A Short Note on a Hindu Temple and a Sikh Gurdwara at Garhi Kapura (District

Mardan)
Sabika Batool, Ghayyur Shahab and Zafar Hayat Khan
Garhi Kapura village is situated in the eastern part of district Mardan (see fig.!, on its border
"ith district S"abi. #t is located about $ kilo%eters east of Mardan city on &obian road and '.(
kilo%eters south of Shahba) Garhi through Garhai *aar, "here the fa%ous edicts of +,oka are
inscribed on a huge boulder. Sher Shah Suri road passes through the center (east to "est! of this
village that goes to the east to"ards river #ndus through -ar.Hussain &agai (S"abi!. /his road
divides the village into t"o parts, such as, &aulat)ai and #s%ail)ai and locals consider the road
(route! originally constructed by the e%peror Sher Shah Suri. Ma0a% (Bathkor! river flo"s in
the center (north to south! of Garhi Kapura village "hich divides it into t"o halves, Kot and
Garhi. /he above %entioned four parts %akes the village a co%bination of four s%all tribes, such
as, Garhi &aulat)ai, Garhi #s%ail)ai, Kot &aulat)ai and Kot #s%ail)ai. /here are other na%es of
Garhi Kapura %entioned in different researches and reports. /hese are Kot Kapura (1averty 2324
$53!, Kapur.di.giri

, Kapourdigarhi (6ourt 2'74 '85!

$
, *angar Kot (Belle" 284 3$! and +%a)o
Garhai (locally kno"n!. 9e do not kno" %uch about the historical background of this village
but the evidences of early periods can be found at t"o places. :ne at Shahba) Garhi "here
+soka left his fa%ous edicts, "as once na%ed after this village as Kapur.di.giri inscription
(9ilson 258!. +nd the other is a Buddhist site located (;; %eters east of the village, na%ed as
Kara% &heri (+li, /. $;;4 37 < +li, #. $;;'4 7$, $78!. +ccording to the locals once there "ere
several %onu%ents of the late historic period in Garhi &aulat)ai portion of the village. =resently
only one Hindu te%ple of the three, %ain gate"ay of Gord"ara, a >a%at Khana and parts of the
Hindu ba)aar survive. +ll these %onu%ents are located inside the thickly populated area around
a radius of about $;; %eters.
Hindu Temple of Garhi Kapura
/he te%ple lies at latitude '5?@(3.(;A north and longitude 3$?;8@(.'A east "ith an elevation
of about '' %eters above the sea level. /he eBact date of construction is not kno"n, ho"ever, it
1
Mentioned "ith Shahba) Garhi rock edicts of +soka
2
Mentioned this place as ancient 6aspatyrus, the capital of Gandarii at the ti%e of +leBander invasions.
is co%parable to the te%ples of 6hak"al
'
, =esha"ar
5
and +ttock "hich are %ainly dated to the
late 8
th
or early $;
th
century. Garhi Kapura te%ple "as once standing inside a co%pleB "hich
had an enclosure "all all.around "ith t"o %ain gate"ays to the co%pleB one in the east and
other in the "est respectively, a gabagrihaCsanctuary in the south"est, and probably other
supporting buildings. /he surviving buildings are consisted of a gabagriha, parts of the enclosure
"all "ith one gate"ay, and evidences of the supporting building of the sanctuary in the southern
enclosure "all. 9hile the rest of the structures are collapsed and no such traces can be found
eBcept for about $.( %eters debris inside the co%pleB. /he "hole area is filled "ith garbage and
the authors "ere helpless to find the eBact ground level of the %ain te%ple and its co%pleB. =arts
of the enclosure "all survive in the "est "here an arched entrance is provided to the %ain street.
/he "all is depicted "ith a blind arch "hich is sur%ounted by a ventilator blocked "ith fence.
:n the left side of the ventilator a perforated screen is illustrated (see fig.2!. +n arched entrance
is provided to the left side "hich has a "ooden door (see fig.7!.
