Beejamandal

Beejamandal is a ruined temple in Jatkara village[1] near Khajuraho, that has not yet been fully excaved [2] and explored.[3] It has a length of 34.60 meters and is thus longer than the largest temple of Khajuraho namely Kandariya which measures about 30 metres.[4]

Beejamandal is also the name for a ruined temple in Vidisha.[5]

'Beejamandal' at Khajuraho is near the Chaturbhuj temple. It was opened to visitors in 1999[6]/

In all there are supposed to be 85 temples in Khajuraho,however only 22 of them have been unearthed. Beejamandal is one of the many which are yet to be discovered. According to the local villagers this structure was under a huge mound of earth which was marked on the apex by a white stone. The villagers regularly lit the holy oil-lamp each night on this mound since time imemorial.

Cunningham [7] and Phanikanta Mishra[8] regard this as the Vaidyanath temple mentioned in the Grahapati Kokkala inscription.

It was one of the 18 unexplored mounds in the vicinity of Khajuraho.[9] The archaeological survey of India does not have the authority to excavate other mounds.

See also

References

  1. ↑ खजुराहो के पास खुदाई में भव्य शिव मंदिर के अवशेष मिले, Jul 20, 2003,नवभारत टाइम्स, http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/53081588.cms
  2. ↑ Hidden secrets of Khajuraho, Atul Sethi, Times Of India, Apr 14, 2007, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-04-14/special-report/27884442_1_khajuraho-temples-mounds
  3. ↑ NEW TEMPLES UNEARTHED AT KHAJURAHO http://pib.nic.in/feature/fe0899/f1908991.html
  4. ↑ Purātattva, Issue 29, Indian Archaeological Society, 1999 Page 136
  5. ↑ विजय मंदिर / बीजामंडल मस्जिद http://tdil.mit.gov.in/CoilNet/IGNCA/mw009.htm
  6. ↑ Let's Go India & Nepal 8th Ed, Let's Go Inc, Macmillan, Dec 1, 2003, p. 376.
  7. ↑ Reports By Archaeological Survey of India By Archaeological Survey of India Published 1880, Cunnigham
  8. ↑ Desai, Devaga, and Phanikanta Mishra, "New Discoveries I, Exposition of the Bijamandala Temple in Khajuraho; II. Significance of the New Find at Khajuraho: Gahapati Kokkala'a Vaidyanatha Temple." Marg 51, Number 3 (March 2000)
  9. ↑ Hindi Daily News, July 21, 2011, http://www.dailyhindinews.com/2011/07/21/more-idols-found-in-khajuraho/