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them; it was conquered by the Mughals. midal domed temple, richly decorated The importance of this place continued with figures. The central structure of up to the eighteenth century A. D. this temple is ancient. The mandapa because there is a gateway of the city of the temple has four central pillars that had been built by Jayasimha, Raja over ten feet in height. These pillars of Jaipur in 1689 A. D. The walls of the are found 16}" in diameter. They are fort are attributed to Madhosimha Raja exquisitely sculptured with Nayikas and of Jaipur, who reigned from 1760 A,D, with frescos of musicians and dancers. to 1718 A D. He also constructed the The garbha-griha contains a black stone fine tank Madhu Tala at the foot of lingam. On the south face of the the hill. Its importance declined when temple, there is an image of Siva with the capital shifted from this place to eight arms. To the east is one of the Alwar.
most interesting image of Surya riding As Rajor became a great centre of a chariot drawn by seven horses. It is saivism under the patronage of the three headed and eight armed holding Bada Gurjar rulers, Mathanadeva, eight objects. Around the main temple, built the temple of Mahadeva and there are innumerable fragments of named it Lachchhukesvara Mahadeva sculptured stone. A bearded three after his mother Lachchuka. This headed figure of Brahma wonderful temple became famous by the name of
Siva as Nataraja, Siva and Parvati riding Nilakanthesvara Mahadeva. Mathande
a bull and an eight armed dancing va granted the village of Vijaghrapata
Ganesa in a dark blue stone are noteka now known as Baghor to this temple.
worthy. This Ganesa image is without Grass, pasture land, trees, grains and
doubt one of the most exquisite in the gifts were given to this temple for meet- country.' ing the expenses of the temple. Certain
The temple of Nilakanthesvara Maadditional taxes or tolls were also made hadeva remained a place of pilgrimage over to the same deity. These taxes
even in the past as it is today. An inswere three vimsopakas as customary in cription engraved on the pedestal of a the market on every sack (or agricultu- broken image of Ganesa in this temple ral produce) brought for sale to the
records its erection by Mahajanas who market; two palikas from every ghataka
had come from Varvara Nagara for the kupaka of clarified butter and oil; two
pilgrimage. For the residence of the timsopakas per mensem for every shop
Saiva saints, there was also the monasand fifty leaves from every Choukka tery of Nityapramodityadeva connecbrought from outside the town.
ted with the Gopaladevi tadagapali The temple of Nilakanthesvara Ma- matha at Chhatrasiva. The administrahadeva is a comparatively large pyra- tion of the grant made by the Bada
6. ASC, VI, p. 77. 7. EI, III, p. 263. 8. Marg, March, 1959, p. 61: 9. ARRMA, 1919, p. 2.
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