Holy
Pilgrimage – Temples
in Odisha (Orissa) State
Vimala Temple, Odisha
The Vimala Temple or Bimala Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Vimala (Bimala), located within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri in the Indian state of Orissa. It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, among the holiest temples dedicated to the Hindu Goddess.The temple is located in the south-west corner of the inner enclosure of the Jagannath temple complex and on the western corner of the tower of Jagannath, next to the sacred pond Rohini kunda. The temple faces east and is built of sandstone and laterite. It is built in the Deula style with four components; vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). The temple was renovated around 2005 and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubaneswar Circle.
Though a small shrine in the temple complex, the Vimala temple is important to the Goddess-oriented Shakta and Tantric worshippers, who revere it even more than the main Jagannath shrine. Vimala is considered to be the Tantric consort of Jagannath and a guardian of the temple complex. Devotees pay respect to Vimala before worshipping Jagannath in the main temple. Food offered to Jagannath does not get sanctified as Mahaprasad until it is also offered to Vimala. The Goddess-oriented festival of Durga Puja in the Hindu month of Ashvin (October) is celebrated for sixteen days at Vimala, culminating with Vijayadashami.
History
The central icon of Vimala is of sixth century CE. The present structure, based on its architecture, seems to have been built in the ninth century under the Eastern Ganga dynasty, possibly over ruins of an earlier temple Its architecture is similar to the shrine of Narasimha near the Mukti-mandapa (a temple hall) in the Jagannath temple complex, dated to the ninth century The Madala Panji states that the temple was constructed by Yayati Keshari, a ruler of Somavashi Dynasty of South Kosala. Kings Yayati I (c. 922–955) and Yayati II (c. 1025–1040) are known by the title Yayati Keshari. The sculptures, especially the parshvadevatas (attendant deities), as well as the background slab of the central icon, reflect the Somavashi style and may be part of the original temple, on whose ruins the new temple was constructed. Vimala is believed to have preceded even the central Jagannath shrine.Hindu philosopher and saint Adi Shankara (c. 8th century) is believed to have established Govardhana matha in Puri, with Vimala as its presiding goddess. According to Starza (author of The Jagannatha Temple at Puri), the Jagannath Temple was once a centre of worship for the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, along with their consorts and the three central forms of the Hindu Goddess, Sarasvati, Lakshmi and Parvati (in the form of Vimala) The Shri Vidya sect devoted to Goddess worship was strong here until the 17th century. Slowly, Shri Vidya and Shiva-centric Shaiva traditions were eroded but remnants continue, with the Vishnu-centric Vaishnavism becoming the sole tradition. The Tantric Panchamakara, which includes fish, meat, liquor, parched grain and ritual intercourse, were replaced with vegetarian offerings and dance of devdasis. Fish was caught locally and offered to the goddess. King Narasimhadeva, who ruled between 1623–47, ended the meat and fish offerings of the goddess, although the tradition was later partly revitalized. Today, the goddess is offered meat and fish on special days.
Architecture
The temple is located in the south-west corner of the inner enclosure of the Jagannath temple complex and on the right hand western corner of the tower of Jagannath, next to the sacred pond Rohini kunda. The temple faces east and is built of sandstone and laterite. It is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). The temple is maintained and was renovated around 2005 by the Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubaneswar Circle.Vimana
The vimana is a Rekha deula (a tall building with a shape of sugarloaf), 60 feet (18 m) in height and in shape of 15 feet (4.6 m) square. It stands on a 2 feet (0.61 m) platform, which is decorated with lotus and other floral designs and scrollwork. The outer wall of the vimana is divided into 5 parts (from base to top): pabhaga, talajangha, bandhana, upara jangha and baranda. The niches and intervening recesses of the first part of the wall are ornate, with khakhara mundis (a type of niche), scrollwork, floral designs, creepers, love-making couples and Nagas (serpent-men). The niches and intervening recesses of the second part of the wall are also decorated with khakhara mundis, simhavidalas (a lion-faced beast), Gajavidalas (a elephant-faced lion trampling a lion), jaliwork, scrollwork, sikshadana scene (sages teaching disciples) and kirtimukha (a monster face) motifs, along with the figurines of eight Dikpalas (guardian gods of the directions) and some goddesses. The third part of the outer wall has two horizontal mouldings decorated with alasa-kanyas (beautiful human maidens), scrollwork and floral and lotus motifs. The niches and recesses of the fourth part of the wall are decorated with pidha mundis (a type of niche), simhavidalas, erotic scenes, alasa-kanyas, scrollwork, jaliwork and floral designs, along with figures of the consorts of the Dikpalas, Nagas and their female consort Naginis and various goddesses. The Dikpalas and their consorts are seen with their mounts and aligned to their respective directions.Images of the parshvadevatas (attendant deities) are placed in the central niches of the outer wall (bada) on three sides: the eight-armed Durga slaying Mahishasura on the south; the six-armed goddess Chamunda standing on Shiva on the west and an empty niche on the north, which probably had a goddess figure that was stolen. The lintel of the attendant deity niche has Gaja Lakshmi figurines. The frames of the niches are decorated with scrollwork and kirtimukha motifs and two female attendants accompany each niche. The uppermost part of the outer wall has ten horizontal mouldings, ornate with scrollwork, kirtimukha and lotus and floral motifs. Within the vimana lies the garbhagriha (sanctum), which is topped with a pancharatha-style, curvilinear temple pinnacle.
The goddess Vimala is deified within the sanctum, the sixth century inner chamber that is devoid of wall decorations The central icon of Vimala holds a rosary in the upper right hand. Her lower right hand is held in a boon-giving gesture and her lower left holds a pitcher, considered to be filled with amrita(celestial elixir of life). The attribute in the upper left hand is heavily disputed. Descriptions include a human figurine, a nagini, a mermaid, a naga-pasha (serpent-noose) or some other object. She holds no weapons normally attributed to Durga. The icon is installed on a simhasana (lion-throne), adorned with the figures of the goddess' female attendants Chhaya and Maya on the sides. The image is said to be made of lakha (a type of wax) and slightly taller than 4 feet (1.2 m).
