Sasbahu Temple, Gwalior

Saas Bahu Twin Temples, Gwalior
Sas Bahu Temples
One of the twin temples
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Gwalior
Deity	Shiva and Vishnu
Location
Location	Gwalior Fort
State	Madhya Pradesh
Country	India
Shown within India Show map of India Sasbahu Temple, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) Show map of Madhya Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	26°13′26.2″N 78°10′12.9″E / 26.223944°N 78.170250°E / 26.223944; 78.170250
Architecture
Style	Nagara
Completed	11th-century[1]

Sas Bahu Temples,^[2] also called the Sas aur Bahu ke Mandir, Sas-Bahu Twin Temples, are the 11th-century twin temples in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India.^[3][4] Within the Gwalior Fort complex and dedicated to Vishnu & Shiva, like most Hindu and Jain temples in this region, they were mostly in ruins and were badly damaged from numerous invasions and Hindu-Muslim wars in the region.^[5] They were built in 1093 by King Mahipala of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty, the larger one (Saas) was constructed for his wife and the smaller one ( Bahu) was constructed for his daughter-in-law, according to an inscription found in the larger of the twin temple. The twin temples are situated in the Gwalior Fort.^[5][3]

Sasbahu temple ruins in 1869.

The temple's tower and sanctum has been destroyed, but its architecture and damaged carvings can still be appreciated from the ruins. The jagati platform is 100 feet (30 m) long and 63 feet (19 m) wide, on a square plan.^[3] The temple was three-storeyed, which was one of its distinguishing features and sophistication. It followed a central cluster concept, states Adam Hardy.^[6] The surviving elements of the temple are the entrance porch and the mandapa.^[3] According to James Harle, though the prasada (tower, spire) no longer exists, the triple storey plan with a cruciform foundation and balconies suggests that it had a North Indian Bhumija style architecture. This style, states Harle, is marked by a well proportioned superstructure, its "regularly arranged little subordinate sikharas strung out like gigantic beaded garlands".^[7]

This temple mainly has three entrances from three different directions. In the fourth direction, there is a room which is currently closed. The entire temple is covered with carvings, notably 4 idols of Brahma, Vishnu and Saraswati above its entrance door. The pillar carvings show Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism related carvings. The larger temple ornamentation covers all the exterior walls and all surviving interior surfaces.^[8]

The twin temple, unlike elsewhere in India, has historically been called Sas bahu temples. The word Sas bahu means "mother-in-law, or "a mother with her daughter-in-law", an association that implies their being together and interdependent. The Sas temple is typically the larger older temple of the twin. The Gwalior's Sas Bahu Temples follows this style, the temples are dedicated to Vishnu & Shiva. Only the Sas temple has survived in some form, the Bahu temple is a shell structure of the original one storey with a highly ornate door frame and its defaced wall reliefs surviving.^[3] The remnants of the Bahu temple at Gwalior suggest that it may have been a smaller version of the Saas temple.^[8]

The Sas temple has a square sanctum attached to a rectangular two storey antarala and a closed three storey mandapa with three entrances. The temple main entrance porch has four carved Ruchaka ghatapallava-style pillars that are load-bearing. The walls and lintels are intricately carved, though much defaced. On the lintel of the entrances, friezes of Krishna-leela scenes are carved inside, while the outer side narrate legends from other Hindu texts. Above the lintel is Garuda, the vahana of Vishnu.^[9]

The Bahu temple also has a square sanctum with 9.33 feet (2.84 m) side, with four central pillars. Its maha-mandapa is also a square with 23.33 feet (7.11 m) side, with twelve pillars.^[10] The temple, like most Malwa and Rajputana historic temples, provides multiple entrances to the devotee. The roof consists of two rotated squares that intersect to form an octagon capped by successive overlapping circles. The pillars have octagonal bases as well, with girls carved but these have been defaced and mutilated. The sanctum has an image of damaged Vishnu, next to whom stands Brahma holding the Vedas on one side and Shiva holding the trident on the other side.^[10]

Saas temple (bigger)

• 
  The larger of the twin temple
• 
  Adhisthana and stambha designs in the Sas temple
• 
  Wall reliefs on the outer wall of Saas temple (defaced)
• 
  Damaged friezes

Bahu temple (smaller)

• 
  The smaller of the twin temple
• 
  The lower level sculptures are defaced, some upper level survive
• 
  The temple in 1885
• 
  The mandapa entrance pillar carvings of women (defaced)

• 
  Vandalized artwork. From left: Amorous couple, man with flute, woman with veena, man.
• 
  Scene with a row of couples surrounded by rows of musicians.

• Siddhachal Caves
• Telika Mandir

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• Media related to Sas Bahu Temple, Gwalior at Wikimedia Commons