Rajim, the Prayagraj of Chhattisgarh

Rajim, the Prayagraj of Chhattisgarh

(A blog by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction

Chhattisgarh is blessed with rich culture heritage right from its origin. It has got prosperous history of rulers and dynasties who were responsible of great art and sculpture, still evident in different parts of State. There are many places in Chhattisgarh State which are famous for temples, but there are very few among those, which are famous as temple cities namely, Maheshpur(Surguja), Dipadih(Balrampur), Sirpur(Mahasamund), Barsur(Dantewada), Arang(Raipur) and Rajim(Gariyaband). The most famous among them is Rajim.

 Rajiv Lochan temple

  
Rajim is also renowned as Prayaag-raj of Chhattisgarh, situated on the bank of confluence of Pairi, Sondhur and Mahanadi rivers.

Where and How to reach?

            Coming from Raipur District, Rajim is the first block of Gariyaband District. The Site is directly connected to NH-30 (Raipur-Jagdalpur Road), and nearly 45kms away from Raipur. Raipur is the nearest railway station and airport available.

            For boarding and lodging, both Raipur and Rajim are good destination. But as Raipur is State Head-Quarter, it is advisable to stay at Raipur itself. There are many hotels and lodges in Raipur which offer exciting tour packages to visit Rajim and adjoining tourist places.

Salient Features:

            Rajim is famous in many aspects namely historically, archeologically, religiously, mythologically etc.

Mythological Importance:

            Rajim is called the centre of Panch-koshi tirth(pentagon pilgrims) of Chhattisgarh, where the other temples which form the five edges of this pentagon are kopeshwar(Kopra,Gariyaband), Bramhakeshwar(Bramhani), Paneshwar nath(Fingeshwar, Gariyaband), Champeshwar nath(Champaran, Raipur) and Kuleshwar nath(Rajim, Gariyaband).

            There is an interesting myth related to this sacred place. Lord Vishnu ordered Lord Vishwakarma, the God of Architecture to build a set of pentagon like temples where uptill now no cremation has been done. Lord Vishwakarma search whole universe and returned answerless. He requested Lord Vishnu to tell some path to find the answer. Lord Vishnu told that wherever the lotus from his hand, will fall in earth, Lord Vishwakarma has to build temple there itself. As the pores of the lotus fell on Rajim, it was considered the heart of Lotus and a spectacular temple of Lord Vishnu was built there, surrounded by above mentioned five temples on its five edges.

Historical Importance:

Proofs say that Sarabhpuriya Dynasty conquered many places in Central Chhattisgarh and was dominant sometime during 5^th Century A.D. It is believed that ‘Sarabh’ was the founder of this dynasty and his son ‘Narendra’ were vassals (landlords) of the great Gupta Family. Their successors showed loyalty to Vakataks of Vidarbha region. It is said that the Sarabhpur rulers were ousted from their capital Sripura (Modern Sirpur) by Pandava rulers of Dakshin Koshal.

Archeological and Architectural Importance:

Rajim is said to possess temples of different ages and different architecture, which holds great archeological and architectural importance in the State of Chhattisgarh. The temples can be divided in four groups namely:

(i)                 The Central Group,

Comprising of Rajiv Lochan temple(8^th Century), Vaman,Varah, Badrinath, Narsingh, Jagannath (14^th Century), Rajeshwar(8^th Century), Daneshwar(9^th Century), Telin-sati

(ii)               The Western Group,

Kuleshwar(9^th Century) ,Pancheshwar(9^th Century) and Bhuteshwar(14^th Century)

(iii)             The Eastern Group,

Ramchandra (14^th Century), Sitala Mata temple

(iv)              The Northern Group

Someshwar Mahadev 

Temple Map of Rajim (C) Chhattisgarh Tourism Board

(i)                 Rajiv-Lochan temple:

There was a stone inscription found at Rajiv-Lochan temple, by which the temple can be estimated to have built during 7^th Century A.D. by a lesser known Nala Dynasty, who are believed to have shifted here after the extinction of Great Pandavas of Dakshin Koshal. The period between 7^th Century to 12^th Century is lesser known to historian, till Jagatpal and his ancestors helped in establishing the foundation for rulers of Ratanpur Branch of Great Kalchuri Dynasty.

As mentioned above in temple groups, Rajiv-Lochan temple is the main temple in Central group of temples, which stand on a platform of nearly 8 feet height and dimensions are 69X43 sq. ft. It faces west towards the river. Temple consists of Garbha-griha, Antarala and Mandapam(Mandap). A 6ft tall extremely beautiful idol of Lord Rajiv-Lochan (Lord Vishnu actually) is centrally placed in Garbh-griha. The upper side of the exterior walls of sanctum is ornamented with the artistic carvation of Vishnu Vahana Garuda. The Antrala and Mandap part of the temple stand on pillars with exotic carvations of Gods and Goddesses like Varaha, Narsinha etc. 

