Category:Tapasi Matha, Bilhari

Tapasi Matha, Bilhari 

A Hindu monastery with temple, modified in 17th to 18th century with Bundela architecture
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Instance of	monastery
Location	India
23° 47′ 31.9″ N, 80° 16′ 17.8″ E
Authority file  Q115769253 Reasonator Scholia Wikidocumentaries PetScan statistics WikiMap Locator tool KML file WikiShootMe OpenStreetMap Search depicted

The Tapasi matha is a Shaiva tradition Hindu monastery that was active between the 9th and 12th century. It was fortified with walls and Bundela-Maratha style reconstruction during the regional Hindu-Muslim wars. The site includes a two-storey Maratha-style Shiva temple, a large pillared mandapa, a step well, a ruined storage room, ruins of a monastery kitchen. In the modern era, the large pillared mandapa has been converted into a storage room and part museum. It stores numerous damaged sculptures, inscribed stones, and temple parts found in Bilhari area Hindu and Jain temples (c. 9th to 12th century). A few items of artwork have been placed outside to serve tourists. Entry to the storage is not open to public and requires special ASI permission.

Outside the modern era Tapasi matha compound are many ruins of small temples and chattris with vegetation overgrowing them. A group of three temples are farther away to the south, near the Higher Secondary school. Two of these are Hindu temples, one is Jain temple. They stand on a platform, have toranas, and feature Bendela-style architecture. The notable feature of one of the Hindu temple is the circular plan of its sanctum. The group of three temples in Bilhari are likely from the 17th to 18th-century.