Temples of Nagda
Nagda is a small town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. In the 6th century, Nagda was found by Nagaditya of Guhilot, the fourth Mewar King. Initially it was known as Nagahrida or Nagadraha and served as the capital of Mewar. Before long, the place came under the province of Sisodias. Nagda is located besides Bagela Lake at a distance of 23 kms in the north-west of Udaipur on the way to Nathdwara. The site comprises many temples, but the main attractions are the Hindu 'Sas-Bahu' temple and the Jain Adbudji temple. From a historical point of view, both temple sites are closely connected for which reason also the Hindu temple is introduced in this article.
1. Sas Bahu Hindu Temple
Nagda is actually famous for this unusual temple that dates back to the 10th century. The term 'Sas-Bahu' suggests 'Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law' respectively. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it is made of two structures, one by a mother-in-law and another by a daughter-in-law. The main entrance to the temples is made through a door that has carved lintels and a multi-lobed arch in its middle. Both the structures are laid out on a same plan having an altar, a mandapa (columned prayer hall) with projections and a porch.
Sas Bahu Hindu Temple at Nagda
The temple of Sas is comparatively larger than that of the Bahu. The 'Bahu' temple has an octagonal ceiling, which is adorned with beautifully carved eight intricate female figures. The 'Sas' temple has a torana (archway) in its front and it is believed that the image of the Lord Vishnu was swung from the torana along with hymns in the praise of lord on ceremonial occasions. Both the temples are constructed on a common platform facing towards the east direction. The temple is accredited for having wonderful carvings.
Sas Bahu Hindu Temple at Nagda
2. Adbudji Jain Temple
The other temple that captures attention is the Jain temple. Dedicated to Shantinath, the temple is said to have been built during the rule of Rana Kumbha. The temple has a 'strange' idol and that how the temple got its name ('Adbhut' means strange). This strange idol of 9 feet in height is an attraction for people. The temples were destroyed by the foreign invaders to a large extent but still they boast of their exceptional artistic architecture.
M.C. Joshi in the three volume edition Jaina Art and Architecture. Published on the Occasion of the 2500th Nirvana Anniversary of Tirthankara Mahavira, (Ed. by A. Ghosh, New Delhi: Bharatiya Jnanpith, Vol. II, pp. 342-343) writes on Nagda Jain temples:
An interesting Jaina temple is at Nagda in the vicinity of Eklingi known as Padmāvatī-Mandir which is partly built into the rock of the hill. It seems to be a shrine of Pārśvanātha according to inscriptions of the Vikrama years 1356 and 1391 in its main garbhagṛha. It contains a simple mūlaprāsāda with towering central śikhara decked with anga-śikharas and a domed maṇḍapa, probably a restored one, with projecting porches. The interior has three sanctuaries; of them one has a sarvatobhadrikā image, while other two are empty. The decorative elements here are few, although figures of some divinities can be noticed on certain parts.
There are two more Jaina edifices at Nagda. One of them, known as the Adbhudjī temple, which is reduced now only to its garbhagṛha and attached antarāla with tall faceted pillars contains a colossal image of Śāntinātha set up in the Vikrama year 1495 during the reign of Kumbha by a merchant named Sārahga. A few more images are lying here, of which two could be recognized as Tīrthaṅkaras Kunthanātha and Abhinandana (see Henry Cousens, Progress Report of the Archaeological Survey of Western India for the year ending 1905, p. 62). Some traces of structural embellishment also appear on the exterior. The other Jaina shrine at Nagda is that of Pārśvanātha datable to the fifteenth century. Bearing a notable scheme of construction, it consists of a cella, a closed hall and three other halls, of which the last one is separated from the other three by means of a flight of steps and also has an attached porch. This temple bears the usual type of superstructure with well-carved concave ceilings having floral and figure-decoration.
Impressions of Adbudji Jain Temple at Nagda
