Category:Ekla temple, Kadwaya

Ekla temple, Kadwaya 

c. 9th century Hindu temple
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Madhya Pradesh, India
24° 57′ 45″ N, 77° 54′ 43.4″ E
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The Ekla temple is a c. 8th to 9th century Hindu temple ruin on the west side of Kadwaha village in Madhya Pradesh. It was dedicated to Vishnu. It stands on a jagati (platform) and faces east. The temple has a tri-ratha plan and was likely a larger temple complex. However, the only ruin that survives here is the garbhagriha of the Ekla temple.

This temple is one of the rare examples of a Hindu temple that has artwork inside the sanctum. Typically, the sanctum of Hindu temple has plain walls, without any secondary artwork, where the devotee can focus on the spiritual symbol, pray and make his or her offering. In the Ekla temple, along with the space for Vishnu's pratima (missing), there are two panels – one of Yashoda nursing Krishna, and second of Vishnu lying over Shesha. Both these artwork were mutilated at some point of this temple's history. In the modern era, the sanctum was reclaimed by the regional Hindus with a Shiva linga.

The outer wall artwork includes all major traditions of Hinduism. Notably and relatively uncommon in Hindu temples, in the Ekla temple's outer walls, the kama-mithuna scenes and amorous couples are placed above the band of deities.

On the doorway, the lalitabimba shows Vishnu with a bearded Garuda. The lintel also includes Saptamatrikas and Navagrahas. The architrave has eleven damaged images, which are likely the Rudras.