The sanctum door, with a flight of stairs, leads down to the jagamohana. The lintel has the Gaja Lakshmi figurine in the centre surrounded with apsaras (celestial maidens). The Navagraha (deities of the classical planets) are carved above the lintel. The door jambs are decorated scrollwork, creepers, flowers and boys playing. Two gate-keeper sculptors surround the door.
Jagamohana
The jagamohana or mukhasala is a pidha deula (square building with a pyramid-shaped roof), 35 feet (11 m) in height with a 25 feet (7.6 m) square base. It stands on a 2 feet (0.61 m) high platform, which is decorated with floral designs and scrollwork. The outer wall is divided into 5 parts, as in the vimana. The niches and intervening recesses of the first part are adorned with Khakhara mundi niches (having amorous couples and erotic scenes), Naga pilasters, scrollwork, jaliwork and floral motifs. The talajangha has the same motifs as the vimana's second part of the wall, barring the goddesses. The third part of the wall has three horizontal mouldings. The fourth part of the wall also resembles its counterpart in the vimana, except it does not have the Naga and goddess sculptures. The uppermost part of the wall has seven horizontal mouldings, the central portion of which is decorated with dancing women, amorous couples, elephants, deer, scrollwork and jaliwork. The gavaksha (decorative arch) on the northern and southern sides are royal court and sikshadana scenes, with a balustraded window on each side. The frames of the windows are decorated with scrollwork, jaliwork, playing boys, floral designs, creepers and dancing women. The structure is topped with a pyramidal shikhara. The inner walls have no ornamentation. The jagamohana has two doorways: one towards the sanctum (already discussed in vimana section) and other towards the natamandapa, which is similar in style and decoration to the former.Natamandapa
The natamandapa is a pidha deula, 22 feet (6.7 m) in height and in shape of rectangle 35 feet (11 m) in length by 18 feet (5.5 m). It is probably a later addition to the original temple, which consisted of the vimana and jagamohana. It stands on a 3.5 feet (1.1 m) platform. The five divisions of the outer wall are undecorated. It is topped with a small pyramidal pinnacle. The natamandapa has four door ways, one on each side of the wall. Inner walls of the natamandapa are adorned with Pattachitra-style traditional Orissan paintings, depicting sixteen forms of the Hindu Goddess, including the Mahavidyas.Bhogamandapa
The bhogamandapa is a pidha deula, 20 feet (6.1 m) in height and in shape of 15 feet (4.6 m) square. It stands on a 4 feet (1.2 m) platform. The five outer wall divisions are undecorated. It is topped with a small pinnacle. An eight-armed dancing Ganesha and a 12-armed, six-headed standing Kartikeya (both are the sons of Parvati ans Shiva) occupy niches on the western inner wall. The ceiling has floral paintings with a lotus design in the middle, suspending downwards The bhogamandapa has four doorways, opening on each side. Two female gatekeepers guard each door. A flight of steps at the eastern doorway serves as the main entrance of the temple.At the entrance to the shrine outside the bhogamandapa, there is a 4 feet (1.2 m) Gaja-Simha, the lion – the goddess' vahana (mount or vehicle) – riding over an elephant, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. It is covered by a flat roof.
Religious significance
The Vimala Temple is considered one of the Shakti Pithas, the most sacred temples of the Hindu Goddess, identified with Parvati or Durga as consort of the god Shiva. It is considered to be a prime example of the importance of the Shakti cult in Orissa. It is customary to worship Shiva at each Shakti Pitha in the form of Bhairava, the male counterpart or guardian of the presiding goddess of the Shakti Pitha.In Goddess-oriented worship, Vimala (Bimala) is regarded as the presiding goddess of the Purushottama (Puri) Shakti Pitha Jagannath, a form of the god Vishnu/Krishna (Krishna is generally regarded as an avatar of Vishnu), is worshipped as the Pitha's Bhairava. This is a departure from the usual tradition of Bhairava as a form of Shiva. So, in this temple complex, Vishnu–one of the Hindu trinity–is equated with Shiva, another of the trinity; this is interpreted to convey the oneness of God. In this regard, Vimala - generally associated with Shiva's consort - is also considered as Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Conversely, Tantrics consider Jagannath as Shiva-Bhairava, rather than a form of Vishnu.
The main sanctum of the Jagannath Temple has three deities: Jagannath, Balabhadra (elder brother of Krishna, sometimes identified with Shiva) and Subhadra (the younger sister of Krishna and Balabhadra). In Jagannath-centric traditions, while Lakshmi is the orthodox consort of Jagannath in the temple complex, Vimala is the Tantric (heterodox) consort and guardian goddess of the temple complex.
Vimala is identified with the goddesses Katyayini, Durga, Bhairavi, Bhuvaneshvari and Ekanamsha in various texts and rituals. She is considered the shakti of Vishnu as well as Shiva in the climactic Durga Puja festivities in the temple. She appears as Mahishasuramardini (Durga as slayer of the demon Mahishasura) or Vijayalakshmi (the warrior form of Lakshmi) in New Delhi Konark stele, 13th century stone stele originally from Konark Sun Temple and now housed in National Museum, New Delhi.
In Shakti Pitha lists
The list of Shakti Pithas differ in various religious texts. Many mention Vimala or Jagannath temple complex as a Shakti Pitha, and calls the location by various names. In the Kalika Purana, four Pithas (centres of Tantrism) are mentioned, corresponding to the four cardinal directions. The Oddiyana or Uddiyana (now clearly identified as Orissa) in the west hosts the temple of Katyayini (identified with Vimala) and her consort Jagannath. The Hevajara Tantra, which has a similar list, also mentions Katyayini as the Bhairavi and Jagannath as the Bhairava in the Pitha of Udra (Odra, identified with Orissa)
The Pithanirnaya or Mahapithanirupana section from the Tantrachudamani mentions Viraja-kshetra in Utkala (present-day Orissa) as a Shakti Pitha, with Vimala as the presiding goddess (Devi), Jagannath as Bhairava and her navel as the body part that fell here. One version of this text, however, demotes the site from a Pitha to an upa-Pitha (subordinate Pitha). Here, the Ucchishta (that is, left-over or partially eaten food) of Sati is said to be the "fallen part" ( anga-pratyanga) and the temple location is called Nilachal or "Blue mountain", which is the traditional name of the site of the Jagannath temple complex Nilachal or Nila Parvat is mentioned as an upa-pitha also in the Shiva-charita with Vimala and Jagannath as the Devi and Bhairava respectively.
