Maladevi Temple dates back to the 850-900 CE.worship site.[1] epigraphist Richard G. Salomon suggests that temple was originally built as Jaina-Brahmanical hybrid.[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][4]
Temple
Maladevi Temple is the largest and finest temple of Gyaraspur. It is famous for carvings and craftmanship, that are representative of post-Gupta architecture.[5] It is a rock-cut temple built in Gurjara Pratihara style.
The temple was a constructed around a sanctified natural cavern as the garbhagriha.[6] 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.[1] 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.[7] The temple is dedicated to Adinatha.[8][9]
The temple is considered one of the best examples of collections of varied Jain sculptures.[10] The temple houses a carved idol of Shantinatha in lotus position with a symbol of deer and four armed yaksha and yakshi.[11] There is image of Goddess Chakreshvari carved on the lalata-bimba.[6] An idol of Parshvanatha dated 9th century is also enshrined inside the temple.[12] The presence of images of 24 yaksha and yakshi inside the temple indicates the worship of each yaksha and yakshi during the 9th century.[13]
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.[14]
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