Sas Bahu Ka Mandir, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh India

 According to the Bible, "…your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit". But once you come across the magnificent Sas Bahu Temple, you would feel that the Holy Spirit also resides outside your body. It perhaps dwells in those beautiful temples that human beings have created for the sake of worship, amidst the din and bustle of daily life. 

Sas Bahu Ka Mandir OR Sas-Bahu temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Sasbahu or Mother-in-Law temples stand close to the eastern wall about midway along that side of the fort. The two temples are similar in style and date from the 9th to 11th centuries. The larger temple has an ornately carved base and four huge pillars support the heavy roof.Other places of interest include Tombs of  Tansen and Ghaus Mohammad Chhatris and the newly built Sun Temple. A 9th Century shrine, Saas-Bahu temple in the fort allures not only the devotees but also the tourists with its artistic value. As its name denotes, these temples are not dedicated to Sas (mother-in-law) and Bahu (daughter-in-law) but rather the short form of Shashtra Bahu, another name of Lord Vishnu.

 The history of the Sas Bahu temple in Gwalior is very interesting. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu by the King Mahipala. Lord Vishnu is also known as Sahastrabahu, the one with many hands. But gradually the name changed into Sas Bahu Temple, perhaps by mispronunciation, or misinterpretation.

Lord Vishnu is supposed to be the preserver of this Universe. He keeps vigilance over this earth and if there is any disobedience among men, he punishes them. But he is also considered to be the most kind hearted among the Hindu Gods, who come to help his followers under any circumstances.

King Mahipala wished for the success of his Kingdom and the overall prosperity. This being ranted by The Lord, a temple was constructed to commemorate Lord Vishnu. So, the name Sahastrabahu was given to this temple which later in course of time changed into Sas Bahu Temple. The construction of this temple was completed in the year 1092 AD by the king Mahipala.

 At the Gate of the Sas Bahu Temple in Gwalior there is a caption in Sanskrit. The doorway gives the view of the Indian Trinity, Lord Brahma, the creator, Lord Vishnu the Preserver and Lord Shiva or the Destroyer.

The temple has rare quality of architectural skill displayed in it, it has all the qualities of a fabulous worship. There are two temples, which are conjointly known as the Sas Bahu Temple . One of the temples is bigger than the other, and perhaps for that reason, one is considered as the Mother-in Law whiles the other as the Daughter-in-Law. Graceful figures are in scripted on the wall of the temple and there are pillars that are also display architectural skills.

The Saas-Bahu temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is also a major landmark of Gwalior Fort. Built in 11th century, the temple, as the name indicates, is not dedicated to 'Saas' (mother-in-law) and 'Bahu' (daughter-in-law). Saas-Bahu is the name traditionally given to two adjoining temples of different sizes, one small and one large (the smaller one is more elegant and better preserved) located adjacent to each other.

Built by Raja Mahipal which got completed in 1093 A.D as per the Sanskrit inscription, these twin temples were dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A unique architectural feature of these pyramidal shaped temples is its red sandstone building, with no arches; large slabs of sandstone are balanced over each other in slanting positions.