File:0121621 Batesara Group of Temples Madhya Pradesh 535.jpg

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English: Bateshwar temple complex is one of the largest collection of restored Hindu temples at a single site in Asia. The site has about 200 temples from Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions. The site is named after its largest temple Bhuteshwar temple, or Bhutnath mandir. This phonetically evolved to its other names: Bateshwar temples and just Batesar temples.

Inscriptions and archaeological findings from excavations suggest that the Batesar and nearby Mitawali and Padhavali sites were already religiously significant from at least the 2nd century onwards. The inscriptions through the 12th century attest to the importance of Bateswar–Mitawali–Padhavali as a hub of temples and college-monasteries complex. Thereafter these sites lost their influence. Almost all temples were razed to the ground leaving a chaotic pile of temple parts. During the Mughal and colonial era, these sites were a part of a region under the control of armed militia and dacoits. The temples attracted little scholarly visits or attention. This changed with the herculean efforts of K.K. Muhammed (Karingamannu Kuzhiyil Muhammed) – a Kerala born ASI archaeologist. His team restored dozens of Batesar Hindu temples after shifting through the piled ruins. Over 100 temples are now restored and standing, midst piles of ruins. With the addition of modern roads and highways after 2012, the site has become easy to reach and popular.

Ignoring the ruins, the standing temples and their artwork date mostly from 8th to 9th century (Gurjara-Pratiharas), with some from 6th to 7th century post-Gupta period. Some ruins may be older or relatively of a later dates, i.e. from 10th or 11th century. The temples with flat roof are the oldest, temples with sikhara of increasing sophistication were likely built in later centuries.

The Batesar temple complex include small to moderate sized temples. They are relatively simple temples, but illustrate several styles of classical Hindu temple architecture. The directional deities are found per the mandala guidelines in Sanskrit texts. The temples are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Devi. Given the frequency of Lakulisa-related artwork, the temples here must have been a major hub for the Lakulisa-related Shaiva monasteries. The artwork on the various temples include Saptamatrika, Vishnu dasavatara, and Shiva legends. Of the 200 temples, the largest Bhuteswar temple has been and remains a living temple, it consists of eleven Hindu shrines and a pushkarini.

The Bateshwar site is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Gwalior, and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) east from Morena. It is very close to the Padhavali and Mitawali sites, which together are a part of the Morena Hindu temple architecture sites.
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Author Ms Sarah Welch
Camera location26° 25′ 33.74″ N, 78° 11′ 47.51″ E Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMapinfo

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