Stone Temple Architecture of the Chindaka Nagvanshi of Bastar

Abstract

This paper examines the stone temple architecture of the Chindaka Nagvanshi dynasty, which ruled the Chakrakota region (present-day Bastar, Chhattisgarh) from approximately the 10th to the 14th centuries CE. The Chindaka Nagas, who traced their origins to Karnataka and established their capital at Barsur, created a distinctive architectural legacy that synthesized regional influences from Telangana, Odisha, and Maharashtra. Through an analysis of key surviving monuments—including the Chandraditya Temple at Barsur, the Bateesa Mahadev Temple, the Narayanpal Temple, and the Dholkal Ganesha—this paper argues that Chindaka Naga architecture represents a unique cultural crossroads where northern Nagara traditions, southern Bhumija styles, and indigenous artistic elements converged. The paper explores the dynastic context of these constructions, their architectural and artistic features, the epigraphic evidence that illuminates their history, and the challenges of preservation facing these 11th-century monuments. The architectural legacy of the Chindaka Nagas not only illuminates the cultural sophistication of this tribal-origin dynasty but also provides crucial evidence for understanding the complex patterns of cultural exchange that characterized medieval Central India.