Bari Kanoda is a town in the Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its Shiva temple, which was constructed during the Chandella period.
Shiva Temple – The temple faces west and has survived with its garbhagrha. It is built in the Bhumija style. The garbhagrha lies below the entrance level, and to achieve the required height difference, the temple is built with an elaborate upapitha composed of multiple moludings. The vedibandha, also composed of multiple mouldings, rises above the upapitha. Niches for sculptures are provided at the kapili section over the upapitha and vedibandha. The temple follows the pancha-ratha pattern with five projections. The jangha comprises flat pilasters decorated with floral and geometric motifs. The recesses between the pilasters are also decorated with similar designs. The bandhana section between the jangha and shikhara is also composed of multiple mouldings, enhancing the overall height of the temple. The shikhara follows the Bhumija style with flat latina bhadra and miniature shikharas distributed over the flanking karna and parti rathas. The shikhara is topped with an amalaka. The garbhagrha is a square room approached down with a flight of steps. Its south and north walls have niches, and a shivalinga is installed in the middle of the floor.
The garbhagrha doorway is composed of three shakhas (jambs). A four-armed image of Shiva is present over its lalatabimba. The terminal niche on his right has Brahma, while the corresponding part on his left is reconstructed with plain stone blocks. The earlier scholars mention that the terminal niche on his left is an image of Vishnu. The lintel has three tiers; the uppermost tier has navagrhas, and the lower tiers are decorated with floral motifs. The base of the jambs has the river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, standing over their respective vahanas, which are much deteriorated. They are accompanied by two figures, a lady standing under a tree and a Shaiva dvarapala. The shafts of the doorway are decorated with floral motifs on the inner and outer shakha, while the middle shakha has three niches housing various images. The middle niche on the left has Ganesha, and the corresponding niche on the right has an image of a goddess. The temple is generally assigned to the Chandella dynasty.1,2
1 पाठक, अशर्फीलाल (1981). दमोह जिला का ऐतिहासिक पुरातत्त्व, Ph.D. thesis (unpublished) submitted to the Sagar University. pp. 174-177
2 सोनी, संजय बाबू (2002). दमोह जिले का पुरातत्त्व, Ph.D. thesis (unpublished) submitted to the Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar. pp. 222-224
Acknowledgment: Some of the photos above are in CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain from the collection released by the Tapesh Yadav Foundation for Indian Heritage.