Internal eatures and Details
#nternally the gabagriha is s0uare in plan and %easures siB feet on each side. &oor"ay is
provided to the east. #nside this door"ay the frontalC"estern "all of the sanctuary "as once
adorned "ith three Hindu gods, "ith the %ain deity in the center, flanked by t"o figures on
either side. Do" only traces of the re%oval of these deities can be found (see fig.$!. #nternally
the sanctuary is divided into four stages4 stage one is s0uare in plan considered as the sanctu%,
stage t"o is the )one of transition "here corner s0uinches (see fig.'! are laid to convert the
building into stage three that is the circular cylindrical dru%, and stage four is the richly
decorated do%ical ceiling (see fig.3!.
/he first s0uare stage is about three %eters in height "here proEected stylobate of double ro"s of
bricks is provided to the base of five arched niches, adorned on the three sides eBcept in the east.
/here are three recessed arched niches in the "estern "all in elongated shape to eBhibit the
deities, in "hich the central one is larger in si)e, in "hich the %aEor deity once resided. #t is
flanked by t"o s%all arched niches, one on each side. #n these the central arched niche is
3
#0bal $;;(47;
4
Shah $;;2
sur%ounted by a proEected arched %edallion in the shape of a niche "here traces of an eBhibit
can be seen. :n both the sides of this %edallion one can find a proEected eve that is decorated
"ith inverted false %erlons or leaves (see fig.$!. Fourth arched niche is the true pointed arch
that is provided in the northern "all "hich %easures about $ %eters high and 5 feet "ide. Do
traces of an eBhibit can be seen on this side of the sanctuary. Fifth is the cusped arch niche that is
provided to the southern "all "hich is ' feet high and $ feet "ide (see fig.;!. Here one
can clearly find the traces of an eBhibited deity. +t the top left side of this niche stucco plaster is
detached "here a "ooden bea% is eBposed that is decorated "ith a continuous band of carved
floral %otifs (see fig.!. :n all the four sides this first s0uare stage is separated fro% the second
stage "ith the help of a proEected bold leaf pattern design, in "hich the "estern one is a little
different fro% the rest (see fig.'!. /he "hole series is decorated "ith tassets or denticulates in
its base, carved in inverted leaf pattern. /assets "ere follo"ed by t"o continuous bands painted
in red and black colors, separating by a proEecting "hite band. 6ornice %olding is provided to
the top of this portion, over "hich a series of false %erlons in leaf patternCarched shape have
been eBecuted in bold relief "hich are proEected out"ards in the top. /his "hole series of
leavesC%erlons is decorated in light green color. 9hile the "estern side of the cornice is adorned
"ith acanthus leaf pattern in red and green colors (see fig.'!.
/he second stage is s0uare at the base "hile its top is converted into round shape "ith the help of
corner s0uinches. /he corner s0uinches have a very uni0ue %ode of "ork. Gach s0uinch is
sho"ing a rosette %otif at the centre, "here as on its both sides t"o branches e%erging in
obli0ue pattern, "hich are adorned "ith a parrot follo"ed by a bud carved in high relief. /hese
obli0ue branches %eet at the centre of the "all and for%ed a type false arboreal arch (see fig.'!.
/he shoulders of these arches have been placed over a kind of pedestal, "hich are four in
nu%ber. /he "estern side of this stage has a "indo" in s0uare shape "hich is blocked by a steel
fence (see fig.(!. /his stage is topped by a regular series of false %erlonsCacanthus leaf pattern
"hich separates second stage fro% the third. +t the base of these leaves a bold proEecting "hite
band is running all around (see fig.', 5, (, 7!.
/hird stage is a conical cylindrical dru% "hich is circular in plan. +ll sides have recessed shape
e0uilateral arch openings blocked "ith steel fence (see fig.5! "hile the "estern side has a blind
arch (see fig.7! in sa%e design. + series of s%all proEected leavesCfalse %erlons is running on
the sides and at the connecting base of all these arches (see fig.5, 7!. /he top of this portion is
directly curved internally to for% stage four of the building.