The Tantric work Kubjika Tantra names Vimala among 42 Siddha Pithas, where Siddhis - a set of unusual skills - can be gained. The Devi Bhagavata Purana, Prana Toshini Tantra and Brihan Nila Tantra name the Vimala temple as a Pitha in their list of 108 temples. The Matsya Purana mentions Purushottama Kshetra with goddess Vimala as a Shakti Pitha. The Vamana Purana notes it as a sacred pilgrimage site. The Mahapitha Nirupanam also mentions Vimala and Jagannath as deities of the Pitha. In the Namasttotra Sata, a Puranic list of 100 mother goddesses, Vimala of Purushottama is named. The Devi Purana also mentions it as a Pitha where feet of Sati fell
Worship
The people of Orissa take pride in the Vimala temple. They consider it the most important temple to the Goddess and a must-visit. Devotees visit the temple religiously every day and recite hymns from the Devi Mahatmya, attributed to the sage Markandeya, Debyaparadhakshyamapana stotram by Adi Shankara and Vimalastakam composed by Purusottam Rakshit It is prescribed that devotees pay their respects to the goddess Vimala before worshipping Jagannath in the main temple The waters of Rohini kunda, the tirtha (sacred pool) of Vimala, are also considered holy. Tantrics often visit the temple, which they consider more important than the central Jagannath shrine.The Goddess-oriented festival of Durga Puja in the Hindu month of Ashvin (October) is celebrated for sixteen days, culminating with Vijayadashami On Vijayadashami, Vimala is worshipped by the titular Gajapati king of Puri as the goddess Durga, who is believed to have slain the demon Mahishasura on this day. The earliest record of this is the New Delhi Konark stele, which narrate that King Narasimhadeva I (reign: 1238–1264) worshipped Durga-Madhava (Vimala-Jagannath) on the tenth day of Durga Puja, that is, Vijayadashami. As the goddess is believed to assume a destructive aspect during the Durga Puja, women are debarred in the temple as they are considered too "weak-hearted" to witness this terrible form of the goddess.
Temples in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar , also spelled Bhubaneshwar , is the capital of the Indian state of Odisha, earlier Orissa. The city has a history of over 3000 years starting with the Mahamegha-bahana Chedi dynasty (around 2nd century BCE) who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital. Bhubaneswar has been known by names such as Toshali, Kalinga Nagari, Nagar Kalinga, Ekamra Kanan, Ekamra Kshetra and Mandira Malini Nagari (City of Temples) otherwise known as the Temple City of India. It is the largest city of Odisha, and a center of economic and religious importance in the region today.Bhubaneswar's possession of magnificent sculptures and architectural heritage, coupled with the sanctity as Ekamrakshetra make this one of the great religious centres of Odisha since early medieval days. With its large number of Hindu temples (over 600 in number), which span the entire spectrum of Kalinga architecture, Bhubaneswar is often referred to as a Temple City of India and together with Puri and Konark it forms the Swarna Tribhuja (Golden Triangle); one of the most visited destinations in eastern part of India.
The modern city of Bhubaneswar was designed by the German architect Otto Königsberger in 1946. Like Jamshedpur, Chandigarh, it is one of the first planned cities of modern India. With the Chandaka forest reserve on the fringes, the city with an abundance of greenery, is one of the cleanest and greenest cities of India.
Bhubaneswar replaced Cuttack as the political capital of the state of Odisha in 1948, a year after India gained its independence from Britain. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are often commonly together known as the twin-cities of Odisha. The metropolitan area formed by the twin cities had a population of 1.4 million during 2011 Bhubaneswar is categorized as a Tier-2 city. An emerging Information Technology (IT) hub, the boom in the metals and metal processing industries have made Bhubaneswar one of the fastest developing cities of India in recent years.
History
he history of Bhubaneswar may be viewed as two phases: ancient Bhubaneswar and modern Bhubaneswar. While the ancient city has a history that goes back more than 2000 years, the modern city came into existence in 1948.[5]The first mention of Bhubaneswar in Indian history is in the Kalinga War which was held near Dhauli (presently located in south Bhubaneswar) in the 3rd century BCE. The later Emperor Kharavela established his capital in Sisupalgarh which is on the outskirts of the city. The Hathigumpha inscriptions at the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves by Kharavela give a good account of that period which is estimated as 1st-2nd century BCE. Later, innumerable temples built throughout ancient and medieval history in tune with its status as Temple City, give a chronicle of the city's history.
It was the ancient capital of the Kalinga Empire and the architectural legacy of the period is its greatest attraction. There are many sites in the city that testify the importance of the region during the 7th to 11th century CE when the Kalinga kings ruled Odisha and the regions beyond it. The Ananta Vasudeva Temple and Bindusagar Tank in the only temple of Vishnu in the city of Shiva. The temples in Bhubaneswar are thus regarded as having been built from the 8th to 12th century of Shaiva influence.
The Jain and Buddhist shrines give a picture of the settlements around Bhubaneswar in the first two centuries BCE, and one of the most complete edicts of the Mauryan emperor, Ashoka, dating between 272-236 BCE, remains carved in rock five miles to the southwest of the modern city.
