Teli Ka Mandir - An Architecture Splendor
This Rajput Temple is an amalgam of the northern and southern
architectural styles of India, although many opine that it is closer
in design to the temples of Orissa than the South.
The tallest and most impressive temple within the precincts of the
Gwalior Fort, there are several theories as to how the shrine acquired
its name.
According to one surmise Rashtrakuta Govinda III occupied the Fort in
794, and appointed the Telang Brahmins (check Religion for details on
Brahmins) to supervise all religious ceremonies.
The temple got its name from them. According to another version, the
monument is called the Teli Temple, because men of the Teli caste or
oil merchants handled its construction. A third conjecture is that the
name suggests a link with the Telangana region in modern Andhra
Pradesh, suggesting the fusion of Dravidian and North Indian
architectural styles.
¤ Magnificent Architecture Splendor
Whatever the truth, the fact remains that the Teli Temple, is a
marvellous amalgam of the architecture features of the temples of
North and South India.
The shikhara (spire) is definitely Dravidian in style, while the
decorative details are in the Nagara style – specific to North
India. Figures of river goddesses, amorous couples, coiled serpents,
and a flying Garuda (Lord Vishnu’s vehicle) abound in the temple
complex.
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