Chandrehi

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (Retd.)

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10th-century temple of Shiva at Chandreh

Chandrehi (चन्द्रेही) is an ancient place in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh. Chandreh, also spelled Chandrehi or Chandrehe, is a village in Rampur Naikin block of Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh.

Location

Chandreh is village in Rampur Naikin tahsil of Sidhi district. Located near the confluence of the Son River and Banas Rivers. Chandreh is located 1.6 km east of the confluence of the Son and Banas rivers, and about 24 km southwest of Sidhi, the district headquarters. 

Variants

• Chandrehi (चन्द्रेही) (जिला रीवा, म.प्र.) (AS, p.320)
• Chandrehe (चन्द्रेहे)

History

It is known for its 10th-century Shiva temple and monastery.

The earliest evidence of human habitation at Chandreh consists of archaeological from the early and middle Neolithic period.  

In the 10th century, there was a wave of construction at Chandreh linked to the Shaivite sect known as the Mattamayūra. These include a temple to Shiva, an adjoining monastery (matha), and an irrigation tank and a well. An inscription in the monastery identifies it as being built (or completed) in March 973, on the orders of the Mattamayūra leader Prabodhashiva. The temple was constructed by Prabodhashiva's predecessor Prashantashiva sometime earlier in the century.

The temple is made of sandstone and has a rather unique design, featuring a high raised foundation, a chaitya-like floor plan, and a shikhara decorated with a gavaksha motif also reminiscent of chaityas. The monastery has two levels and is also made of sandstone.

Shiva temple and monastary in Chandreh

Shiva temple and monastery, Chandreh Rampur Naikin, Madhya Pradesh

The 10th-century Shiva temple and monastary in Chandreh village (near Shikarganj, Rampur Naikin) is close to the confluence of Son and Banas rivers in Baghelkhand region of northeast Madhya Pradesh. The Shiva temple of Chandreh is one of the rare examples of a historic circular plan Hindu temple in central India; such historic Hindu temples are far more common in Kerala and parts of Karnataka. of a Hindu temple with Gavaksha-patterned, perfectly circular sikhara that reminds one of a ultimate limit in the Sekhari style. of a 10th-century monument where hollow human-shaped figures were used for an aesthetic appeal as well as hydraulics and rainwater harvesting. The temple is also notable for being a part of Mattamayura sect of Shaiva monastic tradition whose temples and monasteries are found in Kadwaha, Rannod, and Survaya in north Madhya Pradesh. The Chandreh temple is relatively well preserved and stands on a high jagati (platform). The outside walls have artwork, but lack typical iconography, rather the simplicity here is quite similar to those found in 9th and 10th century Kalinjar fort temples. From a distance it appears simple and plain. The temple has a Sukhanasi, and it is here that most of the artwork is concentrated. Its plan is so circular that the mandapa and sikhara appear to be a yoni and Shiva-linga. The mandapa pillars and the sanctum doorway are also plain, yet mirror the style of pillars found in the monastery. The temple complex includes a two-storey monastery made from stone. The site has two Sanskrit inscriptions, and these help date this to 972 CE, attribute it to the Saiva Siddhanta Guru of the Chedi dynasty named Prabodha Shiva. The monastery does include original Hindu iconography such as Ganga, Yamuna, Ganesha and others – but in a minimalist style. The Chandreh temple and monastery is an unusual Hindu historic site.

Important center of the Mattamayura

Surwaya is a small town in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. It was an important center of the Mattamayura Shaiva sect and a monastery named Shankhamatha was established in the town during the eighth century CE. The Mattamayura sect was founded by Kadambaguhadhivasi at Kadwaya. His successor, Shankhadhipati, presided over Shankhamatha at Surwaya. While Kadwaya (ancient Kadambaguha) continued to be the main center of the Mattamayura sect but many branches of it soon came up at various locations, near and far, i.e. Surwaya, Terahi, Mahua, Ranod, Chandrehe, Gurgi, etc.

Monuments

• N-MP-266:Siva temple & Monastery, Chandrehi, District Sidhi.

चंद्रेही

चंद्रेही (AS, p.320) रीवा ज़िला, मध्य प्रदेश का ऐतिहासिक स्थान है। प्राचीन शैव विहार या मठ के अवशेषों के लिए यह स्थान उल्लेखनीय है। यहाँ निर्मित मंदिर छोटे वर्गाकार पत्थरों से बनाया गया था। मंदिर की ऊपरी सतह के प्रस्तरखंड कोनों पर से तड़क गए हैं, क्योंकि निर्माताओं ने पत्थरों को जोड़ते समय चिनाई के स्वाभाविक विस्तरण के लिए कोई स्थान नहीं छोड़ा था।

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