Kakanmath Temple, Sihoniya

Kirttiraja ruled about 1015–1035 CE, which places the temple in the early 11th century. The origin of the name is uncertain. A folk story connects it with a queen named Kakanavati or Kakanade, and MP Tourism and the Chambal Division page repeat a version in which the king built the temple at his queen's wish. Wikipedia notes that the historicity of this story is doubtful and that the name may instead come from kanak (gold) and math (shrine).

The site was originally a complex of a central temple with four subsidiary shrines at the corners. Only the main temple survives, and it has lost its outer walls, its balconies and part of its spire, damage that Wikipedia suggests was probably caused by an earthquake. Two later inscriptions on its pillars record its continued use. One, dated 1393–94 CE, records a renovation of the Mahadeva temple by one Durgaprasada. The other, of 1440–41 CE, records a pilgrim's visit during the reign of the Tomara ruler Dungara of Gwalior.

Many of the temple's sculptures have been taken to Gwalior for safe keeping. These include the two large lions that once flanked the entrance steps, which now stand at the entrance of the Archaeological Museum, Gwalior.

Architecture and sacred features

The temple stands on an ornate base (pitha) and faces east. It is laid out as a sanctum with a passage for circumambulation, a vestibule (antarala), a closed hall (gudha-mandapa) and an entrance porch (mukha-mandapa) reached by steps. The closed hall has side transepts and four clusters of four pillars each. The four vestibule pillars line up with them. MP Tourism notes that the sanctum doorway is carved in seven bands with deities and celestial couples.

The spire (shikhara) over the sanctum is described by the Chambal Division page as being in the Khajuraho style. Wikipedia and MP Tourism give its present height as about 30 m, while the Chambal Division page gives 35 m. Much of its original carved surface is now missing, according to MP Tourism.