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APPENDIX III
478
Of the existing temples of Mālava the Nilakaạtheśvara at Udayapur and the Siddhanātha or Siddheśvara at Nemawar, both dedicated to Siva, are the most important. The temple of Nilakantheśvara at Udayapur, now a village thirty miles to the north of Bhilsa, in Gwalior State, was built by the Paramāra king Udayāditya in 1059 A. D. Built of red sandstone, it is one of the best preserved temples in India, as it somehow eacaped to a very large extent the devastating hand of Muslim vandalism, although there is still a Muhammadan masjid at the back of the temple. A legend says that Aurangzeb, on his return from the Deccan, passed through this place and ordered the demolition of the temple; but Mahādeva appeared to him in a dream, and commanded him on pain of death to desist from his act of sacrilege. The next morning Aurangzeb found himself ill, and stopped the destruction of the temple; but a masjid was ordered to be built at the back of the temple. It is noteworthy that until recent times the temple was frequented by both Hindus and Muhammadans and the lingam within equally reverenced by both.' The linga is now inclosed in a shell of highly polished yellow metal said to be gold.'
The temple is singularly beautiful both in plan and in elevation; and although large, the parts are so well-proportioned, that it does not look large, and it is only on measurement that its real size is realized.'. But it is in excellence of execution of the floral sculptured ornamentation that this temple surpasses all others. They are executed with remarkable fineness and freedom and are not overcrowded so as to destroy effect, but by a judicious interposition of broad plain surfaces worked with exquisite care, the ornamental value both of the flowered bands and of the plain are mutually enhanced. Doubtless a great deal of the beauty of the carvings is due to the superior quality of the stone here used; and the Khajurāho temples, if built of similar materials, would, some of them, have been more beautiful.' The great dome is formed of overlapping courses of stones, ranged in successive diminishing circles over each other. Twelve ribs, each rib composed of exquisitely scu lptured females, at once adorn and strengthen this beautiful roof; and this roof, thus adorned, and as it were vivified by the sculptures, rests on the massive pillars below, forming a whole of unsurpassed beauty and harmony."
The richly sculptured temple of Siddhanātha stands right on the bank of the Narmadā at Nemawar in Indore State, twelve miles from Harda station on the G. I, P. Railway. It cannot be later than the 10th century, and consists of a garbhagyha and a mandapa, which is open on three sides with an open porch on each side. The mandapu appears to be a later addition, and is built of bluish sandstone; while the garbhagyha with its sikhara is built of beautiful yellowish grey sandstone. Except for a modern structure which has been added on the top of the maņdapa providing access
1 Ganguly: History of the Paramāra Dynasty, p. 258. The temple of Mandaleśvara
Mahadeve at Päņāhera in Bangwara State in Southern Rajputana was also built in 1059 A. D. by Mandalika, à Paramāra chief of the Vågada branch of the family,
See Two Paramāra Inscriptions (op. cit.). 2 Archaeological Survey of India, Vol. VII, pp. 85-88. 60
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