10TH CENTURY TEMPLE THAKUR DWAR IN MORNI HILLS WAITING FOR ITS CONSERVATION

CHANDIGARH

The sculptures of the 10th century, cemented to a fix in-wall, placed in a shabby way, await restoration, and at least the attention from the local government. These are sculptures are related to the era of Pandav’s exile period. Thakur Dwar temple is said to be created by Pandavs while spending anonymity epoch after suffering 12 year-long exile period. Going by the localities, this temple is popular there with the name of Pandu Mandir but they never have seen any local government paying any heed to this temple, as this an archaeological site of historical importance.

River Ghaggar flows near the temple and there is shivlinga near the stairs of the compound. It is said that Bhima after devoting river water to Shivlinga, ascended the stairs and and worshipped Krishna here. The recent condition of the temple is deteriorating and sculptures of the 10th century are shabbily fixed over the wall with the help of cement.

An attendant named Bila, a relative of Pujari, says, “We call this temple as Pandav’s temple because Pandavs used to reside here, and the people of this locality often visit here during Diwali and Holi in throngs.”

Octogenerian Braj Kishore Singh, says, “My whole family kept coming here to worship old signs of Pandavs here, we did donate money to temple pujari to some extent, but no one from Government site tried to save this site. Some people have even stolen the sculptures from here. It is now we villagers who ensure that sculptures should not be stolen from this temple anymore.”

Zulfikar Ali, Archaeological Superintendent, Chandigarh Circle, said, “We have rare temple monuments in Haryana, there are some places that Haryana government is conserving. These sculptures are surely of somewhere around 10th century, we will certainly write to Haryana government on this and would seek all possible information on this before taking a visit to this site.”