Maladevi Temple

Maladevi Temple dates back to the 850–900 CE worship site.{{sfn|ASI|Maladevi Temple}} epigraphist Richard G. Salomon suggests that temple was originally built as Jaina-Brahmanical hybrid.{{sfn|Salomon|1996|p=156}} An Kalachuri inscription dating back to 850-885 CE, records the foundation of the temple during the reign of Valleka is preserved in British Museum. {{sfn|Kooij|2018|p=189}}{{sfn|Salomon|1996|p=155}}

Maladevi Temple is the largest and finest temple of Gyaraspur. It is famous for carvings and craftmanship, that are representative of post-Gupta architecture.{{sfn|Cohen|Cohen|2008|p=1480}} It is a rock-cut temple built in Gurjara Pratihara style.

The temple was a constructed around a sanctified natural cavern as the garbhagriha.{{sfn|Saxena|2022}} The temple is rich with carvings of tirthankaras, yakshi, and yaksha. The temple consists of an entrance porch, mandapa garbhagriha and lofty shikhara bearing rich carvings.{{sfn|ASI|Maladevi Temple}} The temple houses a number of Jain idols, yet the figures of Goddesses on the outer door-frame and the name of the temple indicates that it was originally a Brahmical temple.{{sfn|Ayyar|1987|p=16}} The temple is dedicated to Adinatha.{{sfn|Mitra|2010|p=76}}{{sfn|Mitra|2012|p=23}}

The temple is considered one of the best examples of collections of varied Jain sculptures.{{sfn|Ghurye|2005|p=39}} The temple houses a carved idol of Shantinatha in lotus position with a symbol of deer and four armed yaksha and yakshi.{{sfn|Shah|1987|p=154}} There is image of Goddess Chakreshvari carved on the lalata-bimba.{{sfn|Saxena|2022}} An idol of Parshvanatha dated 9th century is also enshrined inside the temple.{{sfn|Shah|1987|p=175}} The presence of images of 24 yaksha and yakshi inside the temple indicates the worship of each yaksha and yakshi during the 9th century.{{sfn|Shah|1987|p=217}}

The temple records various pilgrim sites such as Sobhasapranamati, Baswanapranamati, and Ambadevapranamati. It also houses an eigh-handed idol of Goddess with Tarapati engraved on leaves of lotus throne.{{sfn|Cunningham|1880|p=34}}

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (53).jpg|Entrance

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (21).jpg|Carving of a yaksha

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (57).jpg|Carving of a yakshi

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (85) (cropped).jpg|Tirthankar carved on shikhara

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (45).jpg|Carving of kalasha on pillars

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (77).jpg|Richly carved courtyard

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (55).jpg|Richly carved window

File:MalaDevi Temple Gyaraspur N-MP-283 (107).jpg

In 1930, Gwalior state stepped up to conserve Maladevi temple.{{sfn|Kumar|2010}} Maladevi temple in Vidisha is protected by Archaeological Survey of India.{{sfn|ASI|Vidisha}}

• Jain temples, Vidisha
• Bajramath temple
• Gadarmal Devi temple
• Udayagiri Caves

{{reflist|23em}}

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• {{cite book |last=Ayyar |first=Sulochana |url={{Google books|G9eHPXL6UE0C|page=16|plainurl=yes}} |title=Costumes and Ornaments as Depicted in the Sculptures of Gwalior Museum |publisher=Mittal Publications |location=New Delhi| date=1987 | isbn=9788170990024}}
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{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{cite journal | last=Salomon | first=Richard |author-link=Richard G. Salomon (professor of Asian studies) |title=British Museum stone inscription of the Tripurī Kalacuri prince Valleka | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24662062 |journal=Indo-Iranian Journal |volume=39 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=133–161 |jstor=24662062 |doi=10.1163/000000096790084999 | s2cid=161228898 }}
• {{cite news|last=Kumar|first=Arjun|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/travel/gyaraspur-a-small-town-which-takes-you-back-in-time/articleshow/10422912.cms|title=Gyaraspur a small town which takes you back in time | publisher=India Times | date=20 October 2010|access-date=3 August 2019 }}
• {{cite news | last=Saxena | first=Saurabh | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2022/apr/29/the-sculptural-marvels-of-mps-gyaraspur-2447824.html | title=The sculptural marvels of MP's Gyaraspur | date=29 April 2022 | newspaper=The New Indian Express }}
• {{cite web|url=http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/vidisha_gyaraspur_maladevitemple.html|title=Maladevi Temple|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|ref={{SfnRef|ASI|Maladevi Temple}} }}
• {{Cite web|url=http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/vidisha.html|title=Vidisha|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|ref={{SfnRef|ASI|Vidisha}} }}

{{refend}}

• {{commonscatinline|Maladevi Temple, Gyaraspur}}

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Category:Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh

Category:9th-century Jain temples