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The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies

Pārvatī Devī temple

Date: late fifth–early sixth centuries ce

Locale: Nachna Kuthara, Bundelkhand, India

Related civilizations: Gupta dynasty, North India

Significance: Early structural temple of the Gupta dynasty.

The temple, although popularly named after the goddess Pārvatī Devī (PAWR-rah-tee DEH-vee), actually was dedicated to the Hindu god Śiva. A double-storied structure resting on a high plinth, the temple consists of a garbha gṛha (cella), a walled and roofed corridor for pradakhṣiṇāpatha (ritual circumambulation), and a maṇḍapa (porch). In addition, there was a second-story room above the cella, the purpose of which is not known. Both the inner corridor and the cella were lit by richly decorated stone grill windows. The temple is noted particularly for its splendidly embellished T-shaped doorway, a characteristic of Gupta architecture. It features lush floral ornamentation in which spiraling vines sprout leaves and tendrils that turn back on themselves, as well as graceful three-dimensional figural sculpture. Elegantly carved representations of guardians; flying celestial figures; the river goddesses Gaṅgā and Yamunā; yakṣīs (female nature spirits); loving couples (mithunas); representations of the god Śiva; his consort, the goddess Prāvatī; and adoring worshipers are clad in the courtly clothing and ornaments and festooned with ringlets typical of Gupta fashion. The lively and sensuous sculptures are representative of the classic phase of Indian art, a period in which there is perfection and purity of form. Although the cella is empty now, it once held an icon of Śiva, probably in his lingam (phallic) form. The ornamentation on the plinth, consisting of rocky landscapes inhabited by wild animals, suggests that the overall temple was conceived of as Śiva’s Himalayan abode, Mount Kailāsa.

See also: Gupta emperors; Hinduism; India; Indian temple architecture.

—Katherine Anne Harper

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
"Pārvatī Devī Temple." The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies, edited by Shally-Jensen Michael, Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CWEP_0287.
APA 7th
Pārvatī Devī temple. The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies, In S. Michael (Ed.), Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CWEP_0287.
CMOS 17th
"Pārvatī Devī Temple." The Ancient World: Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Societies, Edited by Shally-Jensen Michael. Salem Press, 2016. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CWEP_0287.