Bhimakali temple in Sarakhan as cultural dominant of Western Himalaya

Abstract

The article is devoted to the description and brief analysis of the history, architectural features and the religious content of the temple in the town of Sarakhan, Himachal Pradesh (India), dedicated to the goddess Bhimakali. This is one of the largest cultural and religious centers of the Western Himalaya as well as a bright example of the traditional Hindu architecture of this region. The authors set the goal to introduce new material into the Russian scientific sphere, as this temple was not described in Russian-language historiography and art history. The article gives an architectural description of the temple, its role in the context of development of Bushar principality, its religious functions are considered in connection with the image of the goddess to whom it is dedicated. Besides, the authors pay attention to the aesthetic and semantic aspects of the wooden carvings that adorn the temple. The study confirms the highest importance of the temple as the unifying center of Himalayan Hinduism.