On 1 April 1936, Odisha became a separate province in British India with Cuttack as its capital. This date is celebrated as Utkal Divas. Notably, Cuttack was Odisha's capital since 12th century. When India got independence in 1947, Odisha became one of the states of the Indian union. But because of Cuttack's vulnerability to floods and space constraints, the capital was changed to Bhubaneswar which was built into a modern city. The city planning of Bhubaneswar was given by German Architect Otto Königsberger. Bhubaneswar was formally inaugurated on April 13, 1948, as the capital of the Odisha. Modern Bhubaneswar was planned by Königsberger to be a city with wide roads, gardens and parks. Though part of the city has stayed according to the plan, it has grown rapidly over the last few decades and has made the planning process unwieldy
Transport
By plane
Bhubaneswar airport is well connected to most of the major cities of India.- Air India operates daily flights to and from
- Jet and JetLite (previously Sahara Airlines) operate a direct flight to and from Delhi and 2 flights daily from Kolkata(one in the morning and one in the evening).
- INDIGO Airlines operates daily to Delhi(direct) and Mumbai(via Hyderabad).
By train
Bhubaneswar is the divisonal headquarters of East Coast railways. It is situated on the main line from Kolkata to Chennai and is well connected by direct train service to most major Indian cities. For timings and other details check the Indian Railways website. Some major trains connecting Bhubaneswar with:New Delhi
- Rajdhani Express, Nandankanan Express, Kalinga Utkal Express,duranto express,puri express and Purushottam Express
- Konark Express and Lokmanya Tilak Express etc.
- Coromandel Express, Chennai Howrah mail etc.
- Dhauli Express, Janasatabdi Express, Coromandel Express, Howrah Puri Express,Shri Jagannath Express,Falaknuma Express,Howrah Chennai Mail,Howrah Yesvantpur Express,EastCoast Express etc.
- Falaknuma Express, East Coast Express, Konark Express, Visakha Express etc.
- Prashanti Express, Yeshwantpur Howrah Express, Yeshwantpur Guwahati Express(only on Mondays), Guwahati Express (wed,thu,fri)
By road
Bhubaneshwar is situated on the National Highway no.5 that runs between Kolkata and Chennai. It is 480 km from Kolkata, 445 km from Visakhapatnam, 1225 km from Chennai, 32 km from Cuttack, 130 km from Chilika Lake (Barkul), 184 km from Gopalpur-on-sea, 64 km from Konark, 62 km from Puri.From Bhubaneswar after traveling 20 km there is a place known as Pipili. This place is famous for patching cloth design locally known as Chandua. From the center of Pipili market one has to take left turn to go towards Konark and the straight road goes to Puri.
Bhubaneswar being a planned city, it has well planned, wide roads in rectangular grid form in the central part of the city. Bhubaneswar has approximate 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) of roads, with average road density of 11.82 square kilometres (4.56 sq mi) Bhubaneswar has its city bus service run in public-private partnership between Bhubaneswar-Puri Transport Service Limited (BPTSL) and Dream Team Sahara (DTS) under JNNURM scheme. A fleet of 105 buses cover all major destinations across the city; and with Cuttack, Puri and Khurda. Autorickshaws are available for hire and on share basis for communication throughout the city In parts of the city, cycle rickshaws are patronised by the public for short trips. To ease traffic-jams a number of over-bridges are being constructed at major road junctions and the roads expanded in different parts of the city. Bhubaneswar has been ranked as the third best city in India in terms of pedestrian infrastructure.
Culture
Bhubaneswar is supposed to have had over a thousand temples; earning the tag of the Temple City of India. Temples made in the Kalinga architectural style - which typically constitutes, the pine spire that curves up to a point over the sanctum housing the presiding deity, and the pyramid-covered hall where people sit and pray. Some of the famous temples include, Lingaraj Temple, Muktesvara Temple, Rajarani Temple, Ananta Vasudeva Temple. The twin hills of Khandagiri & Udayagiri, served as the site of an ancient Jain monastery which was carved into cave-like chambers in the face of the hill. These caves, with artistic carvings, date back to the 2nd century BCE. Dhauli hills has major Edicts of Ashoka engraved on a mass of rock, and a dazzling white Peace Pagoda has been built by the Japan Buddha Sangha and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha in the 1970s. Apart from the ancient temples few other important temples were built in recent times that includes Ram Mandir and ISKCON temple.
There is an awareness towards preserving the ethos of Oriya culture in the form of Classical Odissi dance, handicrafts, sand artistry, sculpturing as well as theatre and music. Boundary walls and gardens are increasingly being redone to depict the folk art of the region. Odissi, the oldest of the eight surviving classical dance forms of India can be traced from the archaeological evidences from the temples in Bhubaneswar. Odissi dance is generally accompanied by Odissi music, a traditional musical form. SRJAN, the Odissi dance academy founded by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra the legendary Odissi dancer is located here. The Rabindra Mandap in central Bhubaneswar plays host to cultural engagements and has an amphitheater to host theater and private functions. As a part of the Ekamra Festival, many cultural sub-festivals takes place in January in Bhubaneswar which includes, Kalinga Mahotsav (for traditional martial arts), Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav (for classical dance forms), Rajarani Music Festival (for classical music) and Mukteswar Dance Festival (for Odishi dance).
Residents engage in khattis, or leisurely chats, that often take the form of freestyle intellectual conversation. Though Odia women traditionally wear the sari, the shalwar kameez and Western attire is gaining acceptance among younger women. Western-style dress has greater acceptance among men, although the traditional dhoti and kurta are seen during festivals.
The Odisha State Museum offers archaeological artifacts, weapons, local arts and crafts as well as insights into Odisha's natural and tribal history. The Tribal Research Institute Museum with its authentic tribal dwellings, created by the tribal craftsmen offers a view of the State's tribal heritage. Nandankanan Zoological Park, a 400-hectare (990-acre) zoo and botanical garden is the first zoo in India to join World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Regional Plant Resource Center, popularly known as Ekamra Kanan, a park and botanical garden known for natural beauty. The Ekamra Haat is a hand-loom and handicrafts market. Nicco Park and Ocean World, two amusement parks in the city are source of entertainment and fun. Other museums includes Pathani Samanta Planetarium, Regional Museum of Natural History, Regional Science Center and State Handicrafts Museum.
