Arthuna Group of Temples

Banswara, Rajasthan

By Swapna Joshi

An overview of the Hanuman Garhi Temple complex from the eastern side. Seen here (from left to right) are many Shiva temples, behind it is the Hanuman Temple with a flag, Kumbheshwar Temple and Nilkhanth Mahadev Temple with the Surya Kund in front of it.
An overview of the Hanuman Garhi Temple complex from the eastern side. Seen here (from left to right) are many Shiva temples, behind it is the Hanuman Temple with a flag, Kumbheshwar Temple and Nilkhanth Mahadev Temple with the Surya Kund in front of it.

A group of about twelve temples is located in the small village of Arthuna in the Garhi tehsil of the Banswara district of Rajasthan. It is nestled in the historical region of Vagada, and is one of the forested zones with rich flora and fauna. Several of the temples, for instance, the Hanuman Garhi Temple complex, Mandaleshwar Temple, Someshwar Mahadev Temple and Jain Temple, among a few others are large temple complexes, built in the panchayatana system, where the main temple is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines. Arthuna mainly flourished as the capital of the Paramaras of Vagada, a branch of the imperial Paramaras of Malwa. As evident from the eleventh-twelfth century inscriptions, Paramara rulers Chamundaraja and Vijayraja, were instrumental in patronizing the temples in Arthuna.

The architectural styles of the Arthuna temples reflect influences from Maha-Maru, Maha Gurjara and the Maru-Gurjara styles of temple architecture. Being the regional styles that flourished in the regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan, these proliferated approximately from the eighth through the twelfth centuries CE. The Arthuna group of temples predominantly includes temples dedicated to Shiva, along with Shakta and Jaina religious traditions. There is inscriptional evidence of the consecration of Hanuman and Jaina icons from the twelfth and sixteenth centuries CE respectively.

This module comprehensively explores the architectural and sculptural remains in Arthuna, as well as the vital inscriptional evidence that aids in delineating the history of the region. The overview article takes provides a brief sketch of all the extant temples in Arthuna, delving into the minutiae of the temple fabrics like the construction material, ground plans and elevational details of each temple. The allied article in this collection focuses on the Chaunsath Yogini Temple, especially because of its unique stylistic characteristics, aligning with the Maru-Gurjara style of temple architecture. An essential inclusion in the module is the article outlining the epigraphical data from Arthuna. These contain vital information about the ruling dynasty of the Paramaras, the contemporary socio-religious scenario as well as the details regarding the patronization of temples, maintenance and upkeep of temple establishments.

The temples in Arthuna are a significant part of the political, religious and social history of the region in medieval times. On a larger scale, these edifices serve as crucial sources for understanding the nuances of temple architecture of Western India.

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