Stage four has a do%ical ceiling "hich is richly decorated "ith geo%etrical and floral %otifs and
the center is adorned "ith a sha%sa design "hich has sun flo"er in center. + steel rod is hanging
fro% the center of the do%e. /he do%e is blackened by s%oke "here presently no colors can be
seen (see fig.3!. #nternally the "hole building is plastered "ith stucco and "as richly decorated
"ith different colors but no" only fe" traces of these paintings can be seen because the building
"as "hite "ashed.
!"ternal eatures and Details
GBternally the te%ple is divided into t"o portionsH the elongated rectangular body (see fig.', 5, (,
7! and the sur%ounted shikara do%e (see fig.3!. /he elongated rectangular body is again divided
into t"o partsH the door"ay and decorated rectangular fra%es above it. /he entrance is provided
to the eastern side, %ade of seg%ental arch subdued by cusped arch and later both are enclosed
in a double rectangular fra%e (see fig.8!. :n the top of the entrance, in the second stage, a
cusped arch recessed panel has been created "hich is enclosed by a rectangular fra%e. /he either
sides of this fra%e are supported "ith the 6orinthian pilasters. /he shafts are tapering in shape
and designed in fluted order. /he capitals are carved "ith acanthus leaves in high relief. /he
inner surface of the recessed arch is classified into several s0uare shaped panels, "hich are
devoid of any decoration. Here the ty%panu% of the recessed cusped arch is provided "ith an oil
la%p niche. #nside the classified panels another s%all pointed arch "indo" is provided. /he
outer fra%e of the recessed cusped arch is surrounded by five oil la%ps niches, t"o on the top
both corners, t"o on the right and one to the left side (see fig.$!. /his side has no floral
decorations. Dorthern side of the te%ple has al%ost si%ilar decorations but instead of the
door"ay a false recessed cusped arch is provided. #n the upper stage above it the fence is
re%oved fro% arched "indo". Here three oil la%ps niches are eBecuted on the left side and one
on the right side. +ll around the te%ple this section of the elongated rectangular body is
sur%ounted by a boldly proEected eave "hich separates it fro% the shikara do%e (see fig.$!.
:n the "estern side the lo"er portion has no decorative "ork eBcept for a fenced "indo" in the
top (see fig.7!. /he upper portion is intact "hich is richly decorated in stucco "ork. +n
elongated recessed cusped arch is eBecuted "hich is fra%ed by a rectangular panel. :n the either
side this panel is flanked by styli)ed 6orinthian pilasters, as described above. Both the sides of
the panel have proEected decorative pedestals. /he ty%panu% of this cusped arch has been added
"ith e%bossed sunflo"er %edallions. Further%ore the spandrels of cusped arch panel "rought
"ith e%bossed sunflo"ers eBecuted in si%ilar gestureH ho"ever in the later case these flo"ers
are s%aller in si)e. #nside the arch a false door is acco%plished (see fig.(!. Both the corners of
the te%ple have 6orinthian pilasters, starting at the base and ends at the eve. /he lo"er portion
of these pilasters is eBecuted "ith a plain shaft "hile in the %iddle a pitcher shaped base is
provided to it (see fig.5, (, 7!. +bove this pot acanthus leaves are provided to support the %ulti.
faced shaft of the pilaster (see fig.(!. /he top, "hich supports the eve of the building, is again
decorated in the sa%e pattern discussed earlier.
Southern side is al%ost si%ilar to the "estern side but a little difference can be seen in the
decorative "ork (see fig.5!. /he lo"er portion is plain "here the stucco plaster is co%pletely
re%oved. /he upper portion is intact and sho"ing lavish decoration. Here the recessed cusped
arch is fra%ed by a rectangular panel. #nside this recess arch another rectangular fra%e has been
created around a false pointed arch. /he outer sides of this arch are decorated "ith acanthus
leaves eBecuted in stucco and carved in high relief. #n the upper part of the center of the arch a
s%all s0uare "indo" is created that is blocked "ith a steel fence. /op left side of the pointed
arch panel is sho"ing a pointed arch oil la%p niche. /o the either sides of the te%ple in the top
corners t"o proEected pedestals are added to place oil la%ps. /he ty%panu% of this inner pointed
arch and that of the cusped arch panels have been added "ith e%bossed sunflo"er %edallions,
"here the later is larger in si)e. /he spandrels of cusped arch panel are also decorated "ith
e%bossed sunflo"ers. Besides the above stated decorative ele%ents and architectural
co%ponents, these panels have been flanked on the either side by styli)ed 6orinthian pilasters, as
described above (see fig.'!.
