Maladevi temple, Jain temple in Gyaraspur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Maladevi Temple is a Jain shrine in Gyaraspur, Madhya Pradesh, featuring intricately carved stone decorations across its entrance porch, mandapa, and around a natural cavern that serves as the sanctum. The structure incorporates this existing cave formation as its sacred core while integrating natural geology with architectural design.
The temple was built between 850 and 900 CE during the reign of Valleka of the Kalachuri dynasty and stands as a testament to post-Gupta architectural traditions. Its construction reflects the artistic and religious practices of this important period in Indian temple architecture.
The temple displays 24 yaksha and yakshi figures alongside multiple Jain idols, including a carved representation of Shantinatha in meditation. These representations remain central to how visitors and worshippers experience the sacred space today.
The site is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and remains open to visitors interested in its religious and architectural elements. Allow time to examine the carvings closely and explore the space around the natural cave formation.
The cave beneath the temple is not artificially excavated but was already present in the landscape and then incorporated into the sacred design. This makes the structure a distinctive example of how natural formations were transformed into religious architecture.
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