The Vishnupad Temple, located in Gaya, Bihar, India, is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Bhagavan Vishnu, where the holy feet of Vishnu are worshipped. The temple has a rich history that spans centuries. The original construction date of the temple remains unknown, shrouded in the mists of time, with history suggesting that Bhagavan Sri Rama and Sita visited the site during the Ramayana period. The present-day structure, however, was rebuilt by the illustrious Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, in 1787. This reconstruction was a monumental effort, with Ahilyabai Holkar personally overseeing the project and sending her officers to find the best stone for the temple. After an extensive search, they chose munger black stone from Jaynagar, a town known for its quality stone. The logistical challenges of transporting the stone to Gaya led the officers to discover a suitable mountain near Bathani, a small village in the Gaya district. Craftsmen from Rajasthan were brought in...

History of bronze sculpture in India is traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization (2500 BC – 1700 BC). Hindus should be aware of this because it is a matter of pride that our ancestors had such great knowledge. A dancing girl, buffalo and miniature dog are the earliest specimens of Indian Bronzes. They were discovered during the excavations conducted at the archaeological site of Mohenjodaro – the most important Indus Valley site along with Harappa and Lothal . The bronze sculptures of Indus Valley Civilization were produced by the lost-wax (cire perdue) process. They were created in small open kilns. Furnaces, crucibles and moulds were unearthed by archeologists at Mohenjodaro and Lothal. The Dancing Girl A nude female statuette from Mohenjodaro called the dancing girl is a classic example of the bronze sculptures produced in ancient India using the lost-wax method. The statue is that of a dancer and has an air of vibrant liveliness. It is 11 cm high, and stands...

Badami is today famous for its cave temples and Hindu sculptures. Badami was the capital of western Chalukyans. It is a prehistoric site and was also known as Badavi and Vatapi. Here is a brief look at the Hindu and Mulsim rulers of Badami. Ptolemy had referred to Badami as Badiamaioi. Badami was an important center for Chalukyas starting from 5 th century. The fort of Badami was built by Chalukya Pulakeshi I in 543 CE. The Badami caves were excavated between the 6 th and 8 th century CE. The Jambulinga Temple was built in 699 CE. After the Chalukyas, Badami was  ruled by Pallavas (8 th century) Rashtrakutas Later Chalukyas and Vijayanagara Kings This marks the end of the Hindu rulers for a long period. Badami was then ruled by Adil Shahis Svanaur Nawabs They were overpowered by Hindu Marathas. Then under the British Rule it was included in the Bombay Presidency. After the reorganization of states in India, it became a part of K...