  Sanctum Decoration

 Lord Rajiv-Lochan

 Lord Rajiv-Lochan temple [Writer(Left), Mr. Ashish Gadpale, Mr. Midul Guha(Right)]

  Lord Rajiv-Lochan temple Entrance [Mr. Ashish Gadpale(Right), Mr. Midul Guha(Left)]

  
(ii)               Kuleshwar Temple:

Coming under Western Group of temples, it is the temple-place where a massive annual fair fills every year at the time of Maha-shivratri and is well renowned as Rajim kumbh. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. A natural Shiv-ling is believed to have centrally placed here at Kuleshwar temple, which is built on a high platform, in the confluence of Pairi, Sondhur and Mahanadi rivers. Interior of the temple walls are carved out by the idols of kartikeya, Vishnu and Mahisasur-mardini whereas exterior of the temple are carved with the idols of Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna. 

 Kuleshwar Mahadev temple

 Hieghted Stairs of Kuleshwar temple (Writer-left)

 Temple Antaral

 Temple Sanctum

 Temple Exterior Stone Carvations (Mr. Ashish Gadpale)

 Goddess Yamuna (Idol)

(iii)             Ramchandra Temple:

It’s quite interesting to see the architecture of Ramchandra temple, the major one amongEastern Group of temples, where all the interior pillars are decorated with carvations of Salbanjikas, flower-bearers, amorous couples and attendant deities. Here the statues of Lord Ram, Laxman and Goddess Sita(in Odisha temple Style) are centrally placed in the sanctum area.   

Ramchandra temple (sanctum)

 

Ramchandra temple (antral)

 

(iv)              Archeological Excavation near Rajiv Lochan Temple

Aided by Archeological Survey of India, there is some excavation going on the bank of confluence of Pairi, Sondhur and Mahanadi, besides Rajiv-Lochan temple, which is worth seeing to watch. Here recently an ancient Shiv-ling, a lotus relic of Goddess Laxmi, relics of Goddesses Saraswati and Durga have been excavated out. Here you can easily observe the brick method of temple and settlement formation. 

Excavation of ancient relics

Conclusion:

Here, there are many temples which are truly worth-watching and helps us to get intact to our culture. If you ever get a chance to visit Raipur, do visit Rajim. Here, there are many more hidden secrets which strive to get revealed out. Other than, there are many more tourit attractions nearby, which are truly magnificient to visit, namely Champaran(Raipur), Tarrighat(Patan, Durg) etc.

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Siddheshwar Temple, Palari, Balodabazar

Siddheshwar Temple, Palari, Balodabazar

 (A blog by Jitendra Nakka)

Introduction

The district of Balodabazaar lies in the central part of the Chhattisgarh state and blessed with some of the most beautiful ancient temples of Chhattisgarh, depicting the glorious history of area. One such perfect religious place in Balodabazaar is Palari’s ancient shiv temple also called Siddheshwar Temple.

                    Figure:Front Side View of Siddheshwar temple, Palari 

                   Figure:Back Side View of Siddheshwar temple, Palari 

Where and How to reach?

Palari town is the block Head Quarter of Palari of Balodabazaar District and situated nearly 65 km North of State Head-Quarter, Raipur and nearly 15 kms South of district Head-Quarter, Baloda-Bazaar. Here, the ancient Shiv temple lies 2 kms East of Palari near the outer of township at the bank of Bal-Samund Pond. This place is approachable throughout the year as it lies directly on the Raipur-Balodabazaar State Highway. The Nearest Railway Station and Airport is Raipur. Nearby Raipur and Balodabazaar, there are many luxurious hotels which interesting tour packages to tourists. 

                                        Figure: Siddheshwar temple


Salient Features:

            Siddheshwar temple lies on the bank of Balsamund pond, and built in a manner of old brick made construction, gives it a unique distinction, next to Laxman temple of Sirpur. The experts have observed ornamentation of different type of Goddess and Goddesses on the outer wall of temple like Kartik, Ganesh, Gaj-laxmi. On the contrary, the inner walls of the temple are rather ornamentation-less.

                Figure: Brick carved statue of Lord Ganesha on the outer Wall

                               Figure: Shivling in the Garbh-Griha

            The temple seems to have two chambers where the first chambers looks like an open mandap followed by Garbh-Griha which is the second and the main chamber. The front of the Garbh-Griha is ornamented by stone carved idols of Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna while the fore-head or the space above the Garbh-Griha is occupied by exotic carvation of Marriage Ceremony of Lord Shiva where  thrice of the dev (tridev) are said to have appeared with each other. Being one of the best examples of brick-made constructions of Central India, Palari Shiv Temple is believed to have been built during 7^th -8^th Century.  

