Lakshmana temple of Sirpur
Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
This is a brick temple at Sirpur in Chhattisgarh, built c. seventh century CE. It was built by Queen Vasata of the Panduvamshi dynasty and is dedicated to Vishnu. Its Nagara (curved, north Indian style) tower is covered with fine carved designs, all made in brick. It is counted among the finest brick temples of early India. It shows that great temples were built in brick as well as stone.
Example
At Sirpur, the tower of the Lakshmana temple still stands, with small window-like designs (gavakshas) shaped in brick. Its stone doorframe has carvings of Vishnu's avatars.
Don't confuse with
- Lakshmana temple, Khajuraho: a much later stone temple in Madhya Pradesh, built by the Chandelas (c. tenth century CE). Sirpur's temple is earlier and made of brick.
Related concepts
- Puranic Hinduism
- Vaishnavism
- Avatar
- Dashavatara
- Varaha
- Vasudeva-Krishna
- Shaivism
- Linga
- Garbhagriha
- Antarala