Rudra Mahalaya Temple

Four pillars and architrave of the ruined Rudra Mahalaya Temple

Siddhpur, historically known as Sristhal. Sidhpur, under the rulers of Chaulukya dynasty, was a prominent town in the 10th century. In the tenth century (943 AD) Mularaja, the founder of the Chaulukya dynasty of Gujarat, started the erection of the Rudra Mahalay temple. In his youth, Muladev had slain his maternal uncle, usurped his throne, and murdered the whole of his mother's kindred; and in old age his crimes hung heavily on his mind. He made pilgrimages and courted the favour of Brahmins from far and near. To a band of them he gave Sristhal, and committing the kingdom to his son Chamundaraja, he retired there to end his days in their company (996 AD). But the Rudra Mahalay was still incomplete, nor was it finished till 1140 AD.[1][2][3] An inscription and ballad regarding its construction says,[1]

In Samvat ten (?) hundred, begun by Maharaj Mahadev,

In Samvat twelve hundred and two, Siddharaj completed the work ;
In Samvat twelve hundred two, Magh month, Krishna paksh,
On Monday the fourteenth, in the Nakshatra Shravan and Varyan Yoga,

Siddharaj, in the Rudra Mala, Shivashankar established.

It was during the 12th century, in 1140 AD, that Jayasimha Siddharaja (1094–1144) consecrated the temple complex and it became the principal temple complex of Siddhpur.[1]

According to another legend, two Parmars from Malwa, named Govinddas and Madhavdas, took up their haunt among the rush grass that covered the neighbourhood of the Rudra Mahalaya, and lived by plunder. There they found the foundations of a temple and Shiva linga, and said that in the night they had seen heavenly beings. This was told to Siddharaj and led to the erection or completion of the temple.[1]

In Mirat-i-Ahmadi, Ali Muhammad Khan writes, "The king on signifying his intention of building the temple, requested the astrologers, it is said, to appoint a fortunate hour; and they at this time predicted the destruction of the building." Then Siddha Raja caused images of "horse lords" and other great kings to be placed in the temple, and "near them a representation of himself in the attitude of supplication, with an inscription praying that, even if the land was laid waste, this temple might not be destroyed."[1]

Alauddin Khalji sent an army under Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan, who dismantled the temple complex in 1296 AD (Samvat 1353).[1] The temple was further destroyed and the western part of it was converted into congregational mosque (Jami Mosque) by Muslim ruler Ahmed Shah I (1410–44) of Muzaffarid dynasty in 1414 or 1415.[2][4]

• 
  Elevation of Kirti Torana
• 
  Carving of the lintel
• 
  Drawing of sculptures
• 
  One of the surviving porch
• 
  Rudramahal
• 
  Surviving western part
• 
  Surviving torana

The temple was built in Māru-Gurjara architecture style.

The original temple, completed in 1140 to lavish proportions with extensive ornamentation, consisted of a roof measuring 32 feet (9.8 m), much larger than the Abu temple. Its overall dimensions were 300 by 230 feet (91 m × 70 m) with the central building 150 feet (46 m) in length.[5] It was a triple storied temple with 1,600 pillars, 12 entrance doors, and 11 shrines of Rudra positioned around it.[2] The sanctum was located on the west and there was also a mandapa or hall which had porches on the eastern, northern, and southern wings. Today only a few remnants of this complex are seen, such as two "toranas" (porches) and four pillars. One "torana" is elaborately ornamented; the eastern gate which leads to the Saraswati river still stands; the remaining pillars have highly ornamented carvings. Kirti Torana of North has survived. The western part of complex converted into the congregation mosque is also there.[2][6][7][8]

• List of Monuments of National Importance in Gujarat

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Bibliography

• Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta; Congress, Indian History (1907). A Comprehensive History of India. Orient Longmans. ISBN 978-81-7304-561-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Burgess; Murray (1874). "The Rudra Mala at Siddhpur". Photographs of Architecture and Scenery in Gujarat and Rajputana. Bourne and Shepherd. p. 19. Retrieved 23 July 2016.