Heritage Gwalior - 11th Century - Kakanmath

An abhilekh from Sahastrabahu Temple reflects that Suhoniya in district Morena, known as Sihoniya today, 80kms from Gwalior, was the capital of Kachhwaha, or Kushwahas. The Kachhwaha kingdom was established in the 11th century between 1015 to 1035 A.D. The Kachhwaha king Kirtiraj got a "Shiv Temple erected at Sihoniya”. This temple is known as the "Kakan Math".

It is said that Kakanmath was built by king KirtiRaj to fulfill the wishes of his Queen Kakanwati. It is 115 ft. high , built in the Khajuraho style and stands really tall amidst far stretched mustard fields.

The temple which looks like it is about to fall, when viewed from a distance, gets more and more sturdy and amazing as you get closer.

It has some of most beautiful statues carved on its exterior walls, with dancing, joyful figures, along with various Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

The extraordinary temple and the stories around it live in folk lore even today and even though it stands quietly away from the lives of people, it still commands the imagination of the villagers who live close by and they are always willing to tell you a story or two about it, even dating as back as Pandavas of mythology.

The inside is surprisingly stark and void of anything except a simple Shiva lingam of normal proportions, quite opposite the architectural refinement it has outside and the grandeur of scale in the pillared pavilion - mandapa. This kind of reflects how from an outside world of various stimulations you would enter the inner world of peace, solitude and calm.

I felt a very strong feeling of spirituality when I was there, just sitting quietly, enjoying the silence in which the temple and its surroundings are wrapped, and experiencing the feel of that ancient temple, being there for such a long time and having  gathered energies of a place of worship by millions of souls over a million years. Time stand still at Kakanmath.