22.HAYAGRIVA MADHAVA TEMPLE, HAJO

This graceful and famous vaisnava shrine of Hajo dedicated to Lord Visnu is popularly known as Hayagriva Madhava. Standing on an isolated hill, popularly known as Manikut Parvat, this temple was rebuilt in CE 1583 by Koch king Raghudeva (CE 1581- 1603), over the foundation of the ancient temple ruins of 10th- 11th century CE, as reflected in the plinth through mouldings of friezes of elephants(Gajatharas) and geometrical designs of low relief in the basement. The layout of the temple follows the original salient features and recesses of the earler plan. The Nagara Sikhara of the temple is gracefully executed with the sculptures of various divinities of the Brahmanical pantheon over the garbhagriha and the flat roof of mandapa is connected through an antarala. The doorway of the mandapa is arched and its roof is supported by four massive pillars on the four corners.