The famous Lakshana Devi temple at Brahmapura (modern Bharmour in Chamba district), renowned for its ancient brass image of Mahishasuramardini bearing an inscription of King Meru Varman, dates back to which century?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Lakshana Devi temple houses magnificent early medieval metal sculptures cast by the master craftsman Gugga under the patronage of Raja Meru Varman during the late 7th or early 8th century CE. These inscriptions provide absolute epigraphic confirmation of the ruling dynasty and represent the finest surviving examples of pre-Islamic metal casting in the Western Himalayas. The architectural style features gabled wooden roofs designed to withstand heavy Himalayan snowfalls.