Lesser known Hindu heritage temples of India- Gadarmal Devi, 9th CE..............by K J S Chatrath

 

Gadarmal Devi temple is a Hindu and Jain shrine in Badoh of Vidisha distraict of Madhya Pradesh, India that I visited a fortnight back. It is at a distance of 73 kms from Vidisha on road to Sagar. The temple with an oblong main sanctuary is set on an elevated sandstone platform. Seven smaller temples are arranged around it in a clustered layout in multiple architectural styles.

The sanctuary was built during the 9th century under the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. The Paramara dynasty later added architectural elements during renovations that reshaped the complex. 

The temple displays niches carved for yogini statues that reveal the worship practices of its time. These figures show how both traditions honored spiritual disciplines in the medieval era. The sanctuary opens daily from sunrise to sunset and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. 

A large sandstone relief sculpture depicts a mother with an infant, kept inside the main shrine. This artwork was documented in 1871 by archaeologist Joseph David Beglar and offers a rare glimpse into how family bonds were portrayed in medieval temple art.

 

      Photos by KJS.Chatrath ...(Text based on personal visit and sourced from internet)

Maladevi Temple, 9th/10th CE, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India.....KJS Chatrath

 I visited the Maladevi Temple, 9th/10th CE, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India about a fortnight back. Photo: kjs.Chatrath

 

Female form of Lord Ganesha t Neelakantheshwara Temple, Viddisha, India. .....by K J S Chatrath

 

I visited Neelakantheswar Temple in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India about 10 days back. I was intrigued to see a statue of what appeared to be Lord Ganesha in female form. I had never come across a female form of Lord Ganesha in any temple or in any book. So I took the help of internet and came cross some fascinating information.

 

It was Vinayaki. Vinayaki is the rare, largely forgotten female form of Lord Ganesha, often referred to as Ganeshani, Ganendree, or Ganesvari. Recognized in Tantric traditions and some Puranas, she is depicted as an elephant-headed goddess, embodying wisdom, power, and the removal of obstacles. Rare, ancient images exist in temples, such as the Chausath Yogini temples. It is seen in some temples in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

 

She is represented with an elephant head and a feminine body, often portrayed as a powerful and independent deity. Names include Vighneshvari ("Mistress of Obstacles"), Ganeshani ("Female Ganesha"), and Gajanani.

 

While often linked to Ganesha, the Matsya Purana describes her as one of the Matrikas (mother goddesses) created by Shiva to fight the demon Andhaka. She is sometimes interpreted as a shakti of Shiva, or in Tantric traditions, as a powerful independent entity.

 

Sculptures show her in similar postures to Ganesha, sometimes with a pot-belly and a trunk. Her idols are rarely found in Yogini temples and, in very rare Tantric contexts, she is depicted as the mother of Ganesha, representing the source of his wisdom.

 

In Buddhist texts, she is sometimes referred to as Ganapatihridaya (the heart of Ganesha), demonstrating her role as a distinct divine entity.

 

#Ganesha #Vinayaki #64Yoginis #MadhyaPradesh #Odisha #kjschatrath

 

 

 

 

Visiting Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh, India..................KJS Chatrath

 

"Many hues of my beloved India- 12".......shared by K J S Chatrath

 

Ariyappar Temple, 9th/16th CE, Tamil Nadu, India...................by K.J.S.Chatrath

 

                                            Ariyappar Temple, 9th/16th CE, Tamil Nadu, India.

Crying for attention and care...........by K J S Chatrath

 

Crying for attention and care.................broken pieces lying scattered around the 10th century Bhand Devra Temple in district Baran, Rajasthan that I visited in December 2025. This temple and small area around it is under the protection of the Archeological Survey of India. #BhandDevra #Baran #Rajasthan #India #kjschatrath