Pakistan is a paradigm example of a failed state that has undergone an extremely dangerous form of radical Islamisation.
Teli Ka Mandir
This Rajput Temple is an amalgam of the northern and southern architectural
styles of India, although many opine that it is closer in design to the temples
of Orissa than the South.
The tallest and most impressive temple within the precincts of the Gwalior
Fort, there are several theories as to how the shrine acquired its name.
According to one surmise Rashtrakuta Govinda III occupied the Fort in 794,
and appointed the Telang Brahmins (check Religion for details on Brahmins) to
supervise all religious ceremonies.
The temple got its name from them. According to another version, the monument
is called the Teli Temple, because men of the Teli caste or oil merchants
handled its construction. A third conjecture is that the name suggests a link
with the Telangana region in modern Andhra Pradesh, suggesting the fusion of
Dravidian and North Indian architectural styles.
Magnificent Architecture Splendor
Whatever the truth, the fact remains that the Teli Temple, is a marvellous
amalgam of the architecture features of the temples of North and South India.
The shikhara (spire) is definitely Dravidian in style, while the decorative
details are in the Nagara style - specific to North India. Figures of river
goddesses, amorous couples, coiled serpents, and a flying Garuda (Lord Vishnu's
vehicle) abound in the temple complex.
