The rudra mahalaya temple

The Rudra Mahalaya Temple, also known as Rudramal, is a destroyed/desecrated temple complex at Siddhpur in the Patan district of Gujarat, India. Its construction was started in 943 AD by Mularaja and completed in 1140 AD by Jayasimha Siddharaja, the rulers of the Chaulukya dynasty. The temple was destroyed by Alauddin Khalji, and later Ahmed Shah I (1410–44) desecrated and substantially demolished this temple, and also converted part of it into the congregational mosque (Jami Masjid) of the city. Two torans (porches) and four pillars of the former central structure still stand along with western part of the complex used as a congregational mosque.

Alternative namesRudra MalaGeneral informationStatusruinedLocationSiddhpur, Patan district, GujaratCountryIndiaCoordinates23°55′09″N 72°22′45″EConstruction started943 ADOpened1140 ADDestroyed1296 AD and 1414 ADTechnical detailsMaterialsand stoneFloor count2DesignationsASI Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-164 for temple/163 for mosque)Rudra Mahalaya Temple

Plan of Rudra Mahalaya temple with one fourth of the surrounding structures restored. Surviving structures are marked with red.

CultureSanctumRudraHistoryCreatorMularaja, Jayasimha Siddharaja and other Chaulukya kings

Siddhpur

Siddhpur, also spelled Sidhpur is a town and a municipality in Patan district in the Indianstate of Gujarat. It is a historical place located on the bank of Sarasvati River. Siddhpur is the headquarters of Siddhpur taluka.

Siddhpur was historically known as Sristhal, literally "a pious place".

The bard sings of it,

Tirath bhumipavan Siddhakshetra subhasar,
Nirmal nir vahe Sarasvati sada mokshko dwar, ... —

"A Tirtha, a place to make holy, is the good Siddha Kshetra,
Where flows Sarasvati's pure stream — ever beatitude's door.
A city three worlds to purify, by Siddhs ever note 4 worshipped,
Gods, Rishis, and men cherish the desire to live there.
And there dwell devas unnumbered, as a tirtharegarding it, —
Of Kasi, Gaya, Godavari, and all other tirthas, the best ;
Where Kardam and Dehuti lived, and Kapila was born.
Here is Bindusarovar's pure fount, and Matrugaya;
Applied to the bodies of men degraded and fallen, it washes their myriads of sins.
Here is Prachi Mahadev, whose renown by Veda and Purana is sung:
Of all Tirthas, the essence — it is named Kapilashram."