Onakona Shiv Mandir is a recently constructed temple. In fact, it is not yet complete. The construction work is still going on.
Interestingly, Onakona village is located on the border of Dhamtari and Durg in Balod district of Chhattisgarh, 90 kilometers away from Raipur. It lies on the bank of the Gangrel Dam. A businessman of Dhamtari built the temple. Although it is still incomplete after 17 years since commencement, its beauty lies in its incompleteness. The place is already attracting tourists. The road to the temple is not yet ready nor is the infrastructure ready to sustain the tourists.
The temple seems to be the replica of Trimbakeshwar temple in Nasik district of Maharashtra. This Mahakal Temple has amazing architecture, built without beams. The sculptures on the entire façade of the temple are not only faultless but are very gorgeous. The proportion and the composition of the temple are attractive.
Temples are in the hearts of Bhartiya people. It is the way of life. Ancient temple architecture keeps inspiring. The urge to continue to build temples is something which needs to be understood to know the values and deep beliefs of Bhartiya persona.
No temple is ever finished, says one of the historians (Meister), it is continuously renewed and remade through restoration, reoccupation and self preservation. Same is true with the concept of the temple. Temples will continue to be erected on this holy land-Bharat. Onakona Shiv Mandir, constructed with contemporary material and modern technology, is an icon of unfettered belief of Bhartiya people in temples.
