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| Saas Bahu Ka Mandir |
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History
Located in the majestic Gwalior fort, the Saas Bahu Ka Mandir of Gwalior is popular not only due to its religious significance but also owing to its beautiful architecture and artistic value. Built during the 9th century, these temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva instead of Saas (mother-in-law) and Bahu (daughter-in-law), as the name suggests. Some people also believe that the name ‘Saas-Bahu’ is the distorted version of the original word of Sahastra Bahu, which is another name of Lord Vishnu.
Positioned towards the east of Gwalior Fort, the Saas Bahu Ka Mandir, or Sahastrabahu Temple, is believed to be constructed by King Mahipala of the Kachchhapaghata (Kachchhwaha) dynasty in 1092. Situated contiguous to each other, one would notice that the two temples are not of same size and work. Indeed, one is larger and more ornately adorned with striking carvings and sculptures. The roof is decked with a wonderful lotus carving which is one of its main attractions. In a way, one can get a glimpse of the outstanding architectural brilliancy of ancient times in the Saas Bahu Temple, which is an ideal destination for devout people as well.
One of the architectural marvels in the Gwalior fort; this temple is 32 meters long and 22 meters wide with three main entries from three distinct directions. In the fourth route of the temple, there is a room which is at present closed. The whole temple is decorated with carvings, with notably 4 idols of Brahma, Vishnu and Saraswati placed above its entry door.
It is believed that during the 17th century, Aurangzeb endeavoured to annihilate the Saas Bahu Temple but he was unsuccessful. Thus, he positioned limestone above all the other idols of the divinity. Nonetheless, limestone eroded over time, and soon the portions of the limestone fell off, leaving the idols to display but leading to conflicts as to whether it was a a Hindu or a Jain temple. In the end, it was Captain H. Kolar and Major J.B. Kint who totally detached the limestone and restored the temple entirely to its charm.
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Best time to visit
The best time to visit Saas Bahu Ka Mandir is from October to March.
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Trivia
Etymologically, the temple was named as Sahastra Bahu, portraying a man with a thousand hands, notably Lord Vishnu. It is said that Lord Vishnu was revered by the wife of the Kachchhapaghata's King, but after his son's wife came, the daughter-in-law became a follower of Lord Shiva. Thus, another temple was built besides the Vishnu temple, where Lord Shiva was worshiped by the daughter-in-law. Jointly, these two temples came to be known as the 'Saas Bahu Ka Mandir', literally meaning the temple of the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law.
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Timing
The temple is open for visitors from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
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Travel Tools
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