Category:Kuleshwar mahadev temple, rajjim

Kuleshwar Mahadev Temple, Rajim 

9th century Shiva temple on the island in Mahanadi river
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Rajim, Gariaband district, Raipur division, Chhattisgarh, India
20° 57′ 43.22″ N, 81° 52′ 17.62″ E
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The Kuleshwar Mahadev temple is a 9th century Shiva temple in the ancient capital and historic pilgrimage site of Rajim. The temple is not the oldest in Rajim proper, but it is oldest on the island at the junction of Pairi-Mahanadi river.

The Kuleshwar temple stands on a 17-foot octagonal jagati. It is provided with steps for pilgrims to climb up from boats that dock at different levels as the Mahanadi seasonally floods during monsoons. The octagonal jagati is high enough to protect the shrine during exceptional floods. The temple is actually a complex, just like those found in Rajim proper. Here, two adjacent garbha-grhas share a mandapa. One sanctum is dedicated to Shiva as Kuleshvara linga and the other as Jagadamba. Two rows of sidewall pillars and pilasters support the mandapa. Near life-size sculptures adorn mandapa pilasters. The most notable ones include Yamuna, Ganga, Kartikeya over a peacock, Sitala mata, and Mahishasuramardini. The temple has a notable – though partly damaged – inscription. It helps dates the temple to the ninth century CE. The temple has been renovated, and a bridge was completed in the late 2010s for pilgrims to walk from Rajim proper to this temple and the island.

This temple should not be confused with similarly named historic temple in Kathmandu (Nepal) and many parts of India.