Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla
{{Short description|12th-century hindu temple in Goa, India}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Mahadev Temple
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Shri Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla, Goa.jpg
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption = Shri Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla, Goa
| map_type =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_relief =
| map_caption =
| coordinates =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| religious_affiliation = Hinduism
| locale =
| location = Tambdi Surla, Goa
| rite =
| sect =
| tradition =
| festival =
| cercle =
| sector =
| municipality =
| district =
| territory =
| prefecture =
| state =
| province =
| region =
| country = India
| administration =
| consecration_year =
| organisational_status =
| functional_status =
| heritage_designation =
| ownership =
| governing_body =
| leadership =
| bhattaraka =
| patron =
| religious_features_label =
| religious_features =
| architect =
| architecture_type =
| architecture_style = Kadamba
| founded_by =
| creator =
| funded_by =
| general_contractor =
| established = 12th century CE
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed =
| construction_cost =
| date_demolished =
| facade_direction =
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
| width_nave =
| interior_area =
| height_max =
| dome_quantity =
| dome_height_outer =
| dome_height_inner =
| dome_dia_outer =
| dome_dia_inner =
| minaret_quantity =
| minaret_height =
| spire_quantity =
| spire_height =
| site_area =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| shrine_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| materials =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_footnotes =
| nrhp =
| designated =
| added =
| refnum =
| footnotes =
| website =
}}
Mahadeva Temple, Tambdi Surla is a 13th-century Hindu temple in the Kadamba style dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the main deities in Hinduism, and is an active place of Hindu worship. It is an ASI protected Monument of National Importance in Goa. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is reminiscent of the temples at Aihole in neighbouring Karnataka.
History
{{Hinduism}}
The temple was built in the Kadamba style from basalt, carried across the mountains from the Deccan plateau and carved by craftsmen. It is considered to be the only specimen of Kadamba architecture in basalt stone preserved and available in Goa. The temple survived the Islamic invasions and the Goa Inquisition, due to its remote location in a clearing deep in the forest at the foot of the Western Ghats which surround the site.
Religious significance and decoration
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is reminiscent of the temples at Aihole in neighbouring Karnataka. There is a linga (symbol of Lord Shiva) mounted on a pedestal inside the inner sanctum, and local legend has it that a huge king cobra is in permanent residence in the dimly lit interior.
The temple consists of garbhagriha, antarala and a pillared Nandi mandapa built of basalt. The four pillars, embellished with intricate carvings of elephants and chains support a stone ceiling decorated with finely carved Ashtoken lotus flowers.Archaeological Survey of India, sign at location[http://www.goa-india-tourism.com/goa-temples/mahadevatemple.html Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107105533/http://www.goa-india-tourism.com/goa-temples/mahadevatemple.html |date=2009-01-07 }}
The intricate carvings created by skilled craftsmen adorn the interior and the sides of the building. Bas-relief figures of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, with their respective consorts appear on panels at the sides of the temple. Unusually, the mandap (pillared hall) is covered with a roof of plain grey sloping slabs. The temple faces east so that the first rays of the rising sun shine on the deity. There is a small mandap and the inner sanctum is surmounted by a three-tired tower whose top is incomplete or has been dismantled sometime in the distant past.{{cite book|title=Culture and Religious Traditions in Temples of Goa|last=Manekar|first=Kamla|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|pages=29-33|isbn=81-230-1161-X|year=2003}}
There is a headless Nandi (bull, Shiva's vehicle) in the centre of the mandap, surrounded by four matching columns. The symbol of the Kadamba kingdom, an elephant trampling a horse is carved on the base of one of the columns. The river Ragado, (via village Keri, Sattari) flows nearby and is reachable for ritual bathing by a flight of stone steps.
The festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated with pomp and gaiety at the temple by local people residing in surrounding villages. The temple is built in a place which is quite inaccessible and away from the main settlements of the time. The temple is small compared to the average Goan temple.
Location
{{See also|Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park}}
The temple is at {{coord|15|26|20|N|74|15|8|E}} near a small village called Tambdi Surla located {{convert|13|km|mi}} east of Bolcornem village, in the north east region of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. Nearby village is Molem.
Mahadev Temple is approximately {{convert|65|km|mi}} from the capital city of Panaji. It is accessible from the north via minor roads {{convert|22|km|mi}} south from the main town of Valpoi in Sattari Taluka. The temple is at the foot of the Anmod Ghat, which connects Goa to the state of Karnataka.
Gallery
File:Mahadev Temple in Tambdi Surla .jpg|View from Outside
File:The Lingam.jpg|The Lingam
File:Celings inside a Tambdi Surla temple.jpg|HDR image of carvings on the ceiling of Mahadev Temple.
File:Intricate King Cobra Rock Carvings .jpg|Intricate King Cobra Rock Carvings
File:Carvings Inside Mahadev Temple .jpg|Carvings Inside Mahadev Temple
File:Visitors Enjoying The View at Mahadev Temple.jpg|Visitors Relaxing
File:Mollem National Park, Tambdi Surla Temple.jpg|Rear of the temple
File:Mukhamantapa.jpg|Carved stone pillars forming Mukhamantapa
File:Bharabhumi Tambdi Surla.jpg|Bharabhumi Temple, Tambdi Surla, Goa
References
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{coord|15.4390637|74.2524218|display=title}}
{{Hindu temples in Goa}}