Dev-Baloda
Shiv temple
(A
blog by Jitendra Nakka)
Introduction
There
are some places or sites which being in the midst of lot of adversities, still
manages to come out from them. One can go there and can be witness of great
past of that place. One such place is Dev-Baloda, near Bhilai, Chhattisgarh,
which is famous for ancient Shiv temple, called as Dev-Baloda Shiv Temple.
Picture: Dev-Baloda Shiv Temple (Front View)
Picture: Dev-Baloda Shiv Temple (Side View)
Where
and How to reach?
Dev-Baloda
comes under Charoda Muncipality region, just 3 kms south of Charoda
Town. Its just 10-15 kms from Bhilai and 20-25 kms from Raipur, the Capital of
Chhattisgarh on Raipur-Nagpur Highway (i.e. Mumbai Howrah Highway). The nearest
Railway station are Charoda, Power House(Bhilai) and Raipur. And the nearest airport
is Raipur.
Importance:
Historical
Importance:
According
to Archaeologists, the Central Chhattisgarh was once the kingdom of Great Kalchuris.
the Kalchuri dynasty were great admirers of art and sculpture and
near the adjoining areas of Dev-Baloda, they built a lot of ponds. It is
believed to have built around 13th Century A.D.
Religious
Importance:
The Shiv
temple of Dev-Baloda holds great importance in the surrounding areas, as they
had great faith in Lord Shiva and here, a big fair occurs on the occasion of
Maha-shiv-raatri.
Art
and Sculpture:
This
temple’s front is east facing. This temple has a shivling of around 1.5 feet.
The front chamber of this temple gives an impression of square like formation
calles as Navranga Mandapa. The different style of encarvings of
Gods and Goddess can be observed on the pillars of this temple. The roof of the
garbha-griha is quite surprising as it gives the impression of a dome-less
structure from outer view, but inner view of the roof gives a bit of dome or
pyramid like impression in our first view. Probably the Shikhara
has been built in Nagar Style.
Picture: Dev-Baloda Shiv Temple (Front View)
Picture: Dev-Baloda Shiv Temple (View of Garbh-Griha)
The
Shiv-linga in the Garbh-Griha can be reached through a highly ornate door-entrance
guarded by Shaiv-Dwarpals accompanied by other attendants like Ganeshji in the
top(lalatbimba) of entrance. The front chamber (Mandapa) pillars
have been designed by the carvings of Mahisasur-mardini,
musicians, Bhairava, Shiv, Tripuraantak Venugopal, dancers and keertimukh
designs.
Picture: Entrance of Garbh-griha
picture: Wall carvings of Mandapa
The
exterior of this temple is decorated by carvings of Gajas, Horses and Naras
and other than these, there are many carvings of Gods and Goddesses likes Mahisasur-mardini,
Vaman Avtar of Vishnu, Virat Avtar of Vishnu, Gajantakshiva, Varaah Avtar,
Radhe-krishna, Narsimha, Ganesh, Laxmi and a couple of erotic encarvings.
picture: External Wall decorations/carvings
picture: External Wall decorations/carvings
picture: External Wall decorations/carvings
This temple also has a rectangular pond
beside, which in ancient times believed as formation of ponds and lakes near
temple, leading to salvation.
The temple courtyard has a store-house like shed too where collection of antique idols which has been excavated from this place, but get broken down during excavation have been placed and is worshipped with equal dedication. The front of this temple has Nandi placed just infront of temple entrance.
picture: Pond inside Temple Boundary
The temple courtyard has a store-house like shed too where collection of antique idols which has been excavated from this place, but get broken down during excavation have been placed and is worshipped with equal dedication. The front of this temple has Nandi placed just infront of temple entrance.
picture: External Shed with broken statues
Pic: Nandi Placed in front of the temple entrance
As this temple is well maintained by
archeological department, the temple is available for visit in all seasons of a
year.
Conclusion:
Near
Bhilai, the Steel City of Chhattisgarh, this temple gives gives you a combo of
technology meets art and sculpture. So far
from noisy and polluted area, if
you wanna visit any divine religious place near Bhilai and Raipur, do visit
Dev-Baloda Shiv Temple.
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