Vidisha

{{update after|2022}}

As of the 2011 Census of India, Vidisha had a population of 155,959. Males constitute 53.21% of the population and females 46.79%. Vidisha has an average literacy rate of 86.88%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.29%, and female literacy is 80.98%. In Vidisha, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.{{cite web|title=Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher=Census Commission of India}}

{{See also|List of cities in Madhya Pradesh}}

File:Map_of_Besnagar.jpg, Besnagar, Vidisha, Sanchi and the Udayagiri Caves.]]

The town is situated east of the Betwa River, in the fork of the Betwa and Bes rivers, 9 km from Sanchi. The town of Besnagar, 3 km from present-day Vidisha on the west side of the river, became an important trade centre in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, under the Shungas, Nagas, Satavahanas, and Guptas, and was mentioned in the Pali scriptures. The Emperor Ashoka was the governor of Vidisha during his father's lifetime. His Buddhist Empress Vidisha Devi who was also his first wife, was brought up in Vidisha. It finds mention in Kalidasa's Meghaduta.

The ruins of Besnagar were inspected by Alexander Cunningham in 1874–1875.{{cite book |title=Report Of Tours In Bundelkhannd And Malwa Vol X 1874–75 |date=1880 |pages=36–46 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.407745/page/n37}} Remains of a large defensive wall were found on the western side of the city. Ancient Buddhist railings were also found just outside of the city, which had probably adorned a stupa. Numerous coins were found, including nine coins of the Western Satraps.

The Heliodorus Pillar is a stone column, which was constructed in about 150 BCE. This stone column was erected by the Greek ambassador of the Indo-Greek King Antialcidas, who came to the court of Bhagabhadra, a possible Sunga king. Dedicated to Lord Vāsudeva, this column was constructed in front of the temple of Vāsudeva. The pillar is situated about four kilometers away from the city on Vidisha-Ganj Basoda SH-14, located on the northern bank of the Vais River. It is a 20 feet and 7 inches tall stone pillar, commonly called Kham Baba. The script used in the inscription is Brahmi but the language is Prakrit, recording that Heliodorus erected the pillar as a Garuda Stambha to pay homage to Lord Vasudeva, who was later integrated as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.{{Cite journal|last=Paul|first=Pran Gopal|date=December 1989|title=Brahmanical Imagery in the Kuṣāṇa Art of Mathurā: Tradition and Innovations|journal=East and West|volume=39|pages=111–143}}

File:Besnagar plan.jpg|Archaeological plan of the old city of Besnagar

File:Besnagar lower levels BSN 3 next to the Heliodorus pillar.jpg|Archaeological layers at Besnagar: the Temple of Vāsudeva in the forefront, and the Heliodorus pillar in the back

File:Besnagar pottery Period V.jpg|Besnagar pottery Period V

File:Besnagar silver punch-marked coins.jpg|Besnagar silver punch-marked coins.

File:Besnagar Yakshini.jpg|Besnagar Yakshini

File:Kalpadruma.jpg|Besnagar Kalpadruma

File:Besnagar Buddhist railings.jpg|Besnagar Buddhist railings

File:Rail pillars from Besnagar Sunga period.jpg|Besnagar Buddhist railings

File:Besnagar pillar capitals.jpg|Besnagar pillar capitals

File:Heliodorus pillar with elevation.jpg|View of Heliodorus pillar

File:GangaBeshnagarBhopalState.jpg|Besnagar Ganga statue

File:Vedisa inscription Sanchi.jpg, Brahmi script, 1st century BCE.]]

