785) Did you Know series (42): Part II: 1) Daitya Sudan Temple (depicting the legend of Vishnu slaying the demon Lonasur); 2) The Go-Mukh Temple (channeling the water flow of the Purna and the Penganga streams, which empty into the Lonar Crater lake); 3) Motha Hunuman Temple (Reclining Hanuman statue made by a meteorite Rock when the Meteor hit created the Lonar Crater Lake:

785) Did you Know series (42): Part II: 1) Daitya Sudan Temple (depicting the legend of Vishnu slaying the demon Lonasur); 2) The Go-Mukh Temple (channeling the water flow of the Purna and the Penganga streams, which empty into the Lonar Crater lake); 3)Motha Hunuman Temple (Reclining Hanuman statue made by a meteorite Rock when the Meteor hit created the Lonar Crater Lake:

For more interesting posts on the Lonar Crater Lake, please visit the following links:

1) Did you Know Series (42): (Part 1): A visit to the Lonar Meteor Impact Crater-Lake in Buldhana District, Maharashtra, only the second one of its kind in India, our visit to the Crater Lake on 12.07.2018

2) Did you Know Series (42): Part II: 1)n Daitya sudan Temple (depicting the legend of Vishnu slaying the demon Lonasur); 2) The Go-Mukh Temple (channelling the flow of the Purna and the Penganga streams, which empty into the Lonar Crater Lake) 3) Motha Hanuman Temple (Reclining Hanuman statue made of a meteorite rock:

3) A road trip to Lonar and Aurangabad (Revisited)

We found several temples , both alongside the Crater-lake and in the nearby village, that Lonar is dotted with, which have been erected over the ages, perhaps in a "primal reverence" to the meteor strike  from thousands of years ago, in the hope that the "Gods"(read "Natural Universal Forces") would be propitiated and another meteor strike would never occurs again in this area.

A religious legend has been added to the Meteor strike for good measure, which goes something like this -

A "Daitya" (demon) named Lonasur or Lavanasur was residing in this area along with his sisters, who terrorised the populace with his evil deeds. Lord Vishnu fought and killed the "Daitya" (Demon) Lonasur and their battle resulted in the creation of the Crater, hence the name Lonar was given to the Crater-lake. The legend further goes that the salty lake formed from the remnants of the Demon's flesh and blood.

To commemorate this victory of good over evil, the "Daitya Sudan" (meaning "Demon-killer") temple was erected to Lord Vishnu, whose idol graces the main temple. 

                      An image of the Daitya Sudan Temple

This temple was erected by the Chalukya Dynasty, which ruled Central and Southern India between the 6th and 12th Centuries AD, showing early forms of temple architecture.

There are also features of Hoysala Temple architecture (12-13th Centuries) seen in this temple, representing a later stage of development .in Temple architecture.

This temple suffered the depredations of several Muslim invasions, which were successfully staved off by the local rulers. We learnt from Archaeological Department personnel who were present at the temple site that, extensive damages to the temple and disfigurement of the idols, happened as a result of such attacks during various periods, particularly during the Delhi Sultanate. Repairs were carried out forthwith by the Hindu rulers of the day.

Consequently, later additions to  the temple are in the Hemadpanthi or Hemandpanthi style of architecture, 13th-14th Century (so named, after the Prime Minister Hemandpant -1259-1274 AD - of the Seuna Yadavs of Devagiri) and is built in the form of an "irregular multi-pronged star". It features carvings similar to those seen in the Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh. 

Another Temple in the Daitya Sudan Temple Complex

On one side is a mud wall, which shows several nests of Swifts

On another side is a make-shift wall of tightly placed stones

A statue of a horseman destroyed in the Muslim depredations

Remnants of an older temple in the Daitya Sudan Temple Complex, destroyed in the Muslim invasions

It is believed that the temple was originally dedicated to the Sun-God Surya, but was later transformed into a Vaishnav Temple of Lord Vishnu in his Daitya-Sudan "Avatar" (incarnation). 

The Lord Vishnu deity who presides over the temple standing on top of Lonasur

The Lord Vishnu deity in this temple is made of an ore with a high metal content that resembles stone. The ceiling of the temple has exquisite carvings. 

The exterior walls are also covered with carved figures.

The exterior walls are covered with carved figures, that exhibit an early form of Hindu Temple art-work that developed into the intricate art work of the Bateswar Temple Complex and the Khajuraho Temples both in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh

The intricately carved patterns are still intact over the centuries

The plinth of this temple is about 1.5 metres in height and the unfinished roof is indicative of an intended pyramidal form for the tower. The temple measures 105 feet long x 84.5 feet wide/broad. It is built in the form of a tree chamber, the inner most being the "Garbh Grah" ("Sanctum Sanctorum"), where the idol of Lord Vishnu stands atop Lonasur.

