| Temples & Legends of Himachal Pradesh |
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| Temples & Legends Of India |
CHAMBA |
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influence of Mughal and Rajput art is not surprising in the sixteenth century; it
penetrated probably via Balaur which then had some control over Bhadrawah; the Tibetan
element is understandable in a frontier area where the Tibetan Lahulis venerate Mrikula
Devi as Do-rje-phag-mo (Sanskrit Vajravarahi)"Chamunda temple at Devi Kothi-Of the
other number-less village temples, mostly dedicated to Devi or Naga, the only one which
deserves a passing notice is that of Chamunda, at Devi Kothi, on account of the Mughal
influence manifest in its wood-carvings. It was built by Raja Umed Singh, A.D. 1754. The same influence is observable in some profane buildings of that period, e.g. the State Kothi at Brahmaur ascribed to Raja Prithi Singh, which was destroyed in the earthquake of the fourth April, 1905. Specimens of modern wood-carvings, as far removed from the old work in merit as in time, may be seen at Mindal, opposite Sach, on the temple of Chamunda (commonly called Mindal Devi) and on the little Naga temple near Kilar. The splendid temples and the antiquities in Chamba district could not have been possible but for some of the enlightened and religious rulers of Chamba. Chamba State was also lucky that it did not face the problem of a ruthless destruction by invaders or internal disruption. The brazen idols of Meru Varman nearly contemporaneous with the temple of Martand in Kashmir still stand in their ancient shrines of carved cedar wood. Some of the original copper-plate grants of the rulers are still preserved and produced by the descendants of the original donees. Like Rajatarangini in Kashmir Chamba State has its Vansavali which preserves a fair account of the rulers in a chronological order. Raja Meru Varman flourished near about A.D. 700. The earlier king Maru Varman could be described as the historical predecessor of Meru Varman and he founded the town of Brahmapura and made it the capital of the new State. Meru Varman extended the limits of the State by conquests. |
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