Besnagar was known as Bhelsa during the medieval period.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} It became famous for the temple of Sun god Bhillasvamin.Art & architecture of Daśārṇa (Malwa) Region, Rahman Ali, Sharada Pub. House, 2008, p. 14 It was ruled by the Later Gupta king Devagupta of Malwa and Rashtrakuta king Krishna III. The name is first noted in an inscription of 878 CE by a merchant Hatiaka of Paravada community.(Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D, K.C. Jain, p. 485 The 12th-century Tri-shashthi-shalaka-purusha-charitra mentions an image of Bhillasvamin at Vidisa, along with a copy of Jivant Swami buried in the sand.Gleanings of Indian archaeology, history, and culture: R.N. Mehta commemoration volume, Volume 1, 2000, p. 263 Minhajuddin's Tabaqat-i-Nusiri states that the temple was destroyed by Iltutmish in 1233–34 CE.Madhya Pradesh: District Gazetteers, Vol. 42, V. S. Krishnan, Government Central Press p. 30

In 1293, Alauddin Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate sacked the city as a general of Sultan Jalaluddin. The attack was illustrative of Vidisha's importance in the medieval era.[Studies in the Religious Life of Ancient and Medieval India, Dineschandra Sircar, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1971, p. 117] In 1532 Bhilsa was sacked by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat Sultanate. It then passed on to the Malwa Sultans, the Mughals and the Scindias.

{{Main|Jain temples, Vidisha}}

File:Pataria Jain Temple, Badoh.jpg

Vidisha is considered to be Puranakshetras Jain tirtha. Vidisha is also believed to be the birthplace of Shitalanatha, the tenth tirthankar.{{Sfn|Dainik Bhaskar|108 feet temple}} There are 14 temples in Vidisha, among which Bada Mandir, Bajramath Jain temple, Maladevi temple, Gadarmal temple and Pathari Jain temple, built between 9th-10th centuries CE, are the most prominent. These temples are rich in architecture.{{Sfn|ASI|Bajramath Temple}}{{Sfn|ASI|Maladevi Temple}}{{Sfn|ASI|Badoh Jain Temple}}{{Sfn|ASI|Gadarmal Temple}}

{{Weather box

| location = Vidisha (1981–2010, extremes 1970–2003)

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| Jan record high C = 35.0

| Feb record high C = 36.2

| Mar record high C = 42.1

| Apr record high C = 46.9

| May record high C = 49.1

| Jun record high C = 49.0

| Jul record high C = 43.3

| Aug record high C = 38.6

| Sep record high C = 39.0

| Oct record high C = 40.8

| Nov record high C = 38.0

| Dec record high C = 35.0

| year record high C = 49.1

| Jan high C = 26.2

| Feb high C = 29.5

| Mar high C = 34.7

| Apr high C = 40.2

| May high C = 42.8

| Jun high C = 38.9

| Jul high C = 32.3

| Aug high C = 30.3

| Sep high C = 32.2

| Oct high C = 34.0

| Nov high C = 31.4

| Dec high C = 27.9

| year high C = 33.4

| Jan low C = 8.3

| Feb low C = 10.8

| Mar low C = 15.3

| Apr low C = 20.5

| May low C = 26.1

| Jun low C = 25.5

| Jul low C = 23.4

| Aug low C = 23.6

| Sep low C = 21.5

| Oct low C = 18.3

| Nov low C = 13.0

| Dec low C = 9.1

| year low C = 17.9

| Jan record low C = 0.0

| Feb record low C = 2.5

| Mar record low C = 5.8

| Apr record low C = 13.1

| May record low C = 18.5

| Jun record low C = 16.3

| Jul record low C = 13.0

| Aug record low C = 10.0

| Sep record low C = 10.1

| Oct record low C = 11.0

| Nov record low C = 4.9

| Dec record low C = 3.1

| year record low C = 0.0

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 5.9

| Feb rain mm = 12.2

| Mar rain mm = 11.4

| Apr rain mm = 3.8

| May rain mm = 17.9

| Jun rain mm = 116.7

| Jul rain mm = 310.5

| Aug rain mm = 332.0

| Sep rain mm = 177.4

| Oct rain mm = 48.3

| Nov rain mm = 6.1

| Dec rain mm = 5.4

| year rain mm = 1047.3

| Jan rain days = 0.6

| Feb rain days = 1.1

| Mar rain days = 0.9

| Apr rain days = 0.4

| May rain days = 1.1

| Jun rain days = 6.7

| Jul rain days = 12.5

| Aug rain days = 13.4

| Sep rain days = 7.5

| Oct rain days = 2.4

| Nov rain days = 0.6

| Dec rain days = 0.2

| year rain days = 47.2

| time day = 17:30 IST

| Jan humidity = 51

| Feb humidity = 42

| Mar humidity = 32

| Apr humidity = 27

| May humidity = 26

| Jun humidity = 49

| Jul humidity = 73

| Aug humidity = 81

| Sep humidity = 71

| Oct humidity = 50

| Nov humidity = 46

| Dec humidity = 47

| year humidity = 50

|source 1 = India Meteorological Department

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| title = Station: Vidisha Climatological Table 1981–2010

| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = January 2015

| pages = 791–792

| access-date = 29 December 2020}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = December 2016

| page = M134

| access-date = 29 December 2020}}

}}

File:Naravarman PP.jpg

File:Maladevi Temple Gyaraspur facade.jpg ]]

File:Ashoka pillar Udayagiri near Vidisha.jpg" (actually probably dating from the Gupta period),The Past Before Us, Romila Thapar [https://books.google.com/books?id=aei9AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA361 p. 361] from Udayagiri near Vidisha.]]

File:Bajramath Temple N-MP-280 (16).jpg ]]

Near the eastern edge of the old town are the remains of a large temple of the late Paramara period known as the Bijamaṇḍal. The building was probably started in the second half of the 11th century. That it was never finished is evidenced by the unfinished carved niches and architectural pieces found round the base of the temple plinth.O.P. Mishra, "Bijamaṇḍal and Carccikā: Tutelary Goddess of the Paramāra King Naravarman," Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 22, 1 (2012), pp. 107–113. On top of the plinth is a small mosque made using pillars, one of which has an inscription dating probably from the time of king Naravarman (circa 1094–1134). It is a devotional inscription revering Carccikā (i.e. Cāmuṇḍā), of whom he was a devotee.H. V. Trivedi, Inscriptions of the Paramāras, Chandellas, Kachchhapaghātas and Two Minor Dynasties, Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, volume 7 in 2 parts (New Delhi, 1978–91) 2: 120–122. The miḥrāb suggests the mosque was constructed in the late 14th century. To one side of the Bijamaṇḍal is a store house of the Archaeological Survey of India containing many sculptures collected in the neighbourhood. A step-well of the 7th century is in the same campus and has, beside the entrance, two tall pillars with Kṛṣṇa scenes. These are the earliest Kṛṣṇa scenes in the art of central India. The dimensions of Bijamandal Temple at Vidisha are comparable to those of Konark in Orissa.

Lohangi Pir is a rock formation in Vidisha District that derives its name from Shaykh Jalal Chishti, a saint who was locally known as Lohangi Pir. This small domed building is a tomb, which has two Persian inscriptions on it. One of the inscriptions dates back to 1460 CE, while the other is from 1583 CE. The tank and a large bell-capital dating back to the 1st century BCE can be seen on the nearby hill. Near the tomb are the remains of a medieval temple that survived as a pillared crypt. These are dedicated to Goddess Annapurna. Lohangi is a large rock right in the heart of Vidisha, within walking distance of the railway station, is of religious and historical significance in the region.{{cite web | url=http://travellingslacker.com/2013/10/vidisha-udaygiri-caves-heliodoros-pillar-and-bija-mandal/ | title=Home | the Travelling Slacker | date=17 September 2020 }}

Udaygiri is less than 10 km from Vidisha town. It is a series of at least 20 caves, containing both Hindu and Jain sculptures from the Gupta Era, sometime between the 4th and 5th century CE. According to Jain texts, Tirthankara Sheetal Nath attained nirvana here. It is basically a small hill where intricate sculptures have been cut out of the rocks.

