{"id":114522,"date":"2024-01-08T12:05:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T11:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=114522"},"modified":"2024-01-08T12:05:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T11:05:33","slug":"harshnath-the-forgotten-hill-of-shekhawati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/harshnath-the-forgotten-hill-of-shekhawati\/","title":{"rendered":"Harshnath, the forgotten hill of Shekhawati"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Harshnath, located on the Aravalli hill of Harshagiri, 900 meters above sea level, is the beautiful archaeological surprise of Sikar district (Rajasthan<\/a>). This group of temples, the oldest of which dates back to the 10th century AD, is still little known to travelers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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The view from Harshnath Hill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We have to drive more than half an hour via a winding road to reach the Harshnath site. A decade ago, this route did not exist and pilgrims had to climb hundreds of steps to the top of the hill. The panorama over the plain and the mountains of the Aravalli range is superb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Harshnath temple complex<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When we arrive, the first recognizable building is a small, simple temple with a very pointed sikhara (a bell tower). At that moment we think that it is the main temple and we are a little disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the ruined pillars of the ancient Torana (ark) of the temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the main Harshnath temple stands on the left. It is in ruins and no longer has a Sikhara, which is why you don’t notice it right away. However, despite its dilapidated state, this temple deserves to be classified among the archaeological wonders of Rajasthan.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The main temple from the 10th century CE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Harshnath\"
On the right, the back of the temple where the sikhara is missing. On the left, the temple built in 1718 CE by the ruler Rao Shiv Singh of Sikar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to the inscriptions found on the site, it was built between 956 CE and 957 CE under the leadership of the Shivaist ascetic Bhavarakta, alias Allata, during the reign of the ruler Vigraharaja I of the Chahamana dynasty. It was then surrounded by numerous minor temples whose ruins are scattered all around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ruins scattered throughout the site<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Side view of the temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The temple is pancharatha in shape, that is to say that its tower had on each of its four sides five rathas, a kind of vertical projections. The \u201cranga mandapa\u201d or \u201cmusic and dance hall\u201d has four central pillars and side transepts with balustrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Harshnath\"
The ranga mandapa of the temple with its pillars decorated with Kirtimukha monsters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The entrance to the temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the middle of the mandapa is a small Shiva-lingam, dating from the same period as the temple, probably one of the remains of the minor temples of the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Harshnath\"
An ancient shiva-lingam sits in the middle of the mandapa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The garbhagriha (main sanctuary) houses the original lingam as well as sculptures of the goddess Parvati, Shiva’s consort, with her attendants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The main Lingam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Harshnath\"
The garbhagriha (main shrine) with, inside, a sculpture of Parvati and her attendants<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The statue of Nandi, the divine bull, Shiva’s mount (vahana), is located outside the temple, carved from a single block of white marble. It seems more recent than the 10th century temple, but nothing is said about this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Harshnath\"
A devotee prostrating himself before the divine bull Nandi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The sculptures of the temple make up its beauty. Its pillars are profusely decorated with Kirtimukha deities, dancers, warriors and watches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The images of deities, on what remains of the Sikhara (bell tower), are particularly remarkable. It shows voluptuous women, apsaras or goddesses, standing in “tribhanga”, an artistic “S”-shaped curvature used in classical Odissi dance.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Harshnath\"
On the right, beautiful statue of the god Agni with, at his feet, a ram, his mount<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another statue represents “Agni dev” (the god of fire), one of the major deities of the Vedic era (ancient India) alongside Vayu (the god of wind) and Surya<\/a> (the god of the sun). His mount is the ram, a sacrificial animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Other temple statues<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Harshnath temple was completely destroyed by the armies of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1679. In 1718 CE, the ruler Rao Shiv Singh of Sikar, set about rehabilitating the site. A new temple, also dedicated to Shiva, was built to the right of the old one, but without its charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Shiva temple built in 1718 CE by the ruler Rao Shiv Singh of Sikar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The complex has another surprise in store for us: we have to go north in the relentless heat to discover a temple dedicated this time to Bheruji (Bhairav) which represents the god Shiva in his fierce form. There is no mention of the age of the place, however we note that it was (re)built with pieces of ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The temple dedicated to Bheruji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the entrance to this third temple, a superb ancient statue catches my eye: that of a woman with the head of an elephant; it is a very rare form in India. His identification has not been definitively determined. Some scholars believe that it is the “Shakti” of the Hindu god Ganesha, <\/a>i.e. his female form and hence takes the name Vinayaki or Ganeshani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others believe that he is a separate deity linked to tantra practices. It is seen in certain temples of the 64 Yoginis <\/a>such as Hirapur in Odisha or Bhedaghat in Madhya Pradesh<\/a>. In this case, her name is Sri Aingini.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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La yogini Sri Aingini ou la Shakti du dieu Ganesha, Vinayaki<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A flight of steps then leads us to a small shrine with the ancient image of Durga, then, further down, to the main temple of Bheruji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ancient statue of Durga before the Bheruji temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I am exceptionally authorized to take a photo of the Bheruji statue which includes three bodies roughly carved into the rock. An eternal oil lamp burns before the deity. I also take the opportunity to take a few photos of ancient statues at the back of the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I walk up the steps towards the exit, a group of worshipers enter the sanctuary with bottles of whiskey in their hands. In North India, giving alcohol as an offering to certain deities like Shiva or Durga is completely normal, it is one of the practices of tantra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The three-bodied deity of Bheruji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A popular legend says that Bheruji is the brother of Jeen Mata, the goddess of power, avatar of Durga, whose temple is at the foot of Harshagiri hill. It is customary for Hindu devotees to first go to the Jeen Mata temple, a major Shakti peeth pilgrimage site, before honoring Bheruji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jeen Mata, the divine sister of Bheruji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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