The Trivikrama Temple, also named Ter Temple, is a temple of Vamana (an incarnation of Vishnu) in Ter, Maharashtra. Henry Cousens, followed by most later writers, believed that it was originally a Buddhist temple, however in 1957 M. S. Mate disputed this view.[1]

The temple is original in that it was initially based on a free-standing apsidal structure, now located at the back of the building, which is characteristic of early Buddhist apsidal caityagriha designs.[2] The apsidal structure seems to be contemporary to the great apsidal temple found in Sirkap, Taxila, which is dated to 30 BCE-50 CE.[2] It would have been built under the Satavahanas, in the 2nd or 3rd century CE.[3]

The external flat-roofed mandapa structure is probably only an addition from the 6th century CE, when the temple was converted into a Hindu temple.[2] A stone image of Trivikrama probably dates to the early Chalukyas.[3]

The front of the apsidal temple is decorated with a chaitya-arch, similar to those found in Buddhist rock-cut architecture.[2]

Another known Hindu temple constructed in a Chaitya-style, is the Pallava period Kapoteswara temple at Chezarla in Guntur district. The legend behind the deity Kapoteswara is the story of Sibi in Mahabharata which also occurs in Sibi Jataka[4]

The Trivikrama Temple is considered as the oldest standing structure in Maharashtra.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ THE TRIVIKRAM TEMPLE AT TER, M. S. Mate, Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Vol. 18, TARAPOREWALA MEMORIAL VOLUME (January 1957), pp. 1-4
  2. ^ a b c d Le, Huu Phuoc (2010). Buddhist Architecture. Grafikol. p. 237. ISBN 9780984404308.
  3. ^ a b c Michell, George (2013). Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites & Museums. Roli Books Private Limited. p. 142. ISBN 9788174369031.
  4. ^ Ahir, D. C. (1992). Buddhism in South India. South Asia Books. p. 72. ISBN 9788170303329.
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