Maladevi temple is a grand Portal of ninth century CE, situated on the eastern slope of a hill and built on a huge platform cut out of the hillside and strengthened by a massive retaining wall, Maladevi temple's imposing structure provides a panoramic valley view, in Gyaraspur, about 40 km from Vidisha along NH-86.{{cite web |url=http://www.holidayiq.com/Maladevi-Temple-Vidisha-Sightseeing-1018-12089.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116035457/http://www.holidayiq.com/Maladevi-Temple-Vidisha-Sightseeing-1018-12089.html |archive-date=16 January 2013 |title=Maladevi Temple {{!}} Maladevi Temple Photos {{!}} Vidisha Tourist Places}}

Hindola Torana - Hindola means a swing and Torana is an arched gate - is a magnificent artwork of the 9th century or medieval period, situated in Gyaraspur. It is a developed, ornamental and decorated arched gate made of sandstone. On both of its pillars, Lord Vishnu's ten incarnations are engraved. Near it, four carved and sculpted pillars and beams seem to be the ruins of Trimurthy temple set on one raised platform, as Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati and their servants are sculpted on these pillars and beams. The gate may be an entrance gate for a temple for Vishnu, Shiva or Thirumurthy.

Bajramath Temple is situated in Gyaraspur, on NH-146 behind the Sub-Judicial Magistrate and Tehsildar's Office. The temple faces the east, and was a Hindu temple later transformed into a Jain temple. It is just opposite the hill on which Maladevi temple is situated.{{cite web |url=http://www.holidayiq.com/Bajramath-Temple-Vidisha-Sightseeing-1018-12091.html |title=Bajramath Temple, Vidisha {{!}} History, Timings, Reviews, Photos {{!}} HolidayIQ.com |website=www.holidayiq.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009134921/http://www.holidayiq.com/Bajramath-Temple-Vidisha-Sightseeing-1018-12091.html |archive-date=2014-10-09}}

Dashavtar Temple is situated on the north of the local lake, where ruins of a group of small Vaishnava shrines can be found. These small Vaishnava shrines are popularly known as Sadhavatara Temple. The temple comprises a large open pillared hall, in which the pillars are dedicated to the ten incarnations of Vishnu. These pillars date back from 8th to 10th century CE. Towards the western bank of the lake lie the ruins of sati pillars that date back to 9th or 10th century CE. One of these pillars is carved with four sculptured faces that depict a seated group of Hara-Gauri.

Girdhari Temple, which is known for its sculptures and fine carvings, is a popular attraction in Sironj. The ancient shrines of Jatashankar and Mahamaya are located close to this temple. Jatashankar Temple is situated 3 km towards the south-west of Sironj in the forest area. On the other hand, Mahamaya Temple is situated 5 km south-west of Sironj.

Udayeshwara Temple, located in Udaipur village of the Basoda Tehsil, is one of the most prominent Hindu shrines in the region. The inscriptions found in this temple suggest that the Udaipur Town was founded by the Parmara King Udayaditya during the 11th century CE. Other inscriptions found at the temple suggest that Parmara King Udayaditya dedicated it to Lord Shiva.

File:Vidisha_District_Museum.jpg.]]

{{main|Vidisha Museum}}

Vidisha Museum or Vidisha District Museum is the main museum of the city of Vidisha.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tourmyindia.com/states/madhyapradesh/museums.html|title=Famous Museums in Madhya Pradesh | MP Museums Guide|website=www.tourmyindia.com}}{{cite book |last1=Hudson |first1=Kenneth |last2=Nicholls |first2=Ann |title=The Directory of Museums & Living Displays |date=1985 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781349070145 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w5GvCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA495 |language=en}}{{cite book |title=Buddhist Circuit in Central India: Sanchi, Satdhara, Sonari, Andher, Travel Guide |date=2010 |publisher=Goodearth Publications |isbn=9789380262055 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TOrKExVXXpkC&pg=PT37 |language=en}}

The museum has many sculptures, terracottas and coins, especially from the 9th to the 10th century CE, as well as Harrappan art.

{{Needs more citations|date=January 2025}}

• Devi (wife of Ashoka) – According to the Ceylonese chronicles, Ashoka's first wife was the daughter of a merchant of Vedisagiri (present-day Vidisha), Devi by name, whom Ashoka had married while he was Viceroy at Ujjain.

