https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Daitya_Sudan_TempleDaitya Sudan Temple - Revision history2026-10-24T20:13:18ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Daitya_Sudan_Temple&diff=495349&oldid=prevSamyakk clothing: created a location.2024-02-06T20:47:32Z<p>created a location.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Infobox temple<br />
| image = Temple of Daitya Sudana-Lonar-Maharashtra.jpg<br />
| deity = [[Vishnu]] as Daitya Sudan<br />
| location = [[Buldhana district]], [[Maharashtra]]<br />
| coordinates = {{Coord|19|59|01|N|76|31|11|E|display=inline,title}}<br />
| country = India<br />
}}<br />
'''Daitya Sudan Temple''' is a temple near [[Lonar Lake]] in the Indian state of Maharashtra.<br />
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== History ==<br />
[[Henry Cousens]] dates the temple to the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th centuries CE. He is of the opinion that the construction of the temple was never completed due to invasions of the [[Delhi Sultanate]].<ref name=":1" /><br />
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== Legend ==<br />
The legend associated with the temple states that a giant named ''Lonasura'' (or ''Lavanasura'') used to reside in the area. The giant terrorized humans and animals, and threatened to overthrow even the gods. The gods then beseeched [[Vishnu]] to assist them, who took upon the form of a handsome youth in order to gain assistance of the giant's two sisters. He discovered the giant's underground dwelling, threw the lid open, and then slew the giant, burying him within the same pit wherein he used to reside. Therefore, the ''Daitya Sudan'' (giant-slayer) [[Avatar|incarnation]] of Vishnu is worshipped here.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nesarikar |first=Vidya |date=2023-09-11 |title=Mystery of the crater lake |url=https://www.thehindu.com/children/mystery-of-the-crater-lake/article67266105.ece |access-date=2024-01-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><br />
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The Lonar lake is supposed to be the pit within which the giant had resided, with its water representing his blood. A nearby hill is supposed to be the lid which Vishnu had thrown open.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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== Description ==<br />
[[File:Temple_of_Daitya_Sudana-Buldhana_district-Maharstra-DSC002.jpg|thumb|Sanctum with the principal deity Vishnu]]<br />
The [[Hemadpanthi]] temple has a plan in the shape of an irregular star. Towards the east is a flight of ten steps, which leads to the terrace, where the principal entrance is located.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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The temple is incomplete. A standing image of [[Surya]] occupies the niche at the back of the temple. This indicates that the temple might have been originally intended to be dedicated to Surya.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/buldanadistrict00nels/page/54/mode/2up |title=Central Provinces District Gazetteers: Buldana District |publisher=Baptist Mission Press |year=1910 |editor-last=Nelson |editor-first=A. E. |location=Calcutta |pages=54–56}}</ref><br />
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The doorway to the sanctum is carved elaborately with an image of [[Ganesha]] on its lintel. Within the sanctum is the idol of the principal deity Vishnu, in his four-armed form, holding a conch, a chakra, a club, and a man by the hair.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Cousens |first=Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.106946/page/n141/mode/2up |title=Lists Of Antiquarian Remains In The Central Provinces And Berar |publisher=Superintendent of Government Printing |year=1897 |location=Calcutta |pages=77–79}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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[[Category:Hindu temples in Maharashtra]]<br />
{{improve categories|date=January 2024}}</div>Samyakk clothing