Murlidhar Mandir: An ancient architectural monument in city
   Date :20-Nov-2020

Murlidhar Mandir_1 &
 
 
By Rajendra Diwe :
 
UNESCO celebrates the annual World Heritage Week from November 19 to 25 across countries. The objective of the week is to make people aware of the rich heritage and also strive for its preservation. In India, various programmes related to historical structures, tour places and cultural and traditional heritage of the country are initiated to celebrate the Week. Vidarbha Sanshodhan Mandal’s noted indologist Dr Sheshshayan Deshmukh under Warasa Darshan has provided unique information about the ancient historic Murlidhar Mandir situated in Pardi area on Bhandara Road.
 
The temple could become a tourist attraction. Dr Deshmukh stated, “This ancient temple was built in 1840. The temple is East facing. Red, White Saoner stone and black stones are used to construct the temple. The temple is surrounded by ‘Prakara’ on four sides, but now no walls exist. The temple is constructed in rectangular shape with a measurement 13X11 meters.” “This temple is lacking in Jagati. The term Jagati in relation to the temple architecture or any sacred architecture denotes its base or sole. According to Sanskrit scripture, these Jagatis add to the grandeur and the magnificence of the temple, to the beauty and ornamentation of the town.
 
These are the places of congregational gathering and the fittest abodes for the celebrations of festivities and the only refuge for peace and tranquillity both Mukti and Bhakti are simply dancing on them. Aglow with the presence of and the constant communion with gods (these being their very abodes) these are the places where the four goals of life (chaturvarga) are attained and fame, longevity and glory are added to donors who built them,” he added. Dr Deshmukh mentioned, “The basic foundation of this temple is like ‘Kagadpith Varga’ which has four parts like ‘Bhitta’, ‘Jadyakumbh’, ‘Karnika’, and ‘Grasspatti.’ The foundation has geometrical art work on ‘Bhitta’. On Jadyakumbh part two sculptures of elephants are present on three sides instead of Bhadra. The sculptures are in broken state on one side.
 
The temple has ‘falana’ like Bhadra, Rath, Uparath and Karna in adhochhanda. This is the reason this temple is termed as ‘Saptangaprasad’ in ancient architecture.” This temple consists Murlidhara means Krishna with Radha and Rukmani. The statues of Vishnu Avtar on the outer wall of Temple and Gomukh; Ganesh temple o east side, sanctum sanctorum and many architectural elements could be seen. This temple is situated on National Highway No 6 in Pardi Village, Nagpur City . It is a must visit place in Nagpur who want divine peace.