Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/qdPItBYHMMM
Location: “Shri Battisa Temple, 49MJ+XV7, Barsur, Chhattisgarh 494441”
References:
https://unexploredbastar.com/historical-city-barsoor/
https://cgdekho1.blogspot.com/2018/04/battisa-mandir-barsur.html
https://dantewada.nic.in/en/tourist-place/barsur-an-archaeological-treasure/
https://puratattva.in/barsur-the-capital-city-of-the-chhindaka-nagas/
Barsur, earlier known as
Barasuru, was the capital city of the Chhindaka-Naga (छिंदक नाग) dynasty that ruled during the tenth-thirteenth century CE. The
dynasty belonged to the Kasyapa gotra and had a crest of a tiger with a cub.
Their kings were titled the “lord of Bhogavati”, Bhogavati is one of the seven
mythological sub-terraranan cities of the Nagas. The Chhindaka-Nagas supposedly
belonged to the same stock as the Sindas of Karnataka, the latter claimed their
name to be derived from the river Sindhu (Indus). Chhindaka appears as another derivation
for the Sindhu river.
The earliest
Chhindaka-Naga inscription is the fragmentary Errakot inscription dated Saka
945 corresponding to 1023 CE and mentions king Nripatibhusana.1
During his Ganga
expedition, the Chola king Rajendra Chola I (971–1044 CE) seized Sakkarakkottam aka Chakrakota aka
Chakrakuta or modern Bastar sometime between 1019-20. There are two
possibilities here, either the Chhindaka-Nagas were ruling over Barsur when
Aditya Chola marched into the region or they came to Baster after Rajendra
Chola’s Ganga expedition. The Chhindaka-Nagas owed allegiance to different
dynasties at different times during their reign. The names of the Chhindaka-Naga
kings such as Dharavarsha and Kanhara suggest that they owned allegiance to the
Rashtrakutas while names such as Someshvara suggest that they also owned
allegiance to the Western Chalukya king Someshvara I Ahavamalla (1042-1068 CE). Their Telugu inscriptions and legends over
coins attest to their southern origins.2 It is suggested that
Aditya Chola installed Naga king Dharavarsha as his regent over Barsur. The
Nander inscription mentions the general Nagavarma of the Western Chalukya king
Someshvara I defeated Kalakuta Dharavarsha sometime after 1047 CE.
Someshvara I (1069-1108
CE) ruled for a good thirty years and he was the most accomplished and
successful ruler of the family. Goddess Manikyadevi aka Danteshwari aka
Vindhyavasini was the tutelary deity of the Chhindaka-Nagas. When the
Chhindaka-Nagas were consolidating their power in Bastar, the Telugu-Chodas
followed the Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI (1076-1126 CE) during his eastern campaign and settled
in Bastar. They belonged to the Kasyapa gotra and claimed descent from the
Suryavamshi Chola family of the Karikala house that ruled from Orayuru
(Uraiyur).
Barsur is generally called
the city of temples and legends claim more than 147 temples in the town with as
many tanks and lakes.6 Though we do not have extant temples
matching that number, however, this small town still has many extant temples.
Known
for its 10th-11th century Chhindak Nagawanshi dynasty ruins, key attractions
include the Battisa Temple, massive Ganesh statue, Mama Bhanja
Temple, and Chandraditya Temple.
Known as the center of power for Gangawanshi and Nagawanshi
rulers, historical records suggest there were once 147 temples and 147 ponds in
the area.
Leftwards,
on the entrance to Barsur, Battisa Temple can be seen in ruins. The temple
is situated around 24 KMs from Geedam and 75 KMs from Jagdalpur on the
Jagdalpur-Bhopalpatnam road. According to the inscriptions, this temple was
constructed back in 1030c. by the Queen of Nagavanshiya ruler Someshwar
Dev. Due to the usage of 32 stone
pillars in this temple and connecting 2 temples (2
garbhagrihas) with beautifully carved Nandi sitting outside each, it became
well-known as Battisa Mandir Gudi.
It has a huge mandapa built
of stone blocks. The architecture of this 11th-century temple is awe-inspiring.
At present, it has been declared as preserved by
the state government.
The
sanctum has 2-story, square, high-rise, black stone cistern which houses a
Shivalinga topped with a rosary.