An Unfinished Dream

[Flintlock]

Unfinished dream

The king was Raja Bhoj, who ruled between 1010-1053 AD, and the city is today known as Bhopal.

Much water has flown down the lake of Bhopal since then, but the great king left behind a beautiful Shiva temple which houses the largest Shiva lingam in the country. Bhojeshwar Temple, which is also known as the ‘Somnath of the East,’ was a grandiose dream of the Emperor that remains incomplete to this day, for reasons unknown.

On my way to Bhimbetka, the famous rock caves of Madhya Pradesh, I came across a direction board which pointed to Bhojpur. It was a cool November morning and I was in no hurry to reach my destination, so I took a detour and am I glad I did so! The gigantic temple standing at an elevation took my breath away with its magnificent silhouette. Standing tall, contrasted against the blue skies the red stoned temple, constructed in 1050 AD, is the declaration of an emperor’s faith.

I was captivated by the stunning visual of the two ornamental figures that guard the entrance of the temple.The panels on either side of the entrance were lined by graceful figures carved in stone reminding one of the skills of artisans during that time.

A richly-carved dome standing on four intricately patterned pillars greeted my eyes. It spread like a canopy protectively over the sanctum sanctorum.

I soaked in the beauty of the sculpted angels who were supporting the pillars at the upper end. The ambitious dome remained incomplete, open to the skies, admitting the elements of nature into the temple.

Divided into three sections, the lowest part of the dome is an octagon from which springs a 24-faceted segment. Richly ornamented brackets adorn the upper part of the dome.

The elaborate figures on top of the dome, although visible from the bottom of the temple, were distant enough to remain indistinct to my eyes. The three-tiered top is filled with much beauty and elaborateness of sculpture.

An amazing lingam, about 18 feet in circumference, crafted out of a single polished rock, stands right in the centre of the sanctum sanctorum. It is about 7.5 feet high and is mounted on a three-tiered sandstone platform– an example of classic architectural symphony.

As I walked around the temple, I discovered the earthen ramp that was used by the workmen to raise the structure to the dome-level. There were elaborately carved, jharoka-like balconies that projected from the outer walls. Were they supposed to end up as windows to the temple or just function as ornamental distraction? We would never know.

Had it been completed, Bhojeshwar temple certainly would have attained the status as one of the most beautiful and grand temples of the world. As it is, even with the ravages of time, it remains one of the best examples of temple architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries.

A little distance away, lay the stones and the sculpted figures that were to be affixed to the walls of the temple. Pillars, bases for the columns, crafted with diligence lay scattered all around. They are the mute testimony of the dreams that must have coloured the nights of the emperor and the craftsmen.

What caught my eye was a series of massive flat rocks beds that had been cordoned off with railings and chains. A closer look revealed them to be the floor plans of the temple. Some of the rocks were covered with clearly etched patterns to be carved on the stones to make pillars. How difficult it must have been for the architects and the craftsmen to engrave those details on hard rocks to such precision and perfection!

I made my way towards the ruins of the cyclopean dam that had once been constructed by Raja Bhoj to provide water to his kingdom. To the west of Bhojpur lies the dam, which edged a vast lake, at one time.

The site of the dam was chosen with great skill, as a natural wall of hills enclosed the whole area except for two gaps that were about 100 yards and 500 yards wide. These openings were closed by gigantic earthen dams, faced on both sides with enormous blocks of sandstone, many being four-feet-long, three-feet-broad and 2.5 feet high, set without mortar.

The smaller dam is 44 feet high and 300 feet thick at the base, the larger dam 24 feet high with a flat top 100 feet broad. These embankments held up an expanse of water of about 250 square miles. Today, nothing remains except the ruins of the magnificent old dams.

FACT FILE

Getting There:

*By Air: Bhopal (28 km from Bhojpur) is the nearest airport. It is connected with regular flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Indore and Gwalior.

*By Rail: Bhopal, on the Delhi-Madras and Delhi-Mumbai mainline, is the most convenient railhead.

*By Bus: Bhojpur is well connected by bus with Bhopal. Taxis can also be hired for the visit.

Unfinished dream - Deccan Herald - Internet Edition

 

[Flintlock]

^^^Amazing!! I wonder what it would have looked like, had it been completed!

 

[bravo0744]

The advancement of engineering skills in those times really force us to think about the capabilities of these gone men

 

[Flintlock]

The advancement of engineering skills in those times really force us to think about the capabilities of these gone men

I know...so much has been lost, and yet, so much has been gained...

