Bhand Devara Temple Ramgarh,Baran,Rajasthan
The Bhand Deva Temple or Bhand Devra Temple, also known as Little Khajuraho, is an 18th-century Hindu temple built in the style of the Khajuraho group of monuments, a temple complex consisting of a main Shiva temple and two cave temples. Which are upwards. It is on the shore of a meteor impact crater lake inside the 4 km wide Ramgarh crater, about 40 km from the city of Baran in Rajasthan. It is located in Mangrol tehsil of Baran district of eastern Rajasthan, near Ramgarh village, between Mangrol, 15 km to the west, and Kuno National Park to the east.
There are two related temples located in a cave on the Ramgarh hill above a flight of more than 750 steps and dedicated to the goddesses Kishnai and Annapurna (Annapurna Devi). The stairs are said to have been built by Jhala Zalim (or Jalim) Singh (a descendant of Madhu Singh Madho Singh I), who ruled Jhalawar State as a regent from 1771 until the British intervention in 1838. During Kartik Purnima (Karthik Purnima) a fair is organized in this temple to worship both the goddesses. This site is now protected by the State Archeology Department.
Bhand Deva Temple is beautifully nestled on the banks of a pond in the central part of the Ramgarh crater located in the city of Baran, and is believed to have been possibly created by a meteor. Baran is situated in the district Kota and has a deep history which attracts the devotees of this temple more and more.
This temple, dedicated to the Tantric tradition of Shaivism, is a notable example of a Nagara style temple. According to inscriptions, it was built in the 10th century by King Malay Varma of the Naga dynasty of Malwa as a memorial of his victory over his enemies and to show his gratitude to Lord Shiva, whom he greatly revered. With the passage of time, in 1162 AD, King Trishana Varma of the Meda dynasty got this building renovated.
The temple has a viewing gallery, shikhara and base. There are eight huge pillars in the visitor’s gallery on which images of Yakshas, Kinnars, Keechakas, Vidyachars, Gods and Goddesses, Apsaras and lovers are engraved.”
