Manduk Mandir, translated as Frog Temple, is famous Tantric
temple located at Oel in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. The sanctum
sanctorum of the temple is located atop a yantra on the back of a frog
sculpture as per Tantric rules. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and a shivling
is worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum.
Legend has it that the temple changed the luck of a king of
Neemrana dynasty. The temple was built by the former king of Oel State around
1870 AD.
This temple is built at the back of a large frog in the area
18 x 25 sqr.mtr. It is constructed between an octahedral lotus.
The temple attracts thousands of devotees during Diwali,
Shivratri and Mondays in Shravan month.
In Tantrism frog is a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
The spirit and architecture of the tantric temple brings good luck to the
devotee.
Manduk mandir is a massive edifice with a seven-tier finial.
The temple has an unusual architecture and even more unusual sculptures. The
outer wall is studded with sculptures of tantric and Hindu gods and goddesses
while the inner walls are embellished with multi-color paintings done in
vegetable colors. The carved figures on the finial, rising more than 100 feet
from ground is topped by Shiva and Shakti, are exquisite.
Mother Goddess Shakti is everywhere in the temple right from
the finial to the outside wall and onto the inside of the temple. All the 10
Mahavidyas can be seen in the temple. Chinnamasta form of Goddess is depicted
on one of the temple walls here and this is highly unusual.
The exterior of the temple wall is studded with sculptures
of gods and goddess from Hindu pantheon. The sculptures are set in niches
decorated with exquisite floral work. Another unusual feature is the presence
of four towers built on four corners with sculptures on the exterior and
vegetable color paintings on the inner walls.