We tend to underestimate the capabilities of our ancestors, as we have been fed by the western view of the world for centuries. But the evidence is all around us.

 

[Vinod2070]

Thx. for sharing. Good informatiion.

 

[Flintlock]

Well, looking at the pictures, the entrance itself seems to be around 50 feet in height.

From the article, it seems clear that:
1. The plans and patterns were etched onto the rock for reference.
2. The carvings, statues were installed after the main structure was complete. The walls we can see now, are just the supporting structure. The actual temple would evolve from this by fixing carvings, statues, and other elements, and perhaps windows would be boxed out on the sides.

Considering it was a shiva temple, it would have had a typical "shikhara" or spire, which would have to be atleast equal to the height of the entrance. That would make the temple atleast 100 feet in height, a marvel by any standards.

I'll try to get some real information about the architecture of the temple, rather than all this speculation.

 

[Flintlock]

Founded by the legendary Parmar king of Dhar, Raja Bhoj (1010-53), and named after him, Bhojpur, 28 km from Bhopal, is renowned for the remains of its magnificent Shiva Temple and Cyclopean dam.
The temple, which has earned the nomenclature of the Somnath of the East, is known as the Bhojeshwar Temple. In plan a simple square, with an exterior dimension of 66 feet, it is devoid of the re-entrant angles usual in such buildings. The richly carved dome, though incomplete, has a magnificent, soaring strength of line and is supported by four pillars. These, like the dome, have been conceived on a massive scale, yet retain a remarkable elegance because of their Bhojeshwar Temple tapering form. Divided into three sections, the lowest is an octagon with facets of 2.12 feet, from which springs a 24-faced section.
Richly carved above, the doorway is plain below, throwing into sharp relief the two exquisitely sculpted figures that stand on either side. On the other three sides of the structure are balconies, each supported by massive brackets and four intricately carved pillars. The lingam in the sanctum rises to an awe-inspiring height of 7.5 feet with a circumference of 17.8 feet. Set upon a massive platform 21.5 feet square, and composed of three superimposed limestone blocks, the architectural harmony of lingam and platform creates a superb synthesis of solidity and lightness.

The temple was never completed, and the earthern ramp used to raise it to dome-level still stands. Had it been completed, it would have had very few rivals. As it is, even with the ravages of time, it remains one of the best examples of temple architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries.

Also incomplete, and with a similar stone-raising ramp, is a Jain shrine that stands close to the Bhojeshwar temple. Three figures of the tirthankaras are contained within, one being a colossal statue of Mahavira 20 feet high, and the other two of Parsvanath. Rectangular in plan, this temple probably belongs to the same period as the Bhojeshwar.

West of Bhojpur once lay a vast lake, but nothing remains except the ruins of the magnificent old dams by which its waters were contained. The site was chosen with great skill, as a natural wall of hills enclosed the whole area except for two gaps, 100 yards and 500 yards in width respectively. These were closed by gigantic earthern dams, faced on both sides with enormous blocks of sandstone, many being 4 feet long, 3 feet broad and 2.5 feet thick, set without mortar. The smaller dam is 44 feet high and 300 feet thick at the base, the larger dam 24 feet high with a flat top 100 feet broad. These embankments held up an expanse of water of about 250 square miles. This great work is ascribed to Raja Bhoj, but it may possibly be of an earlier date.

The lake was destroyed by Hoshang Shah of Malwa (1405-34), who cut through the lesser dam, and thus, either intentionally or in a fit of destructive passion, added an enormous area of the highest fertility to his possessions. According to a Gond legend, it took an army of them three months to cut through the dam, and the lake took three years to empty, while its bed was not habitable for thirty years afterwards. The climate of Malwa is said to have been considerably altered by the removal of this vast sheet of water.

Raisen District

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Indeed, even with the present day technology, we cannot imagine to achieve the design and construction of some of the masterpieces of the old. So, what was it 3-5 thousand years ago---what kind of brains did these people have---what kind of science they controlled---there is a certain period of history that we see some marvels of architecture design and construction which makes one wonder what forces had these people harnessed.

Truly, there is a veil that we cannot see past---a depth which we cannot fathom out---a force that is unkown to us. There is so much intrigue and mystery that it has all the 21st century civilization baffled about what happened during those times.

 

[Vinod2070]

I think humankind has lost much knowledge in the vandalism that happened during the middle ages.

It was a dark period for humanity where the humans were at their worst bigoted behaviour and that too in the name of noble ideas sometimes.

