Category:Bhumara Temple

Shiva temple, Bhumara 

5th or 6th-century Gupta era Hindu temple
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Instance of	temple
Location	Satna district, Rewa division, Madhya Pradesh, India
24° 25′ 42.6″ N, 80° 38′ 28.18″ E
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Bhumara temple is one of the oldest Gupta era Shiva temple, dated to the 5th (likely) or 6th century CE. It is near Satna, Madhya Pradesh. Famous for Ekamukha Linga and early iconography of Ganesha. The temple also has images of Kartikeya, Surya, Durga, amorous couples and others.

The Bhumra Hindu temple is simple, has a square plan, stands on a jagati (platform). It has a mandapa, but one which was ruinned long ago. Like almost all Hindu temples, this ancient temple too have bands of artwork, amorous couples, gandharvas, sriviksha, Ganga on makara (crocodile), Yamuna on kachchpa (turtle) and other artwork. Some of the walls and a part of the roof of this temple was carefully restored in the 2010s for preservation. These are readily distinguishable.

The temple holds what many consider as one of the most beautifully carved Ekmukha Shiva lingam in India. Though deliberately damaged at some point in its history, the 5th-century lingam has exceptionally detailed jewelry like artwork and encompasses Shiva's iconography celebrated in historic Hindu literature.

Many of the original pieces of artwork from this temple were moved out in the 19th and 20th century. They are now featured display items in the Kolkata museum, Allahabad museum and Delhi museum.