Sacred Keval Nrsinh / Rudra Nrsinh Temple, Mahakavi Kalidas Smarak Ramtek Tekadi, Ramtek, Nagpur

The Keval Narasimha Temple is located a short distance from the religiously and historically renowned Ramtek temple on Ramtek Hill in the Nagpur district. This is considered one of the most ancient yet well-preserved temples in Maharashtra. An inscription found here dates the construction of the temple to between 420 and 450 AD, giving it a history of approximately 1,500 years. Adjacent to the temple stands the grand memorial of the great poet Kalidasa, who is believed to have composed his classical masterpiece, ‘Meghaduta’, at this very site.

The Vakatakas, who were related by marriage to the Gupta Empire—often regarded as the Golden Age of India—made invaluable contributions to the art, literature, and architecture of Maharashtra. Since the early medieval period, Vidarbha has remained a central hub for religious, cultural, political, and architectural significance. The triad of Ramtek, Mansar, and Nagardhan is rich with the footprints of history. There are many historical references regarding the antiquity of Ramtek. Although there are many places named Ramgiri in the country, it has been proven with evidence that the ‘Ramgiri’ described by Mahakavi Kalidasa in ‘Meghaduta’ is indeed Ramtek.

Many structures ranging from the Vakataka period to the Maratha era remain in good condition here today. The Vakatakas played a major role in the rise of Narasimha worship in Maharashtra. The Keval Narasimha Temple, located on the high hill of Ramtek next to the Kalidas Memorial, is constructed using reddish stone. The temple is surrounded by fortifications on all four sides. It is west-facing, rectangular, and stands on a plinth about three feet above the ground. The temple roof is completely flat, and there are Gana sculptures carved near the entrance. The temple consists of a Sabha Mandapa (assembly hall) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). The pillars in the Sabha Mandapa feature lotus-shaped carvings, which show a resemblance to the caves of Ajanta. Beyond this is the Garbhagriha, which is equal in size to the Sabha Mandapa. In the center of the Garbhagriha, between four pillars, stands a 7 to 8-foot-tall idol of Narasimha. The deity holds a discus (Chakra) in his right hand, and as he is depicted without Goddess Lakshmi, he is known as ‘Keval Narasimha’. Narasimha is considered the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu. There are different forms of this avatar, including the fierce ‘Raudra Narasimha’ and the serene ‘Keval Narasimha’. Keval Narasimha is of a calm nature and is worshipped accordingly.

In front of the main temple, there is another smaller temple containing an idol of Narasimha; however, this idol was worshipped as Hanuman. Similarly, the idol of Keval Narasimha in the main temple was also worshipped as Hanuman until 1981, with layers of vermilion (sindoor) applied to it periodically. When research by the Archaeological Department clarified that this idol was not Hanuman, the layers of vermilion were removed, revealing the idol of Keval Narasimha as it is seen today. During this period, while the Archaeological Department was carrying out repairs, a 15-line inscription in Brahmi script belonging to the Vakataka Empress Prabhavati Gupta was discovered. This inscription confirmed the temple’s construction period as 420–450 AD.

A short distance from this temple, near the entrance of the Ramtek Fort, is another Narasimha temple. This temple is also west-facing and similar in structure to the first. It also houses a grand idol of Keval Narasimha. Although the size of the idol is similar to the first, there are slight differences. This temple is known as the Rudra Narasimha Temple. The Vakataka Empress Prabhavati Gupta had this second temple built in memory of her husband, Rudrasena. It is said that the Vakataka-era ‘Keval Narasimha’ and ‘Rudra Narasimha’ temples are among the oldest well-preserved temples in Maharashtra.

Beyond these two temples, there are also traces of the presence of Mahakavi Kalidasa, the founder of the Mahanubhava sect Chakradhar Swami, Mhaimbhat, Ramchandradev Yadav, and Raghuji Bhosale. Mahakavi Kalidasa was a court poet in the court of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya around 400 AD. Kalidasa composed the famous classical poem ‘Meghaduta’ on this hill of Ramtek. A grand memorial has been built at this very spot by the Government of Maharashtra in memory of Kalidasa, featuring unique intricate carvings. This memorial was inaugurated on December 12, 1973. Renowned painters from the state have created oil paintings in this memorial based on various episodes from Kalidasa’s literary works, including ‘Meghaduta’, ‘Raghuvansha’, ‘Malavikagnimitra’, ‘Vikramorvashiyam’, ‘Kumarasambhava’, and ‘Abhijnanashakuntalam’. Both these temples and the Kalidasa Memorial have been declared protected monuments by the State Government.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery