometime later, the Chaulukyas transferred the control of Kiradu to Madanabrahma, who came from a [[Chahamana]] family. Madanabrahma's successor was probably Asala, who was defeated by Alhana's son [[Kirtipala]].{{sfn|Ashok Kumar Srivastava|1979|p=4}}

An 1178 CE Kiradu inscription, issued during the reign of the Chaulukya monarch [[Bhima II]], records repairs to a temple damaged by the [[Turkic peoples|Turushka]]s (Turkic people). These Turushkas are identified with the [[Ghurid]]s led by [[Muhammad of Ghor]], who were defeated by the Chaulukya forces at the [[Battle of Kasahrada]].{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=132}}

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:The central podium decorated with numerous artwork.jpg|Vishnu temple [[mandapa]]
File:An ornate pillar.jpg|Mandapa pillar
File:Kiradu ke Mandir - Barmer - Rajasthan - 006.jpg|Pillar detail
File:KITLV 88239 - Unknown - Someshavara temple Kiradu in British India - 1897.tif|Someshavara temple in 1897
File:The loner against an arid landscape.jpg|One of the Shiva temples
</gallery>

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

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Asoke Kumar Majumdar |title=Chaulukyas of Gujarat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ffAdAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |year=1956 |oclc=4413150 }}
* {{cite book |author=Ashok Kumar Srivastava |title=The Chahamanas of Jalor |publisher=Sahitya Sansar Prakashan |year=1979 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.547206 |oclc=12737199 }}
* {{cite book |author=Govind Sadashiv Ghurye |title=Rajput Architecture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hCtnWt3Jhb4C&pg=PA12 |year=1968 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7154-446-2 }}
* {{cite book |author=John Stratton Hawley |title=Krishna, The Butter Thief |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncb_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA358 |year=2014 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-5540-7 }}
* Michell, George (1990), ''The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu'', 1990, Penguin Books, {{ISBN|0140081445}}
{{ref end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiradu Temples}}
[[Category:Temples in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Rajput era]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Barmer district]]
[[Category:Māru-Gurjara architecture]]

Kiradu temples - Revision history

UpdateBot at 17:30, 31 May 2022