Kiradu
| Kiradu Temples | |
|---|---|
| किराडु मंदिर | |
Someshavara temple at Kiradu, in 1897
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 Kiradu Temples
Location in Barmer Rajasthan
Kiradu Temples
Location in Barmer Rajasthan
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 25°45′10″N 71°05′52″E / 25.7528°N 71.0977°ECoordinates: 25°45′10″N 71°05′52″E / 25.7528°N 71.0977°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Barmer |
| Location | Barmer |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Shiva |
| Architecture | |
| Number of temples | 5 |
The Kiradu temples are a group of ruined temples located in the Barmer district of Rajasthan, India. The Kiradu town is located in the Thar desert, about 35 km from Barmer and 157 km from Jaisalmer.
The ruins of at least five temples exist at Kiradu. Of these, the Someshvara temple, dedicated to Shiva, is the best-preserved structure. Epigraphic evidence suggests that the temples were constructed during the 11-12th century by the vassals of the Chaulukya (Solanki) monarchs.
Inscriptions dated 1153-1178 CE have been found at Kiradu. Based on this, Indian historian Gaurishankar Ojha assigned the temples to the 12th century CE. Art historians Ratna Chandra Agrawala and Stella Kramrisch have also dated the Someshvara temple to the 12th century. However, art historians Madhusudan Dhaky and Percy Brown dated the temple to 11th century CE.
Kiradu was originally known as Kiratakupa. During the 12th century, it was controlled by several small dynasties, which ruled as vassals of the Chaulukyas. Someshvara, who belonged to a Paramara branch, rose to prominence in the 1140s CE after gaining favour of the Chaulukya rulers Jayasimha Siddharaja and Kumarapala.
In the 1150s, the Naddula Chahamana ruler Alhana (also a Chaulukya vassal) seems to have been appointed as a governor of Kiradu, as attested by a 1152 CE inscription. The area was restored to Someshvara by the 1960s. Sometime later, the Chaulukyas transferred the control of Kiradu to Madanabrahma, who came from a Chahamana family. Madanabrahma's successor was probably Asala, who was defeated by Alhana's son Kirtipala.
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