It is like going back in the past and being enchanted by timeless idols. Definitely the land of eternity and artistic stone statues, Lock is situated on the banks of River Maniyarri near the village of America. Often identified as the Sangamgram described in the records of Makulas’ Panduwamisis, the lock is situated at the confluence of Shivnath and Maniyari river. The most famous for the Cedar-Jethanani Temples, the discovery of the locks in 1873-74 included J.D. Valgar did, who was an assistant to the archaeologist Alexander Cunningham.
Historians have claimed that the Tal village is from 7-8th Century AD. There is a temple of Dhum Nath in Sargaon near Taal. This temple has Shiva monument of Lord Kiri, and Malhar is only 18 km from here. The lock is the land of precious archaeological excavations, which has revealed the work of excellent sculpture.
Archaeologists and historians are fascinated with complexly carved stone carvings. These excellent excavations describe the prosperity of the lock during the 6th to 10th century AD. However, various excavated ruins were obtained and the sculpture-style tells us various dynasties who ruled in the lock and were the devotees of Lord Shiva and a preacher of Shiva religion.
Probably, this is the reason that Shiva devotees still find temples here to perform various rituals and to chant the sacred Mahamrityjaya mantra. Devotees of Lord Shiva give their prayers here and others also like to visit excavations. Taal is also home to various temples constructed by Nishad society, including Ram-Jaanki Temple, Swami Puranmand Mahajan Mandir and Goshala.
Jethani Temple – Dakshinabhumi This is devoted to Lord Shiva. The structure known as Bhagna has been exposed with excavation. But anyone can know about its geo-planning plan by looking at it. The garment is its garbage and the pavilion, which would enter the south, east and west direction to reach.
The main entrance to the temple was related to broad stairs, and the columns of big and thick pillars around it are scattered and this is the symbol of their symbols. Aquarius remains on the lower part of the column. On the upper part of the pillars, kumbh is depicted based on the reduction of the leaves, which is embellished with the lattavallari emanating from Kirtimukh.
The sanctuary part of the temple is very damaged and no hymns have been received from the upper summit part of the temple. Digdal has been built on the God or gorgeous terrace. The relic of the locked holy monuments is a unique example of Indian architecture. Maulikta of Chhattisgarh’s ethnic art has emerged in its stone khanda.
Rare Rudrasiva: Devarani-Jethani Temple is famous for Indian sculpture and art. During the 1987-88, a famous idol of ‘Lord Rudra’ from Lord Shiva appeared in the famous excavation at the Devarani temple. Shiv gives us a glimpse into the various colors of God’s personality.
In relation to Shaivism, this unique idol of Shiva is prepared using various beings. It appears that the sculptor has used every conceivable creature to be a part of his anatomy, from which Nag seems to be a favorite. Nobody can feel like the development of life on earth is taken as a theme for this creation. Coming in to various parts of our body, we may start slowly from the top down from the bottom.
One statue being addressed by the name of Rudrasiva is most important. This huge monolithic bivarious statue is standing in the Sambhangamudra and its height is 2.70 meters. This statue is a unique idol in the eyes of the scriptures. In it there have been many animals, humans or devukhs and lion faces as human organ.
The jataamukut (turban) of its head is made up of added snakes. It seems that the artist here was very dear to the serpent and jewelery because in the statue, rudrasiva cut, hands and fingers are shaped like a snake. Apart from this, on the upper part of the statue, each sapphire umbrella is displayed above the shoulders.
Similarly, the left leg is wrapped, it is a symbol of the snake serpent. In other organisms, peacock and ears and coil, eyebrows and nose are made of lizards, chunks of the mouth are made of crab and arms are out from Capricorn. Seven humans or Deokmukhs are built in different parts of the body, due to being unique as mentioned above, there is still a dispute about the true identity of this statue among the scholars.
Due to the lack of scientific depiction of any known form of Shiva, it is not universally accepted as a form of special form of Shiva. Based on the construction style, the antiquities of the lock can be kept in the vicinity of the sixth century AD.