Blogs from Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia - page 101

Chamba Valley (Himachal Pradesh) India The district as a princely State was under the rule of progressive and staunch Hindu Rajas and a large number of temples owe their origin to the princes. One of them, Raja Sahil Verman in the tenth century was particularly noted for his religious zeal and was apparently a staunch believer in Vishnu cult. Most of the Vishnu temples are concentrated in Chamba town and Lakshmi Narayan temple is the most important one. The temple of Nar Singh at Bharmaur, Thakur Murli Manoharji at Raj Nagar and of Nar Singh at Bart gal in Pargana Bhalai is some of the other important Vishnu temples. The cult of Siva is more ancient and has a wider sphere of influence. This is natural because the Himalayan range, her many peaks, the Kailash mountain, ... read more

Chandrasekhar Temple at Sahoo There is a beautiful temple devoted to Lord Chandershekhar in the heart of Saho village. According to one belief , this temple was constructed by Raja Sahil Varman and according to the other belief, the temple was constructed by Satyaki, the son of King Bhagota. the inscription on a slab discovered from the village now preserved in Bhuri Singh Museum in Chamba town unfolds that Satyaki had married to Somprabha, a daughter of Kishkindha royal family. Kishkindha finds mention in Ramayana as the realm of the monkey king Sugriva but here it denotes Himgiri pargana. Satyaki is said to have built this temple to establish unshaken friendship between Somprabha and mountain daughter, Parvati. Here is an interesting legend as to why the deity came to be called as Chandershekhar. There are two ... read more

Chamba, Champavati Temple The temple of goddess Champavati is shikhara style stands near the royal place and the tradition holds it that this temple was made in the name of Raja Sahil Verman's daughter Champavati. Champavati was of religious disposition and used to visit sadhu's place, the site of the present temple. The Raja grew suspicious of her going to sadhu, so he followed her one day with dagger drawn in his hand. But when he reached sadhu's places, he found neither sadhu nor his daughter there. A voice however came from the stillness upbraiding him from his suspicion and saying that his daughter has been taken away from his as punishment. He was further commanded to construct a temple in her memory to atone for his sin and to avert calamity to his family. The ... read more

Chamba, Hari Rai Temple Shri Hari Rai temple (Vishnu temple) is located near Chaugan gate. The temple is in shikhara style built in stone. The image of worship is Vaikuntha form of Vishnu having three faces-human, boar and lion. The bronze image of the deity is in superb execution. Stylistically the image is certainly of earlier date than the second half of the 11th century A.D. The central figure of the image, with a pronounced well-modelled chest and waist, is clad in dhoti with prominent but stylised folds, arrayed artistically. The fixture is elegantly decked in beaded anklets with pendants, bracelets, finger-rings, armlets with diamond-shaped central pieces, a beaded garland, an elaborate necklace with pendants, flower-shaped kundals and mukut (crown). The hair is arranged in coiled locks falling on shoulders and back. The eyes are laid ... read more

Chamba, Bansi Gopal Temple, This temple is also of shikhara style and is situated in the vicinity of Chamba palace. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishana whose image holding a flute is enshrined with Radha . In copper plate of Raja Balbhadra issued in A.D. 1595, mention is made of this temple. The occasion of the issue of the copper plate grant was the conservation ceremony performed by the King at the temple of Gopal now called Bansi Gopal. This shows that some repairs or renovation had been done to the temple and the completion of the work occasioned the ceremony. It is indicated in the inscription that the donated village was formerly granted by Ganesh Verman to a Brahman named Rama. The entrance gate of the temple depicts Ganga and Yamuna standing holding ... read more