Gyaraspur
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Gyaraspur
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
{{multiple image
|border = infobox
|total_width = 290
|image_style =
|perrow = 1/2/2/1
| image1 = Maladevi Temple Gyaraspur facade.jpg
| caption1 = Maladevi Temple
| image2 = Bhairavnath2.jpg
| caption2 = A Bhairavnath sculpture from Gyaraspur (dated to 9-10th century)
}}
| pushpin_map = India Madhya Pradesh
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =Location in Madhya Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|23|40|N|78|6|E|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Madhya Pradesh
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Vidisha
| subdivision_type3 = Block
| subdivision_name3 = Gyaraspur
| seat_type = gram panchayat
| seat =
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party =BJP
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =11
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =2.7
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 7000
| population_as_of =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 466661
| area_code_type =
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}}
Gyaraspur is a town in the Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is also the headquarters of a tehsil of the same name.{{cite book | title = Reports of National Panchayat Directory | url = http://panchayatdirectory.gov.in/adminreps/viewpansumSQL.asp?selstate=4043&parenttype=B&ptype=V | accessdate = 2011-11-04 | publisher = Ministry of Panchayati Raj }}
History
Gyaraspur was of considerable importance in medieval India. The place has several ruins of several old Hindu, Jain and Buddhist places of worship. These include Maladevi Temple, Hindola Torna and the Bajramath Surya Temple.{{cite web | url = http://www.vidisha.nic.in/tourism/tour_2.htm | title = Places to visit in Gyaraspur | publisher = Collectorate, Vidisha | accessdate = 2011-11-04 | archive-date = 16 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181016012340/http://vidisha.nic.in/tourism/tour_2.htm | url-status = dead }}
Transport
Topography
Sites
The extensive ruins, scattered in and around the Tehsil, narrate the story of glory that was Gyaraspur in the late ancient and early medieval times. These ruins indicate that the place has passed through the influence of Buddhism, Brahmanism and Jainism.
Some key sites include:
- Maladevi Temple (Jain): This temple is quite picturesquely situated on the slope of a hill overlooking the valley. Located on a huge platform cut out of the hillside and strengthened by a massive retaining wall, Maladevi temple is in fact imposing and stupendous building. It comprise an entrance-porch, a hall and a shrine surrounded by a circumambulatory passage and crowned with a lofty Shikara all covered with rich carving. Though now Jain images occupy the shrine room and hall, a figure of a goddess occupying the dedicatory block on the outer door frame and other decorative sculptures probably indicate that the temple was originally dedicated to some hindu goddess and it was subsequently appropriated by the Jains.
- Hindola Torna: It is one of the 'Toranas' or ornamental entrance arches leading to a large temple either of Vishnu or of Trimurti. Hindola means a swing, and this tarana with its two upright pillars and cross-beam has a truly connotative name. All the four sides of the two lofty pillars are carved into panels with insets of the ten incarnations of Vishnu.
- Bajramath Temple (Jain): The bajramath is a fine example of a very rare class of temples with three shrines or cells placed abreast. All these shrines now occupied by Jain idols belonging to the Digambara sect. More precisely the central shrine was dedicated to Surya, the southern to Vishnu and the northern to Siva. The carving of the doorway is exceptionally fine and vigorous. The Shikara of the temple is unusual in its plan and design.
- Dekhinath / Dhaikinath stupa (Buddhist), a Buddhist stupa.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=ZTt7jZmFXIJ6PdSO&v=kElMc3DWxIs&feature=youtu.be |title=The origin of Japanese two world mandala {{!}} SOAS University of London |date=2019-05-07 |last=Tanaka, Kimiaki |access-date=2024-09-25 |via=YouTube}} It is found to the west of Gyaraspur. It was in ruins and was partially restored. It stands on a large platform and has four niches which had a Buddha statue in each but now stand empty. The damaged statues are now at an ASI storage room for this site. The stupa is a hemispherical dome of about 10 meter diameter, standing on a 2.75 high platform (berm) with cardinal projections .A Buddhist inscription in a 9th to 10th century script found here helps date the site. This is notable as it is further confirmation that Buddhism was thriving in north Madhya Pradesh at around the 10th century.
- Athakamba Temple, a 9th century Shaiva temple
Gallery
File:Gyaraspur, Maladevi-Tempel (1999).jpg|Maladevi Temple
File:Gyaraspur, Maladevi-Tempel, Detail (1999).jpg|Maladevi Temple
File:Gyaraspur, Hindola-Torana (1999).jpg|Hindola Torana
File:0112521 Dhaikinath Buddhist Stupa, Gyaraspur, Madhya Pradesh 02.jpg|Path to the Dhaikinath Stupa
File:0112521 Dhaikinath Buddhist Stupa, Gyaraspur, Madhya Pradesh 04.jpg|Dhaikinath Buddhist Stupa
File:Athakamba Temple N-MP-279 (32).jpg|Athakamba Temple
File:Athakamba Temple N-MP-279 (10).jpg|Athakamba Temple
File:Athakamba Temple N-MP-279 (8).jpg|Athakamba Temple