Roda Group of Temples

The Khed-Roda Group of Monuments include eighth-ninth century dated seven Hindu temples built during

Etymology

Roda literally means brick-bats in Gujarati. The site derived its name from these ruins containing brickbats and an old hamlet near the site.^[2][3] Khed Chandrani is a nearby village.

Archeological history

The site was not known to the early archeologists. It was first studied by P. A. Inamdar in 1926 followed by U. P. Shah and M. A. Dhaky in 1960s. Dhaky considered these monuments as the "great-grandfather" of the Solanki architecture of Gujarat, also known as Maru-Gurjara architecture.^[2][3][4]

Monuments

There are six temples at the site and the photographic record of seventh exists. All these temples are east facing.^[4]

The first two temples are reached by road. The first one is dedicated to Shiva (No. I) and the second is the Pakshi Mandir (No. II) which has no idols but carving of birds hence also known as the bird temple. Temple No. II is the smallest temple among the group. Further 500 metres, there is a large rectangular Ladushah kund (stepped reservoir) which may had elaborately carved shrines, one on each of its four corners formerly. Of these, two shrines (No. III and V) are surviving which are dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu respectively and the base of the third (No. IV) is still between these two. Other two lost shrines may have been dedicated to Goddess and Surya. Across the stream, there is another shrine which has Navagraha depicted on its doorframe so it is known as the Navagraha temple (No. VI). Some steps away, there is a ruined temple (No. VII) which is the largest temple among the group. There are stone steps near the temple No. VII leading to the river but are in dilapidated condition. It has an image of Ganesha so it is known as the Ganesha temple and also known as the Shiva temple. These temples were damaged in 2001 earthquake but were restored later. No mortar like fixing material is used for the construction of these temples and the lower parts of these temples are held together by the weight of the spires.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

The sculptures collected from the site are now housed at the

The Nagrani Vav (stepwell) is located at the entrance of nearby Khed Chandarani village.[2]^[4][7]

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  Shiva Temple (No. I) and Pakshi Mandir (No. II)
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  Shiva Temple (No. I)
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  Doorframe of Pakshi Mandir (No. II) and carvings of birds inside
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  Temple No. III and V
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  Temple No. III, V and Ladushah Kund
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  Surviving base Temple No. VI
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  Navagraha Temple (No. VI)
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  Shiva Temple (No. VII)
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  Pillar from the site now at Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery
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  sculpture of Surya at Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery

Architecture

These temples are classified under the Anarta School of Maha-Gurjara tradition of temple construction. It is the largest group of such styled temples.^[8][9]

The Temple No. I is nirandhara shrine with bi-partite offset (dwi-anga) plan configuration. It is situated on east-facing jagati (plinth). The entrance mandapa is of prag-griva style with four pillars. The inner sanctum is square. The plinth has moldings of bhita and pattika. The circumvention path (pradakshina) is provided by space on the plinth. The outer walls of the shrine is devoid of ornamentation. The mandapa has phansana (pyramidal superstructure with decreasing number of mouldings) type roof and the latina type spire over the main shrine has elaborate bold jala pattern carvings.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Group of temples, Khed and Roda.

The site is inscribed as the Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-176) and is maintained by Vadodara Circle of