A lot of ancient beautiful civilizations, cultures and scientific and cultural knowledge seem to have been lost forever.

What a crying shame!

 

[ahussains]

Many things happend in the past tooo ,,, no one have the correct idea now a days ... I never understand who the PARAMIDS of the egypts are made so far no correct answer

 

[Flintlock]

Many things happend in the past tooo ,,, no one have the correct idea now a days ... I never understand who the PARAMIDS of the egypts are made so far no correct answer

I think its quite clear how the pyramids were built....those people didn't use magic or anything.

What Vinod is trying to say, is because of wars, vandalism, and natural disasters, so much knowledge is lost.

 

[Flintlock]

1,000 yrs later, a temple gets finishing touches


As the sun sets over the Betwa river, its rays fall on a huge linga in an 11th-century Shiva temple in the small village of Bhojpur, near Bhopal. What makes this a unique spectacle is that the linga faces west — towards the setting sun — instead of facing east towards the rising sun, as prescribed by vastu. However, that is not the only thing unique about this unfinished temple. The linga itself, for instance, is unlike any other. Rising to a height of 22 feet, this massive linga — made of a single block of polished stone — is believed to be the tallest in the country.

Such proportions do not seem out of place, when one considers that the temple construction is attributed to the legendary Raja Bhoja, who was a great patron of art and architecture. However, for some unknown reasons, the temple never got completed. Why it was left incomplete is one among a series of intriguing questions that have continued to baffle archaeologists. A walk around the temple complex reveals huge blocks of stones, many of them with intricate engravings and, presumably, ready to be used. Over 300 such finished and unfinished stones lie scattered over an area of 5 km around the temple.

How such huge stones, some weighing up to 70 tons, were lifted to the temple top would have remained a mystery had archaeologists not discovered a ramp along one of the temple walls to carry the stones. The presence of these stones along with the existence of the ramp indicates that more construction was definitely in the pipeline. Probably, Raja Bhoja, known to be an exceptional architect, was planning to build a temple city here, surmises K K Muhammad, superintending archaeologist of the Bhopal circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

So, what prompted construction to stop? Probably, a natural calamity or a war. Or, maybe Bhoja simply ran out of funds for his ambitious project. Whatever may have been the reason, historians believe that the temple, even in its incomplete state, would have been a huge draw for pilgrims in those times. The area around it was probably surrounded by water. Which means that it was on an island, with the Betwa river flowing around it. Over the years, the river has receded, and now flows some distance from the temple.

The approach to the temple was probably by boat during those times, says S N Srivastava of the ASI. Coins have been found on the dry river bed which suggest that people used to throw them as offerings in the river, while visiting the temple. In fact, the presence of the river on the west of the temple may also explain why the idol faces that direction since temple vastu allows an idol to face a natural body like a river, adds Muhammad.

Another unique feature is the presence of detailed line drawings such as the temple plan, elevation, pillars, shikhar and kalash, which have been engraved on the rock surface. Most probably, before construction, the architect had these drawings stencilled on the rocks nearby.

Why it was done is not clear, since nowhere else have such line drawings been found, says Muhammad. One reason could be that Bhoja, an innovative and experimental man, wanted to set a precedent for his grand project. Whatever he was planning remains buried in the mists of time, since the project could not reach completion.

Nevertheless, some of the work that Raja Bhoja left unfinished is now being completed by the ASI. In a major conservation effort over the past two years, Muhammad and his team have been steadily giving the temple a facelift. The red sandstone walls have been spruced up; a missing column has been re-created and one of the 32ft-high pillars at the entrance is being restored to its former glory. Further, encroachments around the temple have been removed and the area around it has been developed as a garden.

However, the most significant piece of restoration has been in giving the temple a roof. For centuries, the temple was without a ceiling, with its Shiva linga exposed to the open sky and at the mercy of the elements. ‘‘It was initially thought to be part of the design. But then, we found that a ceiling had been built here originally, but perhaps due to a mathematical error in calculating the actual load that it could bear, it collapsed soon after it was installed. In the process, the Shiva linga also sustained damage," says Muhammad.

The Shiva linga, which lay broken for hundreds of years, has now been meticulously restored and the open ceiling covered with a fibre glass sheet that has been decorated to blend in with the rest of the architectural patterns.

With the temple now almost restored, the ASI is hoping to get it declared as a World Heritage site soon. As and when it happens, Raja Bhoja’s unfinished dream may yet reach the heights of glory for which it was intended.

1,000 yrs later, a temple gets finishing touches-India-The Times of India