Sahasra Bahu Temples

The Sahasra Bahu temples or Sasbahu Temples, at Nagda, Rajasthan, are a pair of late 10th-century Hindu temples dedicated to Veerabadra (a fierce form of the Hindu god Shiva). They share a platform, facing the temple tank, and are similar in style, but one is rather larger than the other. The larger one is surrounded by ten subsidiary shrines, the smaller by four; only the bases remain of some of these. The temples have many of the characteristics of slightly later Māru-Gurjara architecture but lack others, especially in the plan and exterior sculpture.

They are locally referred to as Sas Bahu temples (a local corruption of the original Sahasra-Bahu, meaning "One with thousand arms", a form of Vishnu).

Both temples have a sanctuary, mandapa (a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals) with side projections, and an open porch. Their somewhat ruined shikharas (the rising tower) are in brick, with many subsidiary turrets. That of the smaller temple has been largely repaired, while the larger one remains truncated. Below the platform there is a torana-style entrance screen, with four columns and a decorative cusped arch in the centre.

The interiors and parts of the exteriors, especially around the porches, are lavishly carved, but much of the exteriors are plain. Lotus flower painting is visible on the roof top of temple. Iltutmish (Delhi emperor of that time) destroyed Nagda in 1226.

Entrance to the Sahasra Bahu Temples.
The entrance to the pair of temples is from the west.

Both temples share the same platform.
They share a platform, facing the temple tank, and are similar in style, but one is rather larger than the other.

Climbing the platform.

First rung of the platform ladder.

Smaller temple

The smaller temple.
The smaller temple is located north of the platform.

The smaller temple is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines.
Only the bases remain of some of these subsidiary shrines.

Base of a subsidiary temple.
The larger temple is surrounded by ten subsidiary shrines, the smaller one by four; only the bases remain of some of these.

Subsidiary temple.
This subsidiary temple is one of the four subsidiary temples of the smaller temple.

It is located southwest of the smaller temple.

South wall of the smaller temple.
The porch of the smaller temple can be seen on the right side of the photograph.

Southwest corner of the smaller temple.

Sculpture in the southwest corner.
Sculpture in the southwest corner of the smaller temple.

Smaller temple porch.
The porch of the smaller temple is here seen from the southeast corner.

The south wall of the smaller temple can be seen on the left side of the photograph.

Subsidiary temple located on the east side of the platform.
Pay attention to the Amalaka at the top of the Shikhara.

The Amalaka is the segmented or notched stone disk, usually with ridges on the rim, that sits on the top of a Hindu temple's Shikhara or main tower.
See more at Amalaka - Wikipedia.

Torana-style entrance screen.
Below the platform there is a torana-style entrance screen, with four columns and a decorative cusped arch in the centre.

Torana is a free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture of the Indian subcontinent.
See more at Torana - Wikipedia.

Base of a subsidiary temple.
This base of a subsidiary temple is located northeast of the larger temple, between the larger temple and the Torana.

Pay attention to the Lingam that can be seen in the inner space of the temple.
A lingam (lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism.
See more at Lingam - Wikipedia.

Larger Temple

Larger temple north wall.

Reliefs on the larger temple north wall.

Larger temple porch.
The porch of the larger temple is here seen from northeast.

Larger temple porch.
The porch of the larger temple is here seen from west.

Ceiling of the porch of the larger temple.

Reliefs on the porch of the larger temple.

Entrance to the pillared hall of the larger temple.
The mandapa is a pillared hall for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture.

Door threshold.
The threshold is the sill of a door. Some cultures attach special symbolism to the threshold.

On the thresholds there are carved long stemmed lotus flowers, symbolising the divinity of the universe, and also the emotionless mind necessary to reach divinity.
The priest and the bhakta entering the innermost sanctuary (Garbagriha) must cross the threshold without treading on it.
As one enters the sanctum, he or she is also raised to the status of the divinity, and the sculptures on the door of the sanctum help the priest and the bhakta to undergo that change.

Inside the pillared hall (Mandapa).
The pillared hall (Mandapa) is used for religious dancing and music and is part of the basic temple compound.

This prayer hall was generally built in front of the temple's sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha).
See more at Mandapa - Wikipedia.

Reliefs on the columns of the pillared hall (Mandapa).

Entrance to the holy of holies (Garbhagriha).
The garbhagriha is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, what may be called the "holy of holies" or "sanctum sanctorum".

The garbhagriha is the location of the statue or icon (murti) of the temple's primary deity.
This might be a statue or icon of Shiva, as the lingam, his consort the Goddess in her consecrated image or yoni symbol, Vishnu or his spouse, or some other god in symbol or image.
See more at Garbhagriha - Wikipedia.