The Siva temple known as Kakanmath at Suhaniya (ancient simhapaniya) in District Morena, recorded to have been built by Kachchhapaghata ruler Kirttiraja (A.D. 1015-1035), is a magnificent edifice even in its ruins and is remarkable for its sculptural wealth. Standing on a lofty ornate pitha and originally surrounded by subsidiary shrines, the temple comprises on plan a sanctum enclosed by an ambulatory with three transepts, antarala, hypostyle gudhamandapa with lateral transepts, and a mukhamandapa approached from the east by stairs. The antarala has a single transverse row of four pillars while the gudhamandapa has four clusters, each of four pillars, arranged in four rows in alignment with those of the antarala. The sanctum doorway has seven sakhas which include a large number of deities between two mithunasakhas. The sikhara, shorn of most of its ornamental veneering stones, is about 30 m high. of the mandapa roof only the upper storey of its central part crowned by a bell member has survived. The temple is notable for its precise (C.A.D. 1015-1035) date and grand dimension combined with the rich quality and variety of sculptures.
More