The second chamber is called "antari" where individual "pooja" ("worship") is performed. On the roof of this block one can see beautiful carvings of "Puranic legends" (Ancient "Indian scriptures"). One can see the legend of the killing of Lonasur by Lord Vishnu and the appearance of Dhar of Lonar, legend of "Kans" (Lord Krishna's uncle), stories of Narasimha and Hrinakashyap - all legends dedicated to the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

                     Sumita & Anuradha at the entrance gate
The sanctum Santorum of the Temple is the inner-most chamber (images below)

Around and above the stone door leading to the Lord Vishnu idol, one can see stories carved out intricately from the Puranic legends that extend upto the roof/ceiling

                  The outer-most chamber has large sturdy walls

A view from the outermost chamber of the second and inner-most chambers

The Entrance Gate from the outer-most chamber

A side gate (wooden) now in tatters gives an idea of the spacious corridor leading to the second chamber

The view from inside of the second and outer chambers

The outermost chamber is called  "Sabha-mandap" ("Congregation hall") where the devotees offered prayers and performances. This portion, as well as, the entrance gate does not match the style and construction of the temple proper. The brick-work was probably added in later repair-work/reconstructions.

                 The Sun-God sculpture at the back of the temple

 An image of the Chamunda Devi is seen in this niche facing South

   Another entrance door to the Temple is surrounded by intricately carved pillars with sculptures on them

The third niche facing North seen at extreme right of the stone work art of the Temple exhibits the image of the Narasimha (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu)

The main entrance of the temple is East facing. The principal niche at the back of the temple has an image of "Surya", the Sun God. The niche on the South has an image of Chamunda Devi. The one on the left of the temple towards the North has Narsimha ("Half-man-Half Lion" an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) on it. All three niches are built like mini-temples in themselves having elaborate pillars, bases and decorations.

The ridges on the temple exterior have different decorations, images having iconic and artistic significance, most of them depicting deities or incidents from the "Puranas"  (ancient Indian texts). Images of dancing "Apsaras", man individually fighting a lion with his sword, there were also an image of a woman fighting a lion with her sword et al. 

A Ganpati Temple inside the Daitya Sudan Temple Complex

Within the Daitya Sudan Temple Complex there was another stone carved temple with huge pillars. Here I talked to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) personnel one of whom was posted at the Complex and another was visiting. They told us that this temple contained idols of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva all made of  stone, of which the Vishnu idol was stolen. 

   A photo taken with the ASI staff outside the second temple gate 

We were permitted to enter the temple without taking any photographs and saw the idols of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and the third one was of Garuda, which had been placed as a replacement for the Lord Vishnu idol which had been stolen several centuries ago.

It is erroneously believed that the Vishnu idol in the Daitya Sudan Temple was stolen and was replaced by the present one. However, this is not the case. It was the Vishnu idol in the side temple in the Daitya Sudan Temple complex which was actually stolen.

2) Gomukh Temple:

The Gomukh ("Cow's Mouth") Temple is located along the rim of the crater. The water flow channels the streams of the Pemba and the Penganga rivers, which empty into/feed the Lonar Crater Lake.

A perennial stream of water emerges from a  Cow's mouth shaped water spout. Several pilgrims visit this temple daily and bathe in the stream. This temple is also called "Sita Nahani" Temple or "Dhara" Temple.

We located the Gomukh Temple after a little bit of searching, guided by the locals, who are very helpful to tourists/pilgrims:

                          The approach to the Gomukh Temple

The main temple is a large ancient structure The water spouts between the two rectangular structures in the centre of the lay-out (prominently marked in white in the two photos - above and below)

The water continues to flow further down as is seen in the photos above and below

The stone steps are a pathway to the temple below which ultimately lead to the Lonar Crater-lake

3) Motha Maruti (or the "large Hanuman") Temple:

We also visited the Motha Maruti Temple after asking for directions from the local residents. This temple is located near the Ambar Crater Lake and the idol is made of a rock which was a splinter taken from the Meteor that created the Lonar Crater.

                     The Motha Hanuman Temple entrance

The reclining idol of Lord Hanuman carved out of meteorite rock which is highly magnetic

The idol which was standing upright when the temple was built has since tilted over into a reclining position possibly because of the sheer weight of the meteorite rock. 

Sumita and Anuradha seeking the blessings of Lord Hanuman

                  A "Shivlinga" inside the Motha Hanuman temple 

There is a small lake at a distance of about 700 metres from this temple called "Chhota Lonar" (meaning "small or minor Lonar") or "Ambar Lake", the crater of which was formed by a splinter of the main meteor, when it struck the Earth.