>Rajivkrai: hyperlinked Bakhshali manuscript

2020-08-19T19:21:05Z

hyperlinked Bakhshali manuscript

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{{for|the temple in Orchha|Chaturbhuj Temple (Orchha)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Chaturbhuj temple, Gwalior
| image = Ancient structure.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Chaturbhuj temple entrance
| map_type = India #India Madhya Pradesh
| relief = yes
| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| coordinates = {{coord|26|13|50.8|N|78|10|12.1|E|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| district = [[Gwalior]]
| location = Gwalior Fort
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Vishnu]], others
| festivals =
| architecture_style = [[Hindu temple architecture|Nagara]]
| year_completed = 9th-century<ref name=asi355>[https://archive.org/stream/archaeologicalsu02arch#page/n442/mode/1up Sas-bahu Mandir], A Cunningham, pages 355</ref>
| creator =
| website =
}}
__NOTOC__
'''Chaturbhuj''' is a [[Hindu temple]] excavated in a rock face in the [[Gwalior Fort]], in c875 AD, by Alla, the son of Vaillabhatta, and the grandson of Nagarabhatta of the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty]], in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India.<ref name=asi355/><ref name=inscription>{{cite book |last1=BURGESS |first1=JAS ED. |title=EPIGRAPHIA INDICA VOL.1 |date=1882 |publisher=THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT,CALCUTTA |page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.15888/page/n174 154] |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.15888}}</ref>

One of the temples inscriptions contains the earliest known inscription of the circular symbol "O", to represent [[zero]], in India, though the [[Bakhshali manuscript]] is regarded as the earliest existent use of zero.<ref>https://www.livemint.com/Science/MSxVoPsCyzUQcvUMh10hDN/1800yearold-black-dot-in-Bakhshali-manuscript-is-first-z.html</ref> The inscription states, among other things, that the community planted a garden of 187 hastas by 270 hastas (1 hasta = 1.5 feet), that the garden yielded 50 garlands for the temple everyday. The last digits of 270 and 50 are "O" shaped. While Indian and non-Indian texts mention zero much earlier, this temple has the earliest known epigraphical evidence inscribed in stone that already knows and uses the concept of zero.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Syamal K. Sen|author2=Ravi P. Agarwal|title=Zero: A Landmark Discovery, the Dreadful Void, and the Ultimate Mind|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fwBaCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA43|year= 2015| publisher=Elsevier Science|isbn=978-0-12-804624-1|page=43}}</ref><ref name="Ifrah2000p400">{{cite book|author=Georges Ifrah|title=The Universal History of Numbers: From Prehistory to the Invention of the Computer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FMTI7rwevZcC|year= 2000|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0-471-39340-5|pages=400–402}}</ref><ref name="Kaplan1999p41">{{cite book|author=Robert Kaplan|title=The Nothing that Is: A Natural History of Zero|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bn0EBVsfi1YC|year=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-802945-8|pages=41–44}}</ref>

It is a relative small temple with a square plan of {{convert|12|ft}} side. The temple has a portico at its entrance supported by four carved pillars. The pillars show reliefs of individuals meditating in yoga asana position, as well as amorous couples. To the right of the portico is covered pillared mandapa, like a [[choultry]]. The doorway into the rock is flanked by goddess Ganga and Yamuna. The ceiling of the temple is a low square pyramid, similar to the Dhamnar temple. The tower (Shikhara) of the temple is North Indian Nagara style, that slowly curves with a square plan, all carved out of the monolithic rock. It has an inscription that opens with a praise for Vishnu ([[Vaishnavism]]), then Shiva ([[Shaivism]]) and nine Durgas (Shaktism), as well states that it was excavated in 876 CE (Samvat 933). Inside there is a wall relief of Varaha (Vishnu's man-boar avatar) and another of four armed Vishnu. It also a carving of goddess Lakshmi with four arms. The name of the temple may be derived from four armed Vishnu and Lakshmi.<ref name=asi355/><ref name="TitzeBruhn1998p101">{{cite book|author1=Kurt Titze|author2=Klaus Bruhn|title=Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-violence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=loQkEIf8z5wC&pg=PA101 |year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1534-6|pages=101–102}}</ref>

The temple is partially damaged, its tower has been restored, and much of the interior artwork is missing.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">
File:876 CE monolithic rock Chaturbhuj Hindu Temple Gwalior Fort, Zero Inscription 2.jpg|The temple, tower has been partially restored.
File:876 CE monolithic rock Chaturbhuj Hindu Temple Gwalior Fort, Zero Inscription.jpg|Outer walls of the temple are carved with Hindu deities.
File:876 CE monolithic rock Chaturbhuj Hindu Temple Gwalior Fort, Zero Inscription 3.jpg|Pillar carvings.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Siddhachal Caves]]
*[[Telika Mandir]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior}}
*[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-visit-the-worlds-oldest-zero-at-a-temple-in-india-2120286/ You Can Visit the World’s Oldest Zero at a Temple in India], Smithsonian magazine (shows the zero inscription)

{{Hindudharma}}
{{Hindu inscriptions and arts|state=autocollapse}}
{{Gwalior topics}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Gwalior]]
[[Category:Temples in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Gwalior]]

Chaturbhuj Temple, Gwalior - Revision history

>Rajivkrai: hyperlinked Bakhshali manuscript