/he te%ple is topped by a shikhara do%e that is pyra%idal in shape and decorated "ith probably
s%all te%ple and %undapa %odels and surrounded "ith leaf pattern design above. /he shikhara
is topped by %ahapad%a in stucco and kalasha "hich is %ade of brass and the top of kalasha
there is a s%all flag also %ade of brass (see fig.3!.
The Sikh Gurdwara
(
Gurd"ara lies at latitude '5?@(7.23A north and longitude 3$?;8@58.5A east "ith an elevation of
about '' %eters above the sea level. #t is located about $;; %eters "est of the Hindu te%ple,
inside the %ain street. :nly the door"ay co%pleB and parts of the enclosure "all of the building
survived "hile the rest has been de%olished (see fig.2!. &uring the British 1aE it "as used as a
gibbet "hile after the partition of #ndo.=akistan it "as converted into Govern%ent Girls Middle
School.
+ vestibule is provided to the door"ay "hich opens to the %ain street in the east. /here are t"o
rectangular fra%es provided in its outer faIade, in "hich the right is larger in si)e to
acco%%odate the entrance gate. /hese panels are divided by three round shafted pillars having
conical pitcher shaped bases and s0uare capitals "hich support the proEected lintel (see fig.2!.
+bove the %ain gate a rectangular panel is provided "hich is divided into three panels, the lo"er
and upper panels depict Gur%ukhi inscription "hile the %iddle sunken panel depicts Sikh
insigniaCsy%bol, Khanda (see fig.8!. /he Southern rectangular fra%e is blind and bears
Gur%ukhi inscription in its top (see fig.$;!.
Guru%ukhi inscription depicted on the top of the left panel at southern "all (see fig.$;! reads,
Gurduvara Sri Gurr Singh Sabha Garrikpra. /he na%e of the Gurd"ara JSri GurrK SinghL
is %entioned "ith the na%e of the village JGarri KapKraL.
Guru%ukhi inscription above the gate (see fig.8! in the top panel reads as ik onkr sat gr
prasd sat sri akl and in the lo"er panel reads as ik onkr satnm sri vahigr ji.
/ranslation of the first line reads as Jthere is one God (creator! of all creation (and! God is the
5
1eported by Kaur et al as Gurud"ara Kot Kapura (88;4 27!
ulti%ate truthL. /ranslation of the second line reads as Jthere is one God (and! "onderful teacher
(God! is the absolute truthL.
#nternally this vestibule opens to the %ain courtyard "here it is %ade accessible through a trefoil
arched entrance. /he lo"er portion of the arch is blocked by a steel gate "hile the upper portion
has a perforated screen. +bove the arch a lintel is provided, in the center of this lintel a niche is
eBecuted "here a po%egranate is depicted (see fig.$!. +ccording to the local people there had
been a pillared hall "hich "as decorated in red color and had a "ooden ceiling.
#ther $uildin%s of the &ate Historic 'eriod
+t the east of the te%ple there "as a residential area that "as reported by the locals as once
enclosed in an enclosure "all in "hich there "ere houses of the Hindus and Sikhs. Do" only one
house is standing "hich "as the house of Kai%chand, a local Hindu %erchant. #n 8( it "as
given to Garhi Kapura 6ivil &ispensary "hich is no" closed. +gha Khan House is located (;
%eters north of Gurd"ara. #t "as constructed in 2(3 and used as >a%at Khana, a religious place
of +gha Khani faith. Do" it is used as an ordinary house. +nother house in the vicinity is na%ed
as Sikandar Mir)a house "hich is still in use. #t is believed by the locals that the last Governor.
