Maladevi temple

Maladevi temple dates back to the 850-900 CE.[1] The temple was initially a Brahmical temple but later converted to a Jain worship site.[2] 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. [3]

Maladevi temple is the largest and finest temple of Gyaraspur. It is famous for carvings and craftmanship, that are representative of post-Gupta architecture.[4] It is a rock-cut temple built in Gurjara Pratihara style. The temple was a constructed around a sanctified natural cavern as the garbhagriha.[5] 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.[2] 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.[6] The temple is dedicated to Adinatha.[7][8] The temple is considered one of the best examples of collections of varied Jain sculptures.[9] The temple houses a carved idol of Shantinatha in lotus position with a symbol of deer and four armed yaksha and yakshi.[10] There is image of Goddess Chakreshvari carved on the lalata-bimba.[5]

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.[11]

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  Entrance
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  Carving of a yaksha
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  Carving of a yakshi
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  Tirthankar carved on shikhara
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  Carving of kalasha on pillars
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  Richly carved courtyard
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  Richly carved window
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In 1930, Gwalior state stepped up to conserve Maladevi temple.[12] Maladevi temple in Vidisha is protected by Archaeological Survey of India.[13]

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

• Media related to Maladevi temple, Gyaraspur at Wikimedia Commons