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Title
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Vishnupada Complex-Main Temple
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Brief history
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Temple dates to the early medieval period as testified by sculptures and remaining inscriptions within the shrine. The structure standing today was constructed in the 18th century. In 19th and 20th centuries temple has gone through repairs, evidenced by a number of marble sculptures and inscriptions on the floor of the mandapa.
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Local tradition
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Gaya shraddha, place of pindadana and darshan
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Structure
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Temple has a sanctum sanctorum with a main eastern entrance and additional northern entrance. Octagonal sanctum houses a well built around the stone of the mount, in which a footprint attributed to Vishnu can be seen. There are also 12 new marble images here. It is made entirely of granite stone. Just outside eastern entrance there are two niches on each side. Two on northern side are occupied (devotee in a panel and eroded image of Vishnu?), one on the southern side (Ganesha). There are two chambers on northern and southern flank of the eastern entrance. Chamber on northern flank contains a Shiva linga, a Durga image (38-40”) with a south Indian inscription and two small figures (12”) of Ganesh and uncertain figure. Southern chamber was locked and seemed not in use. Eastern entrance leads to a sabha mandapa with 36 pillars (each styled as four pillars) and a second story balcony over mandapa on north, south, and east sides. Rectangular mandapa has a small shrine of stone.
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Location
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Chand Chaura
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Geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude)
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24°46'38.42", 85°00'33.32"
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Approachs
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Through Chand Chaura or
north from Brahmasaror
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Airport
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Gaya
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Railway station
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Gaya
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Bus stand
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Gaya
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Topographical features
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Top of the Mundaprishta hill on the western bank of the Phalgu across from the Sita Kunda
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Building materials
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Brick
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stone
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marble
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Usage
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Active worship, pindadana and darshan
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Ownership
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Vishnupada Prabandhakarini Samiti Ilake Chaudahasaiya Gayapala; current head of committee is Shankaralala Pathak (Ghadiwala)
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Protection status
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Good, dispute between temple committee and religious board
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Conservation assessment
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Well-maintained
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Subject
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Hindu temples--India
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Omeka identifier
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sci-site18-02
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Present condition
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Well-maintained
