Brick Temple Of Gupta Period At Bahua, Fatehpur

Brick Temple Of Gupta Period:

Bahus is situated 80⁰ 40" east and 25⁰  50" north on Fatehpur-Banda Road, 21 Km away from Fatehpur district headquarters. A medieval brick temple called as Kakora Baba temple is discovered in this village. Present form of the temple is very dubitable original. It seems that it has gained a new form created by the old bricks dressed on the pattern of an old and original temple. The entrance to the garbhagrih constructed later on. It is approached by a flight of steps constructed with stone architectural fragments and bricks. 10^th-11^th century AD. The doorframe is of panchasakha veriety. Each jamb is decorated with patra, puspa, rupa, patra and khalva sakhas. Sakhas is given from inner to the outer side of a jamb. Lintel is created by continuation of all sakhas and one additional architrave. Rupasakhas exhibit eight panels, four on each jamb. Every panel contains a male divinity standing in tribhanga  holding trisula  and other objects, Flanked by two  surasundaris, one on each side, This sakhat lintel shows three embossed niches and a navagraha-patta. The niches contain Brahma in left, Siva in centre and Visnu in right. Siva seated in ardhaparvankasana, wielding a trisula, sarpa and kamandalu and the fourth, lower right hand is in abhaya mudra, is shown as lalatabimuryba Brahma is seated in maharajalalitasana. It carries sruva, pustaka and kalasa with kiwer right in  abhayamudra. Visnu is on the left of Siva. He has gada, cakra  and sarikha. The navagra has namely Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budh, Guru, Sukra, Sani Rahu and Ketu are well depicted, The Surya seated in utkutikasana and holding two lotuses, one in each hand and the busts of Rahu and Ketu are noteworthy. Beautiful kirttimukha in the centre. Dvarapalas are conspicuous here by absence which is something very peculiar and significant for this period. Garbhagrha is plain excepting for the four pilasters and the ceilling. The pilasters are of bhadraka type. The ceiling is nabhichandakavitana relieved with scrolls, foliage and lotus. A fragment, lower portion of Uma-Mahesa image of 8.5x5.0 cm and pieces of some other images are collected in the garbhagrih.10^th early 11^th cent. An image of Nandi with broken head which might have been related to this temple.

Photographed by Ashish Misra