Figure: Statue of Ganga and Jamuna in the either side of Entrance Gate of Garbh-Griha

            On the left side of courtyard/campus of the temple, where there is a Pipal tree, where a recent found idol of Siddh-Baba is placed openly, in order to exhibit the external excavations. There are few temples nearby which have been constructed recently.

                                       Figure: Siddh Baba Idol

Conclusion:

            This place is an ideal place for historians to read and obsercve the ancient brick-made buildings of Central India. I believe this temple has the potential to drive everybody’s attention, if proper promotion of this place is done.

             

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Madku Dweep

Madku-dweep

(A blog by Jitendra Nakka) 

Introduction

The Bilaspur division of Chhattisgarh is well embraced by lush green forest, hilly areas in the north, and great ancient history. When we talk about ancient history, there are few places in this division, which can astonish you to its extreme, as how that would have happened in the past. One such place is Madku-dweep. 

  Pic: Front (Left side) view of temples

Situated near calm and silent river Shivnath, Madku dweep is an island of spellbinding beauty with full of greenery. It has an area of around 24 ha and is extremely picturesque. The island of Madku-dweep resembles the shape of a frog (Mandku), hence got its name. 

Where and How to reach?

Madku dweep is situated 25kms far from Bilaspur towards Raipur in NH-130 (old NH-200). It’s nearly 79kms far from Raipur. The nearest railway stations are Bilaspur, Bhatapara and Raipur. And nearest airport is Raipur. Madku-dweep is approachable throughout the year but as it is situated near the bank of River Shivnath and is approachable through Annicut Bridge through Sargaon Village which is nearly 15-20kms from Madku-dweep. 

Pic: Site Location of Madku Dweep (Source: Maps of India)

  

One more way is through Village Baithalpur, which, too, is on NH-130 (Raipur-Bilaspur Highway) and is just 4kms away from Madku Dweep.

For boarding and lodging, one can take hotels and motels in Bilaspur, which is the nearest big city and a no. of hotels are there, which provide attractive tourist packages for the nearby tourist places.   

 

Importance:

Historical and Archeological Importance:

According to Archaeologists, this place is famous for various facts:

(   (1) Here pre-historic stone tools have been discovered and has been reported in India Epigraphy 1959-60 report.

(   (2) Here, two stone inscriptions have been found, where one is in Bramhi script and is of 3^rd Century B.C. mentioning the name of Akshaya Nidhi and other one is in Shankha Script.

Religious Importance:

This place is a unique identity for a name called religious harmony. As this place is very famous for the ancient idols of Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Shiv-Parvati, Nandi and many other Gods, there are few new temples also built here which are equally worshipped by the devotees. Religiously, as this place is in the middle of river, it is also renowned as Kedar Tirth and has got the title of Harihar Kshetra Kedar Dweep.

In the month of Paosh Purnima (Chera chera Punni), a 7 day fair is held here. Similarly here Shiv-ratri and Hanuman Jayanti is also celebrated with great devotion.

One more fact which shows the communal and religious harmony of this area is that just beside the archeological excavation of Madku-dweep, Christians too gather for a huge fair every year in the month of February during 10^th-18^th. 

Art and Sculpture:

Archeologist went through extensive excavation in this place, and happened to have unearthed 19 ancient temples. Strange is the fact that among these temples, 18 temples are directed towards east direction and one temple (middle one) is directed to west direction. The style of temples and statues formation(including idols of Shivlinga, Ganesh, Shiv Parvati) is quite similar to that of Great Kalchuris. 

 Pic: Statue of Uma-Maheshwar

 

Pic: Statue of Lord Shri Ganesha

 Pic: Site Location with Author

 Pic: Front (Left side) view of temples

  Pic: Front (Right side) view of temples

  Pic: Front Back View of temples

After mush research, it was concluded that a mighty overhead flood submerged the whole series of temples in 1.5-2m below ground level.

Conclusion:

Here near the bank of Shivnath, there are a lot of relics which are still to be explored, but this is just the beginning. This temple comes under Archeological Survey of India and still hides a great past, a great mystery to be revealed. The basic need is to go for more analyzed research. Here nearby, you can also visit the temples of Tala.

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Devrani Jethani Temple - Tala, Chhattisgarh

Devrani-Jethani temple - Tala, Chhattisgarh

(A blog by Jitendra Nakka) 

Introduction

In words of famous scientist James Hutton – “Present is the key to Past”, which means the past processes can be explained in terms of the contemporary processes which can be observed  and recorded at present. 

There are some places which are evidences of great ancient past. There are some places which are proof of great art and breathtaking sculpture of any region. There are some places which are witness of great love of traditions and customs by any great ancient kingdoms, any great ancient dynasties. One such perfect destination is Tala. Tala is famous for Devrani-Jethani temples.

 Picture: Devrani Temple, Tala

Where and How to reach?

