Meera Temple Chittorgarh

At a distance of 350 m from Kumbha Palace and 6 km from Chittorgarh Railway Station, Kumbha Shyam Temple is a Hindu temple situated inside Chittorgarh Fort. It is among the popular temples in Chittorgarh Fort Complex and also one of the top places to visit in Chittorgarh. Kumbha Shyam Temple was built by Rana Kumbha in 1448 AD. The temple is dedicated to Varaha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Though there is also a Kali Mata temple and Meerabai Temple in the same premise but the Kumbha Shyam temple is dominating in size. This temple is the place where Meera used to worship Lord Krishna, and Bhakti movement originated at this place.

The temple built in Indo Aryan style presents a compact architecture. The temple has a unique pyramid like roof with a high tower. The temple is placed on an elevated plinth. The temple has an open pradakshinapath, ardha-mandapa, main mandapa, antarala and garbhagriha. The sculptures of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses inside the temple are fascinating. The sculptures of eight rulers of the land are also present in the temple. The image of Garuda stands under the canopy facing the temple.

Meera Temple, situated in the same complex, was dedicated to bakthi poetess Meerabai. The temple was also constructed during the rule of Maharana Kumbha, the Rajput king. The temple was constructed in the Rajput architecture. The dome of the temple is embellished with a structure of 5 human bodies with a single head. The human bodies symbolize the four castes of the Hindu religion or the Varnas and the 5th caste of the Harijan. The single head symbolizes the faith in God, who can be equally realized by all. Above the chief sanctum rises the conical roof of the temple. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple comprises of the paintings of Lord Krishna. Paintings of Meerabai offering prayers to the Lord are also placed in the inner sanctum. The small chhatri found in the temple's forecourt is dedicated to the mentor of Meerabai, Swami Ravidas. He hailed from Varanasi and belonged to the Harijan caste.

Importance of visit to Meera temple

The visit to the Meera temple is always an enriching experience. The visit to the temple will not only be a visit to the pilgrimage spot. It will also make you aware of Meera Bai. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. You will also come to know about the religious belief that says Krishna drank the poison himself to save Meera Bai. That is the reason why his body turned blue. You will also come to know that Meera Bai dedicated his entire life to Lord Krishna. This religious belief attached to the temple attracts a large number of devotees.

The Meera temple Chittorgarh was built during Rana Kumbha's reign. He was the one who patronized the temple. It is a perfect temple located in a place that has a deep rooted association with the rich history of Rajasthan. Though most of the tourists visiting the place are attracted by its rich history but presence of this famous temple adds a new dimension to Chittorgarh tour packages.

The architecture of the temple is also something to look for. The splendid architecture of the temple is also one of the reasons for it being a famous temple in Chittorgarh. On visiting the temple, you will be able to see the carved statue of the five human bodies and one head. This statue is a manifestation of the fact that there is no division on the basis of caste and creed. The temple located in the premises of Kumbha Shyam will also make you aware of Indo Aryan style architecture. The temple is also very close to the Fateh Prakash Palace. While visiting either of them, you can easily pay a visit to the other one.
The visit to the Meera tempe will also let you know about various significant historical facts. You will learn Rajput's inclination towards Hinduism. Moreover, it will also reveal the fact that this is the only temple which escaped the seize by Alauddin Khilji during the 16th century.

Monuments in Chittorgarh

Monuments in Chittorgarh resonates with stories of Rajputana bravery, pride and passion. The bards of Rajasthan sing tales of courage and sacrifice recounting stories that are known to every child and adult in the city. Chittorgarh is named after its most imposing structure, the Chittorgarh Fort which stands atop a 180 metre high hill and is spread across 700 acres. Chittorgarh Fort has had a tumultuous past. This bastion of the Rajputs has faced violent attacks thrice in its entire history. The first was in 1303 when the Sultan of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khilji, who was enamoured by Queen Padmini, launched an attack to abduct her. More than two centuries later, in 1533, it was Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, who caused immense destruction. Four decades later, in 1568, Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked and seized the fort. It was finally in 1616, under the rule of Mughal Emperor Jahangir that the fort was returned to the Rajputs.