• Kailash Satyarthi – Born as Kailash Sharma in the Vidisha district, he is an Indian social reformer.
• Atul Shah – He is a social worker and a key figure in multiple Non Governmental Organisations which includes Lions club Vidisha and Red cross Society Vidisha

• Pritam Babu Sharma – Indian academic and Vice Chancellor of Amity University, Gurgaon and ex Vice Chancellor of Delhi Technological University.
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
• Trinity Convent Senior Secondary School
• Kendriya Vidyalaya
• Vatsalya Senior Secondary School
• Nirmala Convent Higher Secondary School
• Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI)
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College
• Government Lal Bahadur Shastri College
• Gurudev Vidya Sagar B.Ed College
• Saket MGM College
• Sanjay Gandhi College
• Grantham College of Education
• SGA Paramedical College
• Kushabhaou Thakre College
• Jawaharlal Nehru College

• Surendra Malviya – Indian Cricketer.
• Aalok Shrivastav – Indian Writer, Lyricist.

• Raghavji – Indian Politician, MP of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• Munvvar Saleem – Politician, MP of Rajya Sabha for Uttar Pradesh.
• Pratap Bhanu Sharma – Indian Politician, MP of 7th and 8th Lok Sabha from Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency.
• Sushma Swaraj — won the Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for a second term In the 2014 Lok Sabha Election retaining her seat.
• Mukesh Tandon – Politician, MLA of Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly from Vidisha 144 Constituency
• Atal Vihari Vajpayee – India's 10th Prime Minister represented Vidisha Lok Sabha as an MP in 2nd, 5th, 6th and 7th Lok sabha.

File:Vidisha Railway station.jpg

Vidisha railway station is a railway station on the Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai main line of the Central Railway, at a distance of 54 km from Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi on the Jhansi-Itarsi section of the West Central Railway and Bhopal to Bina triple electrified broad gauge lines, from Bina to Katni double electrified Lines, Vidisha 102 km from Bina, and Vidisha, 9 km from Sanchi, are more convenient. Vidisha is also well-connected by road.

Vidisha is known for its educational institutions. Many of the primary and secondary schools are affiliated with the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education. Some schools choose to be affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

There is a Grant-in-Aid Autonomous College called Samrat Ashok Technological Institute (SATI).

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, a medical college located in Vidisha.{{Cite web|url=http://gmcvidisha.org/index.html#about|title=Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha|website=gmcvidisha.org|access-date=2019-09-26}} It became functional in 2018 and received its first batch of students in the same year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/cm-medical-college-to-start-in-vidisha-from-august.html|title=CM: Medical College to start in Vidisha from August|last=Pioneer|first=The|website=The Pioneer|language=en|access-date=2019-09-26}} The number of students admitted in 2018 was 150 whereas in 2019 the intake was increased to 180. Students are admitted to the college through NEET-UG examination.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite news|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/mp/bhopal/news/mp-news-rs-35-crores-of-donation-is-being-made-in-vidisha-the-country39s-first-108-feet-elevated-temple-together-with-all-tirthankars-065026-4362496.html|title=Vidisha, the country's first 108 feet elevated temple with all Tirthankars|date=17 April 2019|access-date=28 July 2019|publisher=Dainik Bhaskar|ref={{SfnRef|Dainik Bhaskar|108 feet temple}} }}
• {{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_gyaraspur_bajramath.html|title=Bajramath Temple|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|ref={{SfnRef|ASI|Bajramath Temple}} }}
• {{Cite web|url=http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/vidisha_badoh_gadarmaltemple.html|title=Gadarmal Temple|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|ref={{SfnRef|ASI|Gadarmal Temple}} }}
• {{Cite web|url=http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/vidisha_badoh_jaintemple.html|title=Badoh Jain Temple|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|ref={{SfnRef|ASI|Badoh Jain Temple}} }}
• {{Cite web|url=http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/vidisha.html|title=Vidisha|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|ref={{SfnRef|ASI|Vidisha}} }}
• {{Citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3O7q7cU7k0C|title=Malwa Through The Ages|first=Kailash Chand |last=Jain|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |date=1972|isbn= 9788120808249 }}

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Category:Cities in Madhya Pradesh

Category:9th-century Jain temples

Category:Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh

Category:Ancient Indian cities

Category:Religious buildings and structures destroyed in the Muslim period in the Indian subcontinent