Tala lies in the bank of confluence of river Maniyari and Shivnath near Village Ameri Kampa. Tala is also identified as Sangama Gram in the records of Panduvanshis of Mekala.

                                  Picture: Location Map of Tala

 Tala lies near the Raipur-Bilaspur Highway (NH-130), the nearest railway station is Bilaspur and Raipur and the nearest airport is Raipur. This place is approachable throughout all the seasons of a year. 

Importance:

Historical Importance:

Discovered by J.D.Welger, assistant to renowned archeologist Alexander Cunningham in 1873-74, Tala has been dated to about 7-8^th Century A.D. During excavations, it has been dated to 6^th – 10^th Century A.D. 

Religious Importance:

Tala is famous for the spectacular Devrani-Jethani temples which are devoted to Lord Shiva. Various excavations done here tell that various dynasties reigned here were followers of Lord Shiva and preached the Shaiva Religion in the past. Here there are few more temples built recently by Nishad Samaaj namely Ram-Janki temple, Swami Purnanand Maharaj temple and Gaushala.

Art and Sculpture:

Devrani-Jethani temple

Here, there are two temples viz: (1) Devrani temple and  Jethani temple. Both the temples are still present in the form of remnants only. It is discovered that these temples have been during the reign of Sharabpuri Kingdom.-

  (1)    Devrani Temple: 

This temple involves a combination of two temple (a) Devrani temple and (2) Shiv temple. The dimension of this temple is quite interesting as it has a dimension of 75X32 square feet. This temple is constituted by three phases of temples i.e. Mandapa, Antaral and Garbh-griha. The entrance wall pillars is ornamented with encarvings of River Goddesses whereas the top is encarved with Gajlaxmi.

Picture: Front View of Devrani Temple

Picture: Inner View of Garbh-griha, Devrani Temple 

Picture: Inner View of Garbh-griha, Devrani Temple  

 Picture: Author infront of entrance

This temple cannot be complete without discussing the divine and spectacular statue of Lord Shiva which is also renowned as Rudra Shiva. In this statue, the body parts of the Lord Shiva is made in the form of different animals like the forehead is made like snake, nose is made like lizard, moustaches is made like fish, beard is formed like crab and the ears are made like pea-cocks. Similarly the abdomen part of Shiva is made of the head of 7 men. The statue is nearly 2.70 meter long. As we don’t find any incarnation of Lord Shiva like this statue in any of the religious books, hence there are differences in the view of archeologists and historians. 

 Picture: Statue of Rudra Shiva

The majority of this temple was buried under earth. In 1976-77, The excavation was started, later followed by excavation works in 1988-89. This temple is believed to have built by Sharabhpuri Dynasty around 5^th - 6^th  Century A.D. Later on the external part of the temple had been extended around 9^th – 10^th Century A.D. 

((2)    Jethani Temple:

 

This temple is in devastated condition but still hold special importance in the field of Archeology and Science, where the back of the base of the temple gives a square like impression but the front of the temple shows continuous stairs upto the first chamber i.e.  Mandapa, which is actually half of its square shape. The Garbh-griha and front phase of the temple is directed towards east direction, whereas other entrance can be observed in East and West direction too. The relic of weight bearing pillars can be observed by the ornamentation encarvings of Lion at different directions and other peculiar but artistically spectacular design of idols. The base of the temple is ornamented with the encarvings of Digpal Devta and Gajmukh.

Picture: Side View of Jethani Temple  

Picture: Front View of Jethani Temple 

 

Picture: Ornamentation(Encarvings of Digpal Dev) in the Pillar of Front View of Jethani Temple

 Picture: Ornamentation(Encarvings of Digpal Dev) in the Pillar of Front View of Jethani Temple

 

 Picture: Ornamentation(Encarvings of Lions) in the Pillar of Front View of Jethani Temple

 

 Picture: Ornamented Pillar infront of Jethani temple

  Picture: ruined statues and idols infront of Jethani temple

  Picture:  idols infront of Jethani temple

Picture:  idols infront of Jethani temple courtyard

Picture:  idols infront of Jethani temple courtyard

The extensive excavation of this temple started in 1986, resulted into the discovery of various statues, metamorphic objects, metal bangles, coins etc. Later in 1987, more enhanced excavation was started to more findings. This temple is believed to be of 5^th – 6^th Century A.D. This temple is made from Red Sandstone and is believed to have gone through renovation previously in 8^th-9^th Century A.D. This place is considered as one of the most important Shiava pilgrim from early ages.  

Conclusion:

Here near the bank of Maniyari and Shivnath, there are a lot of relics waiting to be explored. This place is an important pilgrim for Shaiva people and a huge fair is held every year in the month of Shiv-ratri. So if you really wanna visit some of the best archeological sites of Chhattisgarh, do visit Tala. 

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