5/5 Saurabh M. 7 months ago on Google • 292 reviews
Exploring
Madhya
Pradesh
at
Gwalior
Fort
at
Chaturbhuj
temple
Chaturbhuj
is
a
Hindu
temple
excavated
in
a
rock
face
in
the
Gwalior
Fort,
in
c875
AD,
by
Alla,
the
son
of
Vaillabhatta,
and
the
grandson
of
Nagarabhatta
a
nagar
brahmin
in
present-day
Madhya
Pradesh,
India.
One
of
the
temples
inscriptions
contains
the
earliest
known
inscription
of
the
circular
symbol
"O",
to
represent
zero,
in
India,
though
the
Bakhshali
manuscript
is
regarded
as
the
earliest
existent
use
of
zero.The
inscription
states,
among
other
things,
that
the
community
planted
a
garden
of
187
hastas
by
270
hastas
(1
hasta=1.5
feet),
that
the
garden
yielded
50
garlands
for
the
temple
every
day.
The
last
digits
of
270
and
50
are
"O"
shaped.
While
Indian
and
non-Indian
texts
mention
zero
much
earlier,
this
temple
has
the
earliest
known
epigraphical
evidence
inscribed
in
stone
that
already
knows
and
uses
the
concept
of
zero.
It
is
a
relative
small
temple
with
a
square
plan
of
12
feetside.
The
temple
has
a
portico
at
its
entrance
supported
by
four
carved
pillars.
The
pillars
show
reliefs
of
individuals
meditating
in
yoga
asana
position,
as
well
as
amorous
couples.
To
the
right
of
the
portico
is
covered
pillared
mandapa,
like
a
choultry.
The
doorway
into
the
rock
is
flanked
by
goddess
Ganga
and
Yamuna.
The
ceiling
of
the
temple
is
a
low
square
pyramid,
similar
to
the
Dhamnar
temple.
The
tower
(Shikhara)
of
the
temple
is
North
Indian
Nagara
style,
that
slowly
curves
with
a
square
plan,
all
carved
out
of
the
monolithic
rock.
It
has
an
inscription
that
opens
with
a
praise
for
Vishnu
,
then
Shiva
and
nine
Durgas,
as
well
states
that
it
was
excavated
in
876
CE
.
Inside
there
is
a
wall
relief
of
Varaha
and
another
of
four
armed
Vishnu.
It
also
a
carving
of
goddess
Lakshmi
with
four
arms.
The
name
of
the
temple
may
be
derived
from
four
armed
Vishnu
and
Lakshmi.
The
temple
is
partially
damaged,
its
tower
has
been
restored,
and
much
of
the
interior
artwork
is
missing.
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