Category:Siddhanatha Temple, Baijnath Himachal Pradesh

Sidhnath Temple, Baijnath 

13th century Shiva temple in Himachal Pradesh, India
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India
Maintained by	Archaeological Survey of India, Shimla circle
Heritage designation	Monument of National Importance
32° 03′ 01.26″ N, 76° 38′ 36.2″ E
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The Siddhanatha temple is one of two Shiva temples in Baijnath, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It should not be confused with Siddhanath Baijnath temple in Nepal.

Also spelled Sidhnath mandir of Baijnath, it is quite similar to the more famous Baijnath temple in Baijnath – both are Archaeological Survey of India protected national monuments. The two temples have a few important differences. The Baijnath temple faces west, while the Siddhanath temple faces east. The Siddhanath temple has five entrances compared to three for Baijnath temple. Two extra small doors flank the mandapa and open to the outer walls of the sanctum. Both temples feature niches and aedicules on the outer walls, which help affirm Hindu iconography prevalent in lower Himalayas before the arrival of the Delhi Sultanate. The Surya on 7-horse chariot artwork of the Siddhanatha temple is in the western niche – a relatively rare location in pre-14th century Hindu temples.

The Siddhanatha temple has a 1.5 square foot inscribed slab, but it is so eroded that it is difficult to read without the aid of modern era technologies. The script confirms that the Siddhanatha temple was built about the same time as the Baijnatha temple. Regional legends and literature attribute the two temples to two wealthy trader–merchant brothers of Kiragrama. The town of Kiragrama is same as modern era town of Baijnath, both Jain and Hindu texts mention Kiragrama.

This is a category about ASI monument number N-HP-18.