Conservation strategy for Markanda temple complex, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra

Abstract

Architecture has its own language through which it communicates and expresses the soul of the society to which it belongs to. Temple architecture in India is an architectural typology which has developed and evolved in its form across the country reflecting variety of regional styles. Though these styles can be broadly categorized as the northern and southern styles with their further sub-types, there are many regional influences which have developed specific regional temple styles of the particular region or area. After the 10th and 11th century, which is supposed to be the ‘golden era’ of temple architecture development and evolution, many regional temple styles developed and were overshadowed due to the various social, political and economic reasons. One of such regional temple style belonging to the Deccan region- The Hemadpanti temples, also known as the Yadava temples which developed under the dynasty of Yadavas in the Deccan. These temples spread in the Marathwada and spread and transformed in other parts of Maharashtra till 15th century. These regional styles were influenced by major temple building activity which were continuing in the reign of various neighboring rulers. Here these dynasties were the Solanki dynasty in Gujarat, the Paramara dynasty in the Malwa and the Chandellas of Khajuraho. Though Deccan being the part of central India the major temple form which developed in this region was north Indian in its origin. The temple forms which can be seen in this region is phamsana, Latina and Bhumija type which are the subcategories of the Nagara shrines i.e. the north Indian language of temple architecture. The treatise which mentions about these temple forms and types is the Samaranganasutradhar by Paramara king Bhoj. The Malwa being the birth place of Bhumija shrines have influenced the temple building activity in the Deccan region. The Hemadpanthi or Yadava temples show influences of these major temple forms which developed in Gujarat and Malwa region from 9th to 13th century A.D. Thesis aims at understanding thisas regional temple style through the case example of Markanda temple, Gadchiroli and propose conservation strategies. The theory and interpretations of the treatise of Samaranganasutradhar by Paramara king Bhoj have been used for the understanding of temples and to prepare conjectural drawings.