Yadava Temples

MA LEVEL NOTES OF TEMPLES AND TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE OF YADAVAS OF ANCIENT INIDIA

AIHC AND ARCHAEOLOGY
 Introduction

 The Seuna Yadavs were feudatories of the Western Chalukyas, and established
their independence as the Chalukyan power declined. The Yadavas of Devgiris,
as they are also known, ruled from 1189 – 1310 CE, from Devgiri (modern-day
Daulatabad). The name Seuna comes from Seunachandra, who originally ruled a
region called Seunadesha (modern-day Khandesh), this dynasty was established
by Bhillama V (1173–1192 CE). Singhana II (1200–1247 CE), however is considered
the greatest ruler of this dynasty who expanded the Seuna kingdom. In 1317 CE,
this kingdom was annexed by the Khilji Sultanate.
 Gondeshwar Temple, Sinnar
 An 11th-12th century Hindu temple located in Sinnar, a town in the Nashik district of Maharashtra
 Panchayatana plan
 Main shrine dedicated to Shiva and contains a large linga
 Four subsidiary shrines dedicated to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha.
 Built in the Bhumija style.
 Situated on a rectangular platform that measures 125 x 95 feet.
 The plan of the temple is very similar to that of the Ambarnath Shiva temple, but the sculptures on its
exterior walls are of inferior quality than those of the Ambarnath temple.
 The temple complex was originally surrounded by a wall, which is now mostly destroyed.
 The mandapa (pavilion), which has porches on three sides, acts as the entrance to the temple.
 Nagara-style shikhara (tower), whose finial is no longer preserved.[4] The walls of the temple depict scenes
from the ancient epic Ramayana.[9]
 The subsidiary shrines are dedicated to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha: all of them have a porch. They
are rectangular in plan, and include a mandapa, an antarala (vestibule), and the garbhagriha (sanctum).
 Temples at Balsane
 Group of nine temples
 Built at Balsane in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
 The majority were constructed in the Yadava Deccan style of architecture
  The Yadava's kingdom, at its height in the thirteenth century stretched from Gujarat in the north, to
Karnataka in the south.
 They were prolific builders of temples, and large numbers of Yadava shrines can still be found
standing in the Deccan region today.
 The interior of temple no. 3 in a completely ruinous condition showing piles of masonry lying on the
floor.
 Amongst the debris a fine ceiling panel was found with a small central dome adorned with cusped
ornaments and kirttimukhas, lion like monsters, in the corners.
 The columns are decorated with geometric motifs and scrollwork.