Nagda Town
located about 23km from Udaipur , it
was the ancient capital of Mewar. Earlier known as Nagahrida or
Nagadraha, this town was found by Nagaditya of Guhilot in the 6th
century AD.
*Sas Bahu Temples ("Temples of Mother - in - Law and Daughter -
in - Law") situated 2.5 miles from Eklingji , dedicated to Lord
Vishnu, were built in the 10th century.These temples are known for
their beautiful carvings which includes a carved porch of the Sas
Temple and a carved torana (archway) of the Bahu Temple.
*Bahu Temple , the smaller of the two , is based on the same scheme
as of the Sas Temple. It has walls elaborated with scenes from
Ramayana as well as the images of the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva,
and Vishnu. The columns are richly carved and the octagonal ceiling of
the Bahu Temple is decorated with eight female figurines.
¤ Nagda Attractions
Nagda or Naga-hrada was the ancient capital of Mewar and was founded
by Nagaditya in the 6th century. The rulers of Mewar had ruled from
Nagda for seven generations till the time of Bappa Rawal (728AD).
Nagada had not been left alone by the Muslim invaders and was
plundered by Altamash between 1222 and 1229 AD. The ancient capital of
Nagda now only has the ruins of some Vishnu, Shiva and Jain temples to
prove that it wasn’t behind when speaking of architecture. The
most important temples that have survived the test of time are the
Sas-Bahu pair and are said to be as old as eleventh century. The Jain
temple toAdbhutji (the peculiar one) built during Rana Kumbha’s
rule was so named for the strange idol within its shrine. The
nine-foot high odd image in the temple is that of the Jain saint
Shanti Nath.
¤ Sas Bahu Temple
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Sas Bahu Temple are the most
intricately carved temples and are ornamented and decorated with
attractive figures and sculptures. Both these temples were built in
the late 10th century. The Sas (mother in law) templeis much larger
than the temple of Bahu (daughter in law) and has a torana (archway)
in the front. It is said that the image of the Lord was swung from the
torana accompanied by hymns on ceremonial occasions. They have been
raised on a common terrace to face east towards the tank. The entrance
to the temples is through a doorway with carved lintels and a
multi-lobed arch at the centre.
¤ Other Famous Temple Shrines
10 other smaller shrines surround the temple of Sas while four lie
around the Bahu temple. Both the temples have the same plan; each has
an altar, a mandapa (columned prayer hall) with projections and a
porch. The walls are mostly plain, except for the sculptures on the
main projection. The sculptures are in two tiers – the gods
Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, surmounted by Rama, Balarama and Parashurama
respectively. Though ruined, the brick towers have clusters of minute
turrets. The mandapas and porches have sculptures and decorative
motifs, in direct contrast with the plain altar walls. Relief images
include the Dikpalas, maidens, amorous couples, narrative friezes as
well as scenes from the Ramayana. The columns are richly ornamented
and the ceiling of the Bahu temple is also not far behind in
decoration and has eight female brackets. Porches in the larger temple
have replaced the detailed stone windows in the mandapa of the smaller
temple. |