On the day of Ashokashtami in the month of March or April, the image of Lingaraja (Shiva) and other deities are taken in a procession from Lingaraja Temple to the Mausima Temple, where the deities remain for four days Hundreds of devotees participate in pulling the temple car that carries the deities, known as Rukuna Rath Ratha-Yatra, "Temple car Festival" is the most important festival in Odisha and Bhubaneswar alike. The festival is held to commemorate Jagannath, who is said to have been the incarnation of India's revered deities, Vishnu and Krishna. Durga Puja, held in September–October, is Bhubaneswar's one of the important festival; it is an occasion for glamorous celebrations Other festivals celebrated include, Shivaratri, Diwali, Ganesh Puja, Nuakhai and Saraswati Puja. Eid and Christmas is also celebrated by the religious minorities in the city Adivasi Mela, a fair that displays the art, artifacts, tradition, culture, and music of the tribal inhabitants of Odisha is held in January. Toshali National Crafts Mela, held in December showcase handicrafts from all over India, and from foreign countries as well. Other important fairs in the city includes, the Rajdhani Book Fair and Khandagiri Utsav.
Aisanyesvara Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Aisanyesvara Siva Temple is a 13th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, India. The temple is in the precinct of Municipal Corporation Hospital, Sriram Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar. It is close to the western compound wall of Lingaraj Temple. This is a living temple and with a shrine facing east.The enshrined deity is a Sivalingam within a circular yonipitha (basement). Rituals like Sivarathri, Jalabhiseka, Rudrabhiseka, Sankranthi are observed here. The festival deity of Lord Lingaraja is brought to this temple after the 6th day of Sivaratri.
History
Architectural features like Saptaratha (seven chariots) plan that bears close resemblance with Megheswar temple suggests that Aisanyesvara Siva Temple was built in the 13th century AD. Other architectural features suggests that it was built by Gangas.Architecture
The temple is constructed in the Kalinga architecture style using grey sandstone. Tala jangha and upara jangha are decorated with khakhara mundi and pidha mundi respectively. The pista has three mouldings, which is decorated with series of khakhara mundi. The anuratha paga(main portion) has series of khakhara mundis in succession, lotus cup in anuraha paga and 10 bhumi amlas in the kanika pagas. Two udyota lions are noticed in the gandi of rahapaga. At the base of the gandi in the frontal wall there is a miniature rekha angasikhara.The doorjambs are decorated with three vertical bands of puspa sakha, patra sakha and lata sakha from exterior to interior. At the base of the doorjambs there are khakhara mundis on either sides. The deity of Lalatabimba Gajalaxmi is seated in Lalitasana. In the architrave right above the jamb there is a navagraha panel, each graha within a niche. Surya (Sun god) holds lotus in his hands. Ketu (serpent god) is in serpent tail and holds bow in his left and a shield in the right hand. The temple is maintained by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. Aisanyesvara Siva Temple is in good state of preservation.
Akhadachandi Temple, Bhubaneswar
Akhadachandi Temple is a 10th century A.D. temple in Bhubaneswar (Lat.20°14’46”N.,Long.85°60’02”E.,Elev.61 ft) in the state of Orissa, India. The temple is situated in the south-western embankment of Bindusagar tank in Badu Sahi, Old town.Description
It is 15 metres east of Markandesvara temple and to the north-west of Mohini temple at a distance of 30 metres. The presiding deity is Mahisasuramardini. The temple is facing towards south and the presiding deity is facing towards east. Various religious sacraments like Durgastami and Balabhoga are performed here. The temple is maintained by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. It is in fair state of preservation. The temple was repaired by the Orissa State Archaeology under the X and XI Finance Commission Award. The temple is surrounded by Bindusagar tank in the east at a distance of 6.40 metres, Markandeya temple in the west and private residential buildings in the southern side.Decorative features
The doorjamb is decorated with two plaster design measuring 1.10 metres x 0.65 metres. Besides the main entrance there are two subsidiary gateways in the eastern and northern walls. These two gateways are uniform in measurement measuring 0.92 metres x 0.59 metres.Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Ananta Vasudeva Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Orissa, India. The temple was constructed in the thirteenth century, and the complete murties of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra are worshipped there. Balarama stands under a seven hooded serpent, Subhadra holds Jewels pot and lotus in her two hands keping her left foot over another jewel pot, while Krishna holds a mace, chakra, lotus and a conch. The temple dates back to the period of Chandrika Devi, the daughter of Anangabhima III, during the reign of the king Bhanudeva.Legend
It appears that the original image of Vishnu was worshipped on the spot where the great temple of Ananta Vasudeva was built in the 13th century A.D.Thus in 13th century, Queen Chandrika of Eastern Ganga dynasty was prompted to construct a new temple - the temple of Anata Vasudeva in this place. There must have been an old temple where this Vishnu image was installed. The Marathas, who extended their empire up to river Mahanadi, were responsible for renovating the Vishnu temple at Bhubaneswar in late 17th Century.Architecture
In form, the temple resembles the Lingaraj temple, but includes vaishnavite (Lord Vishnu related) sculptures The temple has longitudinal bands of miniature sikharas (shrines), exactly like those in Lingaraj temple, with the minor difference that the number of the sikharas forming one longitudinal band in its case is only three. The sculpture in the exterior walls varies in character in each temple in Bhubaneswar. Most of the female sculptures in the temple walls are overly ornamanted and lack originalityDifference from Jagannath Temple, Puri
The idols found in the garbhagrha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple have complete structure unlike the images of the Jagannath Temple, Puri. Here the shrimurtis (idols) are made of black granite stone, rather than wood, as seen in the Puri temple. For this temple only the city gains its name as Chakra kshetra (circular place), whereas Puri is named Shankha kshetra (curved place).Arjunesvara Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Arjunesvara Siva Temple is a 12th Century A.D. temple in Bhubaneswar, in the state of Orissa, India. The temple iis situated on the southern embankment of the Bindusagar tank at a distance of 70 metres. One can approach to this temple on the right side of the ratha road branching from the road leading from Lingaraja temple to Ramesvara temple. The temple is facing towards west.
Currently the temple is abandoned and showing signs of deterioration.
