Bhitargaon temple
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Bhitargaon temple is a brick temple of the Gupta period, c. 5th century CE, in Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh. It stands on a raised platform and has a tall shikhara, the tower built over the shrine. Its walls carry terracotta (baked clay) panels of gods and decorative designs. It is one of the oldest brick temples still standing in India. It shows that early temples were built in brick as well as stone.
Example
The Bhitargaon shrine has a small square garbhagriha (the dark inner room that holds the deity) under a tall tower. The outer walls are lined with moulded terracotta panels.
Don't confuse with
- Dashavatara temple, Deogarh: also a Gupta temple from Uttar Pradesh with an early shikhara, but it is built of stone, not brick.
Related concepts
- Gupta art
- Sarnath school of art
- Mudras
- Abhaya mudra
- Bhumisparsha mudra
- Dharmachakra mudra
- Dhyana mudra
- Varada mudra
- Vitarka mudra
- Anjali mudra