After years of neglect,Shiva temple in Dahod to get a facelift

About 14 km from Dahod,the Bavka temple,according to locals,was constructed by a devdasi (a temple dancer) in a single night. It was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni. Residents of the village say that several statues and carved stones have been stolen during these years

of neglect.

ASI had included the temple in the list of protected monuments more than 20 years ago. Despite that important parts of the temple,including carvings,have been either stolen or shattered.

ASI Superintendent Engineer (Vadodara Circle) Shivananda said: “The temple has one of the most beautiful panels of carvings on sex kriyas. In fact,such carvings are found in all the temples built during that era in India.”

“Earlier we had fenced the temple and also deployed a person to protect it. However,we would now like to take up the project to restore the temple and develop it as a tourist spot. It will be done in the current financial year,” he said.

The sole attendant J B Baria,who literally prays for the entire day since he has nothing else to do,says he eagerly awaits visitors so that he can at least talk to someone.

“They fenced the temple with the barbed wires and even constructed a small room for the staff who can stay there and protect the temple. But the room remains locked and the sole attendant leaves the temple by 6 pm everyday. The temple remains at the mercy of God only,” said Shankarbhai Jagabhai,a villager from Bavka.

“Nobody comes here except on Sundays. I don’t use the room constructed by our department as it is not safe to stay over there. I fear an attack and so I in the village,” says Bharia.

He adds,“Amazingly,whatever is sculpted here is actually happening all around. The middle panel in the temple depicts everything from homosexuality to lesbianism and group sex. The treta-yug has started as it has been depicted here by the sculptors. I spend my time reading and praying to God and whenever someone comes here I tell them about the history of the temple.”