:Bisaldeo temple
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Bisaldeo temple
| native_name = बीसलदेव मन्दिर
| native_name_lang = sa
| alt = A Hindu temple with water submerged courtyard near a dam's reservoir.
| image = Bisaldeo temple.jpg
| caption = Bisaldeo temple in 2016 with submerged courtyard
| map_type = India Rajasthan#India
| map_caption = Location in Rajasthan, India
| location = Bisalpur
| coordinates = {{coord|25.9271197|75.4571403|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| district = Tonk
| state = Rajasthan
| country = India
| established = 1150–1164 CE
| religious_affiliation = Shaivism
| deity = Shiva
}}
Bisaldeo temple, also known as Bisaldev temple or Bisal Deoji's temple, is a Hindu temple in Bisalpur, India. It is located beside the Bisalpur Dam on the Banas River, in the Tonk district of Rajasthan state. The temple is dedicated to Gokarneshvara, an aspect of Shiva. A Monument of National Importance, it was commissioned by the 12th century Chahamana ruler Vigraharaja IV, who is also known as Bisal Deo.
History
The temple is located in Bisalpur or Visalpur, which was also earlier known as Vigrahapura. The town was established by the Chahamana king Vigraharaja IV alias Visala or Bisal Deo (r. c. 1150–1164 CE). The king commissioned the temple that is now known as Bisal Deoji's temple.{{cite web |url=http://asijaipurcircle.nic.in/Bisalpur-%20Bisaldeo%20temple,%20Todarai%20Singh.html |title=Bisaldeo temple |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |accessdate=6 December 2016 }}
The courtyard of the temple is now partly submerged by the waters of the Bisalpur Dam reservoir whenever the water level is high; before the construction of the dam in the 1990s, the temple stood on the top of a hill overlooking the confluence of the Banas and the Dai rivers.{{cite journal |author=Amita Baviskar |title=Resettlement Issues: A dam and displacement |journal=Frontline |volume=14 |issue=1–7 |year=1997 |publisher=S. Rangarajan for Kasturi & Sons |page=133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b59KAQAAIAAJ }}
The Archaeological Survey of India has classified the structure as a Monument of National Importance.{{cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_rajasthan.asp |title=Alphabetical List of Monuments – Rajasthan |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |accessdate=6 December 2016 }} The organization has also carried out a restoration of the temple.{{cite book |editor=Rakesh Tewari |url=http://asi.nic.in/PDF_data/iar_2006-07.pdf |title=Indian Archaeology 2006–07: A Review |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |year=2016 |page=332 |access-date=6 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220230225/http://asi.nic.in/PDF_data/iar_2006-07.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}
Architecture
The architectural plan of the temple measures {{convert|22.2|by|15.3|m|ft}}. The building comprises a garbhagriha (sanctum), a shikhara (tower), an antarala (vestibule), a square mandapa (hall) with a hemispherical dome, and a portico. It features a pancharatha projection. The sanctum houses a linga (a symbol of Shiva).
The pillars of the temple feature carvings of floral festoons, chain-and-bell and circular medals.
Inscriptions
Multiple short inscriptions recording pilgrim visits have been discovered at the site. Two of these are dated to the 12th century CE. An 1164–65 CE inscription records the visit of a Kayastha pilgrim. The name of the pilgrim is not clear, but his father's name can be read as Thakkura Shrivatsa. The inscription is dated to 15th day of the Shukla Paksha (fortnight) of the Pausha month of the Vikrama Samvat year 1221. An 1187–88 CE inscription records the donation of two sword handles in the mandapa (hall) of the temple of Śri Gokarṇa. It is dated to the Vikrama Samvat year 1244, which makes it one of the few extant inscriptions issued during the reign of Vigraharaja's nephew Prithviraja III.{{cite book |title=Archaeology, Progress Report |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Western Circle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XWJBAQAAIAAJ |year=1922 |page=56 }}{{cite book |author=Kailash Chand Jain |title=Ancient Cities and Towns of Rajasthan: A Study of Culture and Civilization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FQx5a48dzlYC |year=1972 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |pages=410–411 }}
Besides these, some shorter inscriptions have also been discovered at the site:{{cite book |author1=A. C. L. Carlleyle |author2=Sir Alexander Cunningham |title=Report of a Tour in Eastern Rajputana in 1871–72 and 1872–73 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35451 |year=1878 |publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing |pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35451/page/n161 155]–156}}
- A one-line pillar inscription at the temple entrance
- A three-line pillar inscription in the vestibule, which reads "Jogi Achpantadhaja"
- A two-line pillar inscription in the vestibule, which reads "Navva Guhilait"
- A three-line inscription, which simply mentions the word "Nava" three times
References
{{commons category|Bisaldeo Temple}}
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Category:Shiva temples in Rajasthan