History
Architectural features like saptaratha on plan suggests that this temple was built in the 12th-13th Century A.D.Physical Description
The temple is situated behind the temple of Bhabani Sankara and in the south-east corner of the Sari deul which is an ASI protected monument. It is facing towards west.Architectural Features
The temple is constructed in the Kalingan style using grey sandstone and dry masonry construction technique. The main temple is a Rekha Deul. On plan, the temple has a square vimana measuring 3.50 square metres with a renovated frontal porch of 0.80 metres. The vimana is saptaratha with seven offset projections on each wall as distinguished by a central raha and a pair of anuraha, anuratha and kanika pagas on the either sides. The cella measures 1.50 square metres. On elevation, the vimana is of rekha order that measures 6.20 metres from bottom to the top. The temple has usual bada and gandi with mastaka missing. With threefold divisions of the bada the temple has a panchaga bada measuring 2.20 metres in height. At the bottom the pabhaga measures 0.52 metres, tala jangha 0.46 metres, bandhana 0.20 metres, upara jangha 0.40 metres and baranda with a set of five mouldings measures 0.56 metres in height. Gandi measures 4.00 metres in height and is completely devoid of any decoration.The raha niches on three sides uniformly measures 0.55 metres in height x 0.30 metres in width x 0.15 metres in depth are all empty. However, on both sides the niches are decorated with scroll works.
Decorative Features
Above the doorjambs there is a Sukanasa which is designed after a Khakhara mundi flanked by two miniature rekha deulas. Up to the Gandi portion the temple is carved with series of khakhara mundis inserted in every pagas. The jangha portion is decorated with series of stylised chaitya motif and bada is relieved with scroll works. Door Jambs: The doorjambs measuring 1.40 metres in height and 0.95 metres in width is decorated with three plain vertical bands.The lintel is plain.
Present Condition
The temple is showing signs of deterioration and in a rapid process of decay due to the growth of vegetation on the exterior walls. Since there is no mastaka rain water directly enters inside the sanctum. As it is not a living temple, the local people use the monument as a public toilet. The temple was repaired by Orissa State Archaeology under X and XI Finance Commission Award.Astasambhu Siva Temples, Bhunaneswar
Astasambhu Siva Temples is a collection of 8 Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Siva located in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, India.
The Temple
In the Uttaresvara Siva Temple precinct there are eight temples of identical size and dimension locally known as Astasambhu. Ashta means eight and Sambhu refers to another name of Lord Shiva. Five of them are arranged in one alignment are also known as Panchu Pandava. The temple is under the private ownership and is maintained by the Ratnakara Gargabatu and family. According to architectural features like bada division and pabhaga mouldings, this temple was built around 10th Century A.D. This is a building made up of stones and its typology is Rekha Deul. The temple is surrounded by Godavari tank in the east, Uttaresvara Siva Temple compound wall in west, and Bindusagar tank in south beyond the compound wall. The temple has an east facing shrine.Architecture
The temple has a square vimanam(shrine) measuring 2.45 metres with a frontal porch of 0.53 metres. Its pancharatha(five chariots) as distinguished by a central raha and a pair of 'anuratha and kanika pagas on either sides of the raha. On elevation, he vimana is of rekha order that measures 5.72 metres in height from pabhaga to kalasa. From bottom to the top the temple has a bada, gandi and mastaka. With three fold divisions of the bada the temple has a trianga bada measuring 1.72 metres. At the bottom the pabhaga has four base mouldings of khura, kumha, pata, basanta that measures 0.47 metres. Jangha measures 0.90 metres and baranda measuring 0.35 metres thick has three mouldings. The gandi measuring 3.00 metres in height is devoid of any decoration and mastaka measures 1.00 metres with components like beki, amlaka, khapuri and kalasa.The parsvadevata niches are located on the raha paga of the jangha on the three sides of north, west and south measuring 0.50 metres x 0.32 metres and with a depth of 0.20 metres. Except the southern niche the rest two are empty. The niches are decorated with talagarbhika and urdhagarbhika of khakhara order. The southern niche houses a four armed Ganesha holding a parasu in his lower left, a rosary with varadamudra pose in lower right hand. His upper hands are broken. The deity is flanked on the top by two flying vidyadharas holding garlands in their hands. This temple is made up of coarse grey sand stone, construction technique is dry masonary type and construction type is Kalingan.
Decorative features
The doorjamb is decorated with three vertical bands and measures 1.20 metres in height x 0.84 metres in width. At the base of the doorjamb there are dvarapala niches on either side measuring 0.28 metres in height x 0.12 metres in width and houses the Saivite dvarapala’s holding trident. At the lalatabimba there is a Gajalaxmi holding a lotus in her left hand and right hand is in Varada mudra. The architrave above the doorjamb carved with the traditional Navagrahas flanked by two atlantid ganas on either side.Baitala Deula, Bhubaneswar
Vaitaḷa deuḷa or Baitala deuḷa , Devnagari:वैताळ देउळ) is a 9th century Hindu temple typical Khakara temple dedicated to Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, India. This is also locally known as "Tini Mundia Mandira". This info may be helpful in locating the temple.Architecture
Baitaḷa Deuḷa Temple’s striking feature is the shape of its sanctuary tower. The semi-cylindrical shape of its roof is a leading example of Khakhara order of temples— which bears an affinity to the Dravidian Gopuram of the South Indian temples. Its gabbled towers with a row of Sikharas reveals unmistakable signs of southern intrusion.[1] The plan of the deuḷa is oblong and the Jaga mohan is a rectangular structure, but embedded in each angle is a small subsidiary shrine. Baitala deuḷa boasts of some figures, although executed in relief, are however characterized by delicacy of features and perfect equipoise.The outer walls are encrusted with panels of Hindu deities, mostly Shiva and his consort Parvati in her Shakti form, hunting processions, capturing of wild elephants and the occasional erotic couples.
The facade of the deuḷa above the left of the Jagamohana is dominated by two Chaitya windows— the lower one having a beautifully carved figure of Sun God (Surya) noted for its facial expression, with Usha (Dawn) and Pratyusha shooting arrows on either side and with Aruna in front, driving a chariot of seven horses.
