Nīlakaṇṭheśvara temple

An inscription in the eastern porch records the building of the temple in Vikrama Saṃvat 1137 or 1080-81 CE.

Right half: It was the celebrated one who has no superior, the Self-Born (Śiva), who ordained that the city, lord, ocean, etc.

[5] The temple is unique in north India for the many inscriptions on and in the building, with a particular concentration being found in the eastern entrance.

In addition to the consecration record, located on a lintel on the left (south side) of the porch and dated Vikrama year 1137 or 1080-81 CE in the time of Udayāditya, the porch carries more than sixty votive records.

[6] Not yet studied in a systematic fashion, these form a continuous sequence from the time of the Paramāras – Devapāla (circa 1218–39 CE) is mentioned – through the period of the Tughluq dynasty, the Mughals and their successors.

Another important inscription, documenting the co-existence Hindu and Muslim religious activities at the site, mentions a festival (yātrā) of the god Udaleśvara in 1338, the same year as the Tughluq inscription recording the construction of the mosque in the temple precinct.

Udaleśvara is a local spelling of Udayeśvara, the main deity in the temple, named eponymously after the Paramāra king Udayāditya.

Nīlakaṇṭheśvara temple from the west, as documented in 1982.
Dedicatory inscription of the temple, on a lintel in the entrance porch, dated VS 1137.
The temple exterior of the sanctum showing mouldings and niches with Śaiva deities, 1982.
A sample of the votive and pilgrim inscriptions inside the eastern entrance.
Eastern entrance porch, engraved with a host of pilgrim and votive records.