Gyaraspur is an ancient town near Vidisha in north Madhya Pradesh where Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism co-flourished. The name Gyaraspur is derived from Gyaras, a word linked to religious practices on the 11th day in regional Vaishnava tradition.
<p>The Athakhamba (Athkhamba) temple are ruins of a lost Hindu temple. These are located in town, near the junction of main highways through Gyaraspur. It is so called because the monument that at first sight appears as eight beautifully carved pillars standing on a platform. On closer study, additional beams, a torana, part of a mandapa's ceiling and sanctum's doorway of the lost temple can also be seen. 
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The lost temple faced east. The eastern four pillars that survive were of its mandapa (hall). The temple had an antarala (vestibule) and the garbhagirha (sanctum). The pillars, torana, doorway and connecting beams are profusely carved. The lintel above the sanctum doorway has Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu – confirming that this was a Hindu temple likely dedicated to Shiva. This is further corroborated by a short inscription on one of the pillars which mentions samvat 1039 (c. 982 CE) and reverence to the "Krishesvara" – likely the name of this temple. The ruins and this site was cleaned up and restored in the 1930s, some of broken artwork from this site and other Hindu sites in Gyaraspur were moved to museums.
<a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ms_Sarah_Welch" title="User:Ms Sarah Welch">Ms Sarah Welch</a>
2022-10-15 15:05:31
<span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>