The medallion in the upper Chaitya window houses a 10-armed Nataraja or dancing Shiva. In front of the flat roofed Jagamohana is a stone post relieved with two Buddha like figures seated in Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana mudra.
Another striking feature is temple's Tantric associations, marked by eerie carvings in the sanctum and the image enshrined in the central niche, eight armed Chamunda, locally known as Kapaḷini, is the terrifying form of goddess Durga. Thus, Baitaḷa Deuḷa is a Shakti shrine.
The Deity
The presiding deity, Chamunda or Charchika sits on a corpse flanked by a jackal and an owl and decorated with a garland of skulls. She holds a snake, bow, shield, sword, trident, thunderbolt and an arrow, and is piercing the neck of the demon. The niche is capped by a chaitya window containing seated figures of Shiva and Parvati.The Chamunda is surrounded by a host of other smaller size allied deities carved in the lower parts of the walls, each within a niche separate by a pilaster. The figure on the east wall, to the fight of the door, is a skeleton form of Bhairava forming the counter part of Chamunda.
The other, carved on the north wall, rises from ground, having filled his skull-cup with the blood of a person whose severed head lies on the right. On the pedestal is an offering of two more heads on a tray resting on a tripod, flanked by a jackal feasting on the decapitated body on the right and a woman holding a head on the left.
The tantric character of the temple is also marked by the stone post, to which sacrificial offerings were tethered, just in front of the jagamohana. You need an artificial light to see in the darkness of the interior, though early morning sun lights up the interior.
Bata Mahadeva, Bhubaneswar
Bata Mahadeva. (Muktesvara Siva) is a temple of Hindu god siva. This is one of the oldest temple in Bhubaneswar (The Temple city of India), a well known heritage place and capital of Orissa.Approach
It is located at the middle of the Bindusagar road, leading from Kedar-Gouri Lane to Lingaraja temple. It is a living temple and facing towards north. The deity enshrined here is a Siva lingam with a circular yoni pitha made of sandstone.Tradition & legends
According to local legend when Mahadeva visited Ekamra Nagari he took rest at this place. Since it is located at the middle of the road it is known as Bata Mahadeva. Ownership: This temple is not under any private ownership and comes under public property. This temple is under the control of Lingaraja temple administration.Age: According to architectural features, this temple is built around 15th to 16th century CE. Property type: This is a building made up of stones and its typology is Pidha Deul.
Use: Currently this temple is used for worship and in past it was used for the same purpose.
Cultural significance: Pinda is offered to the ancestors and this temple is mainly used for this purpose.
Surrounding
The temple is surrounded by road on all its four sides and Ananta Vasudeva temple is in the east at a distance of 15.00 mtrs, Bindusagar in the west is at a distance of 10.00 mtrs, Lingaraja temple in the south is at a distance of 100 mtrs.- Orientation: The temple is facing towards north.
- Architectural features (Plan and Elevation): On plan, the temple has a square sanctum measuring 1.95 square mtrs. It is pancharatha on plan as distinguished by a central raha and a pair of anuratha paga, and kanika pagas on the either side of the raha. On elevation, the vimana is of pidha order measuring 1.95 mtrs in height. From bottom to the top the temple has bada, gandi and mastaka. Bada measuring 1.05 mtrs in height is without any moulding. Gandi consisting of two receding tiers measure 1.30 mtrs in height. Mastaka measures 0.60 mtrs.
Decorative features
- Door Jambs: The doorjamb measuring 0.82 mtrs in height and 0.53mtrs in width are plain.
- Building material: This temple is made up of Sandstone.
- Construction techniques: Dry masonry
- Construction Style: Pidha deul
Conservation
- State of preservation: This temple is in comparatively fair condition due to proper care and recent renovation work.
- Structural problems: Western wall of the gandi is partly broken.
- Repairs and Maintenance: The temple was repaired and recently maintained by local people. The temple is covered with marbles and lime wash. (Reference: Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan and team, Dated 21.10.2006)
Beharana Mandapa, Bhubaneswar
Beharana Mandapa / Baa-khia Mandapa Beharana Mandapa (Lat- 20° 13’ 74” N., Long- 85° 49’ 65” E., Elev- 45 ft.) or Baa khia Mandapa is located inside the Kapilesvara temple precinct in Kapilesvara village, Old Town, Bhubaneswar. The Mandapa is provided with steps in the east. It was built around 18th Century A.D.Physical description
- Surrounding
- Orientation
- Architectural features (Plan and Elevation)
On plan, the Mandapa measures 3.20 square mtrs. with a height of 3.50 mtrs. The Mandapa has four pillars on four corners that support a roof of G.I. Sheets. The ceiling that is made of wood is carved with various decorations like elephant, makara, a series of lotus scroll work etc.
Belesvara Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Belesvara Siva Temple is a temple of Hindu god siva. This is one of the oldest temple in Bhubaneswar (The Temple city of India), a well known heritage place and capital of Orissa.
Location: Lat.20° 14’ 41” N., Long. 85° 50’ 06” E., Elev. 75 ft.
Approach: Belesvara Siva temple is located in the Talabazar road, Old Town, Bhubaneswar. It is situated in the southern bank of the Bindusagar tank and on the left side of Talabazar road leading from Lingaraja to Kedar-Gouri Lane. The temple is facing towards east. It is a living temple. The presiding deity is a Siva lingam within a circular yoni pitha inside the sanctum. This temple is made of a fine grained grey sand stone.
Ownership: This temple is not under any private ownership and comes under public property. This temple is under the care and maintenance of Devaraj Das.
Age: This temple is built is 9th century A.D.
Property type: This is a building made up of stones and its typology is Rekha Deul.
Use: Currently this temple is used for worshipping purpose and in past it was used for the same purpose.
Cultural significance: Sivaratri, Sankranti, etc.
Surrounding: It is surrounded by Sradha Mandapa in east and residential buildings on the other three sides.
Orientation: The face of this temple is towards east.
