Ancient Stone Idols in Historical
Shiva Temple Mangarh of District Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh. The Shiva/ Mahakaleshwar
Temple Mangarh is told about 1200 years old and this is one of oldest Temples of State. According to villagers and folk
narratives The Temple or Idols were made by Pandwa during (Deport) Agyatwas era.
They spend many days in the Mangarh quiet valley of Himalayas which was a thick
forest. Mangarh village is situated between
Sarahan and Rajgarh Town of Sirmour District. Archaeological department appointed two
employs in Temple before some years to take care of it. It is a complete
stone temple of pure classical projection. According to Archaeological Survey
of India the temple is assignable to the 9th -10th centuries A.D. The artistic
and architectural treatment of this temple follows the classical projection of
the early phase of post Gupta period. The temple stands upon a stone masonry,
facing west under the local site condition. The Mandapa of the temple might
have been a pavilion type of open structure. The most interesting part of this
temple is the richly carved stone doorframe of its Garbh-Griha. The Lalatbimba
can be seen, decorated with flying Gandharvas,
Dwarfish, dances and musicians. The image of Siva is installed in the Garbha-griha,
flanked by other Gods and Goddesses. The temple is of the Nagara sikhar style,
consisting of a Panchratha sanctum with an antarala and a spacious pillared Mandap.
The sanctum is crowned with curvilinear sikhara, showing five rathas decorated
with the miniature chaitya windows.
