The city of Padhavali, located near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the world’s most important historical sites. The Gohad state ruled the area for over 1000 years. The temple is one of the few remaining ruins of the Jat Rana fort, a great Hindu centre. It also has a ruined temple that depicts a male receiving fellatio from another male.
The town’s other historical sites include the Bateshwar Temple, also known as Morena, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The complex of fortified temples is surrounded by lush forests and features a peacock dance. The Archaeological Survey of India has restored 40 of these temples, but the remaining restoration is still in progress. If you’re interested in visiting the ancient sites, Padhavali is a must-see for anyone in the area.
The mukhamandapa is the temple’s courtyard. This courtyard is the place where devotees pray for protection. The sanctum is the interior of the temple. The mukhamandapa is separate from the shrine and is not considered to be part of the sanctum sanctorum. In contrast, the mukhamandapa is a muktamandap.
There are many places to visit in the area. The town of Gwalior is home to the Jat Ranas, who built the Garhi. There are also two other Hindu temples – the Garhi in Morena and Mitawali in Dhaulpur. This holy site is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening. It is located in the middle of a small hill. While hills surround it, the area is often uninhabited, and the water is not available to the public.
The central part of the ruins is a temple dedicated to the God of love, Surya. The goddess Radha bhajans are based on different episodes in Krishna’s life. In particular, they focus on the divine love between the two. While this is a Hindu shrine, the sanctum is a place of worship. Historically, it was a place of prayer for the couple. Afterwards, they built the temple.
Visit Garhi Padhavali for more information. Also, have a look at our various monthly issues.