The Samadishwara temple is one of the most unique and beautiful temples in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India. Chittorgarh is a living fort in the Western Indian state of Rajasthan. Chittorgarh is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed as, Hill Forts of Rajasthan. One of the notable features of the fort is the many beautiful temples that grace it. The Samadhisvara temple is an extraordinary temple with Shiva as the principal deity in the form of Trimurti. Though we have been to many mesmerizing Shiva temples like the Somnath temple in Gujarat, Patal Bhuvaneshwar temple in Uttarakhand, the incomplete Shiva temple in Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh, the Samadhishwar Temple amazed us with its beauty and aura.

Samadhishwara Temple | Samadhisvar Temple | Samadhishwar Temple

The Samadhishvara Temple, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva who is the destroyer aspect of the Hindu trinity of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple has a massive three-headed Shiva idol. This idol rises from the ground and almost covers the entire wall.

It may be noted that this Trimurti idol showcases three different demeanors of Shiva and is not to be confused with the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara.

The third eye of Shiva can be seen on all three heads. The face on the left has a fierce expression and is believed to portray the fearful Aghora aspect of Shiva. The central face seems to have an expression of sardonic humor while the face on the left is composed and has an aura of serenity. Six hands can be seen, one of the hands is raised in Sarpa Mudra, while the other hands hold different items associated with Shiva symbology that includes the Rudraksha, and the Matulunga fruit.

Visiting The Samadhishwara Temple (समिधेश्वर मन्दिर) in Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh is a living museum. It is full of monuments that tell stories of another time and era. Stories of the valor and victory of kings, of queens flinging themselves into flames to escape marauding armies. The fort also resonates with paeans to God in the many temples that lie strewn within the fort and these include beautiful Hindu temples as well as Jain temples.

After passing through a series of seven gates that secured the historic Chittorgarh Fort, we alighted to begin our exploration of the fort and its treasures. After visiting the small but enchanting Mirabai temple, where the 16th-century mystic poetess spent hours singing devotional hymns to Krishna, we reached the Vijay Stambh or Victory Tower which rises high into the skies.

We passed the tower and found the Samadhisvar Temple, barely a stone’s throw away. The Samadishwar temple stands opposite a vast and empty space that is enveloped in a halo of somber serenity, this empty space is believed to have been the place where the queens and their companions committed Jauhar, or self-immolation to escape capture and torture by advancing enemies.

The facade of the temple is really impressive with ornate pillars flanking the entry and beautifully carved outer walls. We felt that the external ornamentation of the temple was a reflection of the influence of Jain architecture. We were reminded of the Jain temples of Ranakpur and other Jain temples in India including those of Khajuraho.

The Samadishwara temple overlooks the famous Gaumukh Kund of the Chittorgarh Fort, which is located at the Gaumukha Tirthasthala, an ancient and sacred location within the Chittorgarh Fort.

The sanctum of the temple is found below ground level. The deity within the sanctum comes as a complete contrast to the elaborate and ornamental exteriors. You expect an elaborate and finely carved idol, but what you is a simple and somewhat primitive-looking three-headed idol of Shiva. But the size of the idol and the three faces of Shiva, that seem to exude a strange magnetic power, more than make up for the lack of artistic finesse.

History Of The Samadhishwara Temple

The history of the Samadhishvara Temple, Chittorgarh, goes back to the 11th century when it is believed the original temple was built by the Parmara king Bhoja. However, there is a theory that suggests that the temple pre-dates Bhoja. But it is generally agreed based on various inscriptions found in Chittor and other places that the original temple which was known as Tri-Bhuvana was built in the 11th century and was restored and enhanced many times over the next 5 centuries.

Some theories also believe that the original idol was that of Shiva with five faces and that this was destroyed in the aftermath of the siege of Chittorgarh by Allaudin Khalji at the beginning of the 14th century. The theory also goes on to say that in the 15th century a king named Maharana Mokal Singh restored the temple and had the current idol installed. Maharana Mokal Singh was none other than the father of one of the greatest rulers of Mewar, Rana Kumbha, after whom Kumbhalgarh is named. The Samadhishwara temple is hence also known as Smidheshwar Mahadev – Mokalji Temple, or simply Mokalji Temple. Locals refer to the temple as Mokalji Temple, Chittaurgarh, or even Smidheshwar Mahadev.

The reference to Samadhishvara is also found in inscriptions in many nearby temples as well as the Kirti Sthambh in Chittorgarh. Samadhiswara refers to the deity Shiva in a meditative posture.

The Architecture of Samadhishvara Temple, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan

One gets a feeling that the Samadishwara temple is a mosaic of different architectural and artistic styles spanning different centuries. In fact, the art historian R. Nath goes so far as to call it a patchwork! But whatever it may be, the unique aura of the temple is enchanting and it spins a web of magic around the visitor.

The temple is more or less built according to the Nagara style of architecture. It has three entrance porches that lead into the main hall. There is an ante-chamber followed by the Garbagriha in the east, where the three-headed Shiva idol is located. An open pavilion supported by four exquisitely carved pillars stands opposite the western entrance porch, the faithful Nandi can be seen here facing his beloved master, Shiva.

The Shikhara of the Samadhisvar temple rises to the skies above the garbagriha in empyrean glory. It is a composite Shikhara made up of levels of smaller shikhara that are termed as urushringas.

The outer walls have beautiful and elaborate carvings at different levels. Scenes from everyday life, celebrations, and processions, scenes of hunting can be seen depicted on the walls. In addition, divine beings and mythical creatures are also depicted. It is interesting to note the presence of symbology of Jainism too in these carvings. Also, some erotic couples too can be seen in the carvings on the outer walls.

How To Get To Temple of Samadhishwara, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India

• The Samadhishwar Temple is located within the Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan, India
• Chittorgarh is situated about 111 kilometers from the city of lakes, Udaipur
• Chittorgarh is about 316 kilometers from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan
• The nearest airport is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur at a distance of about 92 kilometers

If your interest is piqued and you are planning a trip to Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, India then you can book a cheap flight through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline right here. You can also exercise the option of flying to Udaipur or Jaipur and then from there you can travel to Chittorgarh by road. Road trips in Rajasthan are always a great way to travel, the options to reach Chittorgarh could be by self-drive car or cab or bus.

Samadhishwara Temple Video

List of Places To See In Chittorgarh

• Kumbha Shyam Temple
• Meera Temple
• Vijay Sthambh
• Kirti Sthambh
• Samadhisvar Temple
• Gaumukh Kund
• Padmini Palace
• Ratan Singh Palace
• Rana Kumbha Palace

There is much to see in Chittorgarh and beyond. In fact, Rajasthan is known for its gems of heritage, wildlife, and nature. Places like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Pushkar, Bikaner, and Udaipur are of course well known. Other places include Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Ranakpur, and Nathdwara among others.

You can plan your Chittorgarh itinerary and book your  Chittorgarh trips, right here.  So go ahead and book online places to see in Chittorgarh and popular activities in Chittorgarh and cover attractions in Chittorgarh.

Where To Stay When Visiting Temple of Samadhishwara, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India

We stayed at the Kukda Resort in Chittorgarh and found it decent and comfortable. There are not many good hotels in Chittorgarh. You can book this hotel or any other hotel in Chittorgarh or anywhere in Rajasthan or India, right here. through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best savings on booking your stay.

We hope you liked reading our Samadhishwara Temple blog and learning about the amazing and Colossal Trimurti at 11th Century A.D Samadhishwara Temple of Lord Shiva. For more from our travels do ensure to subscribe to our blog. We would love to hear from you, connect with us on our social media channels.

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