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{{Distinguish|Chaubara Dera No. 2}}

{{infobox temple
| image = 0102221 Chaubara Dera 1 temple, Un Madhya Pradesh 017.jpg
| location = Un, [[Madhya Pradesh]]
}}
'''Chaubara Dera No. 1''', otherwise simply known as the '''Chaubara Dera Temple''', is a temple in the village of Un, in the Indian state of [[Madhya Pradesh]]. It is the largest of a cluster of ruined temples in the village.

The original name of the temple has been lost. The ''[[shikhara]]'' is completely destroyed, and the main deity within the sanctum has also been lost. Due to a large amount of Shaivite imagery present within the temple, it is assumed that this was probably a [[Shiva]] temple.

==History==
[[File:Chaubara Dera No. 1.png|thumb|Chaubara Dera No. 1, c. 1920]]
[[File:Interior of Chaubara Dera No. 1.png|thumb|Interior]]
The date of the temple's construction is not known. Due to the inscription within the temple which mentions [[Udayaditya]] (r. 1070–1093 CE), some ascribe its construction to him. However, Adhikari ascribes its construction to [[Bhoja]] (r. 1010–1055 CE).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Adhikari |first=Swati Mandal |title=Un: A village of temples |pages=118 |chapter=Chronology of Un Temples |chapter-url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8443/jspui/bitstream/10603/156669/16/16_chapter%2012.pdf}}</ref>

However, from the inscription, it becomes clear that the temple was a center of learning and religious importance during the [[Paramara dynasty|Paramara]] period.{{Sfn|Adhikari|2001|p=989}} Subsequently, it was abandoned, albeit remaining well preserved. The main sanctum of this temple was pulled down by a contractor sometime in the early 20th century, for the rubble to be utilized in other constructions.<ref name=":0" />

The group was temples in Un was brought to scholarly attention in the 20th century, with a 1919 report by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] publishing a description as well as photographs of the temples. The locals had named the temple ''Chaubara Dera'' (lit. four-sided camp), and it is generally referred to as "Chaubara Dera No. 1" in sources to avoid confusion with another temple nearby with the same name.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |url=https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/6628.pdf |title=Progress Report of the Archaeological Survey of India, Western Circle, for the year ending 31st March 1919 |publisher=Government Central Press |year=1920 |location=Bombay |page=62}}</ref>

==Description==
Chaubara Dera No. 1 is the largest of a cluster of ruined temples in the village. It is built out of local sandstone in dry masonry.{{sfn|Adhikari|2001|pp=986}} The temple building faces east, with entrance through the main porch on the eastern side. Two smaller porches are provided to the sides. The temple consists of a square ''[[mandapa]]'' (pillared hall), a rectangular ''[[antarala]]'' (ante-chamber), and a square ''[[garbhagriha]]'' (sanctum).{{sfn|Adhikari|2001|pp=987}}

On the same platform is another, smaller temple.

===Porch===
The porch is supported by two pillars. These have a square base and lower shaft, with the upper shafts being octagonal. They display geometric and floral patterns.

===Pillared Hall===
[[File:0102221 Chaubara Dera 1 temple, Un Madhya Pradesh 073.jpg|thumb|Pillars of the mandapa]]
The main porch as well as the smaller porches lead into a square ''[[mandapa]]'' (pillared hall). On the lintel of the door leading from the main porch to the pillared hall, Shiva, along with seven mothers, is represented.

Four pillars of the mandapa support four lintels, which in turn support the domed roof of the hall. The domed roof is elaborately decorated, in a manner similar to the [[Dilwara Temples]]. Other adornments to the roof of the hall, apart from the dome, are in the form of small pendentives.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dhariwal |first=L. C. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.127534 |title=The Indore State Gazetteer (Revised And Enlarged) |date=1931 |publisher=Superintendent Holkar Government Press |volume=II: Archaeology |location=Indore |pages=68}}</ref>

The base and lower portion of the shaft are square, with the upper portions of the shaft being circular. These four pillars are elaborately carved. All four faces of the base of each pillar contain carved images of seated gods and goddesses. Above the base, in the four faces of the lower shaft, are images of ''[[apsara]]s''. Further above are six rows, of which five contain the figures of gods and goddesses, while the top row displays dancers and musicians.{{sfn|Adhikari|2001|pp=988}}

===Ante-chamber===
[[File:0102221 Chaubara Dera 1 temple, Un Madhya Pradesh 065.jpg|thumb|The elaborately carved entrance to the ante-chamber]]
In the lintel of the entrance of the ante-chamber there are images of [[Ganesha]], [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], [[Vishnu]], and [[Saraswati]] in niches.

====Inscriptions====
In the walls of the ante-chamber are three inscriptions. The first of these is an alphabetical chart. The second mentions the [[Paramara dynasty|Paramara]] king [[Udayaditya]]. The third contains Sanskrit grammatical rules.

===Sanctum===
The sanctum has been destroyed. Among the surviving part of the sanctum are some scenes from the Kama Sutra. The main deity present within has been lost.

===Smaller temple===
In the northwest corner of the temple, a smaller temple is situated.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite journal |last=Adhikari |first=Swati Mandal |date=2001 |title=The Chaubara Dera Temple at Un in Madhya Pradesh |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44155838 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=62 |pages=986–997 |jstor=44155838 |issn=2249-1937}}

{{Commons category|Chaubara Dera 1, Un}}{{Group of temples at Un, Madhya Pradesh}}

{{coord|21.82171|75.45458|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}

[[Category:Temples in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Madhya Pradesh]]

Chaubara Dera No. 1 - Revision history

Thechhavigarg: created new entry.