History & Mystery Await In Dipadih’s Sacred Ancient Temples

A glorious past

Dipadih in Chhattisgarh is home to the ruins of an ancient temple complex of sculptures, and stone idols dating back to the 7th and 10th century AD. It’s a treasure trove for history lovers seeking an archaeological site to explore and discover a glorious past.

What is unique about Dipadih, situated in Ambikapur on the Kusmi roadway, is its pristine condition -few tourists visit the area, and the sparse population of indigenous tribes in this isolated setting has left the site relatively untouched. After Dipadih was excavated, its archaeological finds were displayed on open grounds instead of inside the closed walls of a museum.

The excavations in Dipadih unveiled breathtaking historic treasures – the Samat Sarna, the Urav Tola, the Rani Pokhra, Chamunda, and the Panchayat Temples. At Borja Tila, archeologists discovered six main temples and several smaller ones dedicated mostly to the deities Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, and several goddesses.

Samat Sarna

The site is named for a mythological deity King Samat, the ruler of Samat -Sarna, who, according to local folklore, lost his life in a fierce battle against his brother Tanginath. Grief persuaded his queens to commit suicide by jumping into a well.

The excavation uncovered the famous ‘Pashudhar Shiva Chaturbhuji’ idol, along with sculptures of revered deities like Kartikeya, Nandi, Gaja-Lakshmi Chamunda, and several goddesses. Local tribespeople revere the Shiva deity (Pashudhar) itself as King Samat.

Shiva Temple at Urav Tola

The Shiva Temple at Urav Tola is famous for intricate craftsmanship by artisans who have perfectly captured expressions of routine life and animals in stone, creating a fantasy land of flying peacocks, swans, and mesmerizingly beautiful female sculptures. Their artistic creations are adorned with ‘Karnabhushans’ like Pongal, Kundalas, and Tarki, intricately carved on the statues.

One unique statue of a woman with two different earrings in each ear reflects the jewelry that older women in Surguja still wear today. Their hairstyles depict the fashion of their times. Through wonderful sculpture work and an eye for detail, the craftsmen of Dipadih have successfully mastered the art of storytelling in stonework. One rectangular temple platform features statues of two lions sharing the same head, a captivating illusion that is testament to their creativity.

The Garbha Griha of the large ShivaTemple temple is another example of their artistry. Carvings of Makarwahini Ganga and Karmawahini Yamuna decorate the temple doors while the entrance archway portrays ‘Gajabhishekit Laxmi and Lord Shiva and carvings of a ‘Kalpavruksha’ and brave soldiers. The inner sanctum hosts a 7-foot-tall Shivalinga. During the excavation archeologists also unearthed a cache of idols including Kartikeya, Virat Vishnu, Bhairava, Ganesha, Mahishasur Mardini, Durga, Kalyan, Kubera, Varana, Uma Maheshwar, and Lord Brahma.

Exquisite Craftsmanship

One of the most outstanding aspects of these sculptures is their intricate detail showcasing the mastery of stone crafters – a timeless smile on the face of the Uma Maheshwar idol, Shiva’s hair, and Parvati’s jewelry and drapes. Spellbinding carvings of holy fire, Lord Brahma, and Gauri in deep meditation portray the story of Lord Shiva’s wedding.

The artisans of Dipadih have captured both movement and stillness in their expression of deities at play and in power. Lord Ganesha (Chaturtihuji, Dwibhuji) poses motionless and in a graceful dance; a joyous Kartikeya shares the moment with a peacock; a grinning Bhairava with pointed teeth in his ‘Rudra’ avatar wears a garland of many heads around his neck. He holds a ‘Kapal Patra’ in one hand and a snake in the other. The site abounds with sculptures of Shiva and his representations – a stunning Parshudhar Shiva, sacred Shivalingas ranging tiny to 5 feet tall, and a massive Shivalinga made from 108 smaller ones.

Storytelling in stone

An exquisite Lord Brahma statue with a beard and mustache is finely detailed with weaponry such as the conch, wheel, baton, lotus bow-arrow, and pasha.

The female goddesses of Dipadih are in a league of their own, featuring Mahishasurmardini, Chamunda, Yogini, Durga, Gauri, Skanda Mata, and others.

The sculptures blend cultural nuances with art – a woman waiting for a lover, grooming themselves in front of mirrors, and dancing. One lovely image shows a brave soldier picking out a thorn piercing his lady’s foot – it’s unforgettable.

Just a kilometer away from the Shiva Temple, in a small town named Badka Deur, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of two Vishnu temples dating probably from the10th century with an idol of the prominent Jain Tirthankar Shri Vrishabhanath. The ruins suggest that Shaivite and Vaishnav religions were predominant here in the past and stand witness to medieval Kalchuri art and culture.

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