General and first =resident of =akistan, Sikandar Mir)a, o"ned this house. +n old ba)aar is
located about ';; %eters southeast of the te%ple "hich is na%ed after the Hindu trading
co%%unity that lived here before the partition. + series of several shops run on both sides of the
street, "hich have veranda in its front. /he pillars of the veranda have rectangular bases, round
shafts and s0uare capitals. /he doors of the shops and the roof are provided in "ood. Gate"ays
are provided on both the ends of the ba)aar. Gach gate is supported by t"o colu%ns. Gach
colu%n has an octagonal shaft and do%ical capital.
Acknowled%ement
9e are eBtre%ely thankful to +tia >a%shed (fro% Garhi Kapura!, M.=hil research scholar at the
&epart%ent of Social 9ork, Mniversity of =esha"ar, "ho infor%ed us about the te%ple and
gurd"ara. Her brother, Sabir Khan, helped us to visit the te%ple by influencing the Head of
+"0af &epart%ent. 9e are also thankful to &r. Muha%%ad Daee% Na)i for sparing his
precious ti%e to study the decorative ele%ents of the Hindu /e%ple of Garhi Kapura for this
research. /his study "ould never have been possible "ithout his acade%ic support. 9e also "ant
to eBtend our gratitude to Mr. +th"al, a Sikh fro% +%ritsar #ndia, "ho transcribed and
translated the Guru%ukhi inscriptions for this research.
$i(lio%raphical )eferences
+li, #. ($;;'!. Frontier Archaeology . =esha"ar.
+li, /. ($;;!. +rchaeological Survey of &istrict Mardan in the Dorth 9est Frontier =rovince of
=akistan. Ancient akistan O#P4 ((.3$
Belle", H. 9. (28!. An !n"uiry into the #thnography o$ A$ghanistan. *ondon
6aroe, :. (8(8!. %he athans. :Bford.
6ourt, M. (2'7!. 6onEectures of the March of +leBander (co%%unicated by 6.M. 9ade!. &AS'
(4 '23.'8(. 6alcutta.
#0bal, S. ($;;7!. =reli%inary 1eport on the +rchaeological Survey of &istrict 6hak"al. &ournal
o$ Asian (ivili)ation OO#O, Do.$4
Kaur, D., Sahi, >. S. (88;!. An #ncyclopedia o$ Sikhism and Sikhs Abroad.
Khan, M. D. ($;;5!. esha*ar+ %he ,n*ritten -istory. =esha"ar
Meister, M. 9. (88!. #ncyclopedia o$ !ndian %emple Architecture Pol ##. =rinceton
1averty, H. G. (232!. .otes on A$ghanistan and 'aluchistan.
Shah, #. ($;;2!. + Short Survey of Hindu /e%ples in =esha"ar. South Asian Studies $5, Do.4
8.'$
Spooner, &. B. (rep. 88;!. Annual /eport on the Archaeological Survey o$ !ndia 0Frontier
(ircle1 2344546
9ilson, H. H. (258!. 7n the /ock !nscription o$ Kapur5di5Giri8 9hauli8 and Girnar.
Fig.. Gandhara %ap sho"ing location of Garhi Kapura. 0Google !mage1
Fig.$. Southern and eastern parts of the te%ple Fig.'. Southern part of the te%ple
Fig.5. 9estern and southern parts of the te%ple Fig.(. 9estern part of the te%ple
Fig.7. 9estern "all of the te%ple Fig.3. =yra%idal do%e of the te%ple
Fig.2. =arts of enclosure "all Fig.8. Gntrance to the sanctuaryCgabagriha
Fig.;. False niche on the southern "all (internal! Fig.. &ecoration on the "ooden bea% of the niche
Fig.$. GBhibiting niches in the "estern "all (internal! Fig.'. &ecorative bands and corner s0uinch
Fig.5. +rched "indo" in the southern "all Fig.(. 9indo" in the "estern "all
Fig.7. Blind arch in the "estern "all Fig.3. &o%ical ceiling of the te%ple
Fig.2. Gate"ay co%pleB of the Gurd"ara Fig.8. Guru%ukhi inscription and Khanda above gate
Fig.$;. Guru%ukhi inscription on the southern panel Fig.$. #nternal portion of the Gurd"ara gate"ay