Architectural features (Plan and Elevation): On plan the temple has a triratha vimana measuring 2.10 square metres with a frontal porch of 0.30 metres. On elevation, the vimana is a rekha deul with usual bada, gandi and mastaka. The temple is in a dilapidated condition and partially buried. What exists at present is the bada and gandi. The remaining part of the bada measure 1.30 metres. (pabhaga 0.23 metres, jangha 0.85 metres, baranda 0.22 metres with two mouldings). The gandi measures 2.30 metres.
Raha niche & parsva devatas: The raha niches on jangha in the three sides of north, west and south measure 0.44 metres in height x 0.26 metres in width with a depth of 0.09 metres. The niches are empty.
Decorative features: Door Jambs: The door jambs are carved with three plain vertical bands that measures 1.08 metres in height and 0.88 metres in width.
Building material: This temple is made up of grey sand and stone, construction technique is Masonary type and construction type is Kalingan.
Preservation: This temple is in advanced deterioration because cracks have developed on all sides of the temple.
Signs of distress: The walls are full of cracks and growth of vegetation.
Structural problems: The structure of this temple is in dilapidated condition.
Repairs and Maintenance: It requires Immediate repair.
Conservation Problem and Remedies: The rain water percolating through the roof.
Detached sculptures: A broken amalaka and stone carved with kirtimukha are found in front of the temple. The temple is encroached from all sides. Sradha Mandapa in north and eastern sides and residential buildings in south and western sides.
Bhandara Ghara Shrine, Bhubaneswar
Bhandara Ghara Shrine Bhandara Ghara Shrine (Lat- 200 15’ 53” N., Long- 850 51’ 40” E., Elev- 56 ft.) is located in the Kapilesvara temple precinct. It is a living temple facing towards east. It enshrines the chalanti pratima (movable deities) of Visnu and Siva. These deities are taken on procession on various festive occasions for public viewing. It was built around 16th century A.D.Bharati Matha Temple, Bhubaneswar
Bharati Matha Temple is a temple of the Hindu God Siva. This is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar (The Temple city of India), a well known heritage place and capital of the State of Orissa. The temple is a Hindu monastery with three stories which was built in the 11th century AD. It is currently used for living Matha purposes and earlier it was used as a Hindu pilgrimage centre.Approach
Bharati Matha is located in the Badheibanka Chowk, Old Town Bhubaneswar. One can approach the Matha on the left side of Ratha road leading from Lingaraja to Ramesvara Goswami is the present Mahanta of the Matha. It is one of the oldest Hindu monasteries of Bhubaneswar.Surrounding
The Matha is surrounded by Ratha road in east, Jamesvara Patna road in south, private buildings in north and Bhrukutesvara temple in west.Orientation
The Matha is facing towards the west.Tradition and legends
According to local legend as narrated by the Mahanta, the monastery was established by Yajati Kesari, the builder of the Lingaraja Temple, and the Matha was initially used to house the artisans who were engaged in the construction of Lingaraja Temple.Ownership
This temple is not under any private ownership and comes under public property. It is under the care and maintenance of the Endowment Department and on the personal supervision of Matha Mahanta Pranab Kishore Bharati Goswami.Significance
Cultural
Rituals like Kartika purnima, Prathamastami, Durga puja, etc., are celebrated. During Prathamastami, Lord Lingaraja comes here to visit his uncle in the Matha.Social
Marriage ceremonies, thread ceremonies, engagements and name giving ceremonies are observed.Burial temples
Pipal trees and Asoka trees are found on the outer wall of the Matha on the northern and southern sides. In the southern side of the entrance there is a cluster of nine small temples and a few detached sculptures and temple fragments kept within a small compound, behind the Matha shrine of Talesvara Siva temple. These nine temples of Pidha order enshrine the Siva lingam in the sanctum. According to the Matha legend these temples are dedicated to the previous Matha Mahantas in recognition of their contribution and religious merits. These shrines have been erected upon the burial of the deceased Mahantas, which was an interesting and important Matha tradition in the past. These shrines have been named as burial temples to distinguish them from the other temples.Bhringesvara Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
The Bhringesvara Siva temple is situated on the foothills of Dhauli and the left bank of the river Daya, in the southeastern outskirts of Bhubaneswar in the village Khatuapada. The temple is facing towards west and the presiding deity is a circular yoni pitha with a hole at the centre. The temple is made of light grey sand stone. The temple is renovated one from bottom to the top by employing the earlier materials. This temple is now under the protection of Orissa State Archaeology.Name
i) Present Name Bhringesvara Siva temple ii) Past Name BhairangesvaraBhrukutesvar Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Bhrukutesvar Siva Temple Bhrukutesvar Shiva Temple is situated in Yamesvara Patna, Old Town, Bhubaneswar.It is a single structure pidha deul without any frontal porch.According to the local people this temple was built by the Kesaris (Somavamsis).
Location
Lat. 20° 14’ 43”N, Long. 85° 49’ 93”E, Elev. 86 fti) Address & ii) Approach: Bhrukutesvar Shiva Temple is situated in Yamesvara Patna, Old Town, Bhubaneswar. It is located in the right side of Badheibank Chowk on the road leading form Lingaraja temple to Yamesvara Temple. The temple is at a distance of 40 mtrs west of Talesvara temple across the compound wall, 30 mtrs north-west of Yamesvara temple and 20 mtrs east of Bakresvara temple. The temple is facing towards north. It is a single structure pidha deul without any frontal porch. The enshrined deity is a Siva-lingam in within a circular yonipitha.
Ownership
i) Single/ Multiple Multiple ii) Public/ Private: Public iii) Any other (specify) Since it is a living temple. The local people look after the monument.Brahma Temple, Bindusagar, Bhubaneswar
The Brahma Temple is located in the eastern embankment of Bindusagar, on the left side road leading from Lingaraj Temple. The temple is surrounded by Bindusagar tank on the west in Bhubaneswar.
Legend
Lord Brahma came to Bhubaneswar to attend the coronation of Lingaraj Deva. Here he was requested to stay forever, but he assured that he will come every year on the month of Chaitra for the Ashokashtami festival. Again he assured that he will be the charioter (Sarathy) of the Rukuna Rath of Shri Lingaraja. So a temple was erected in honour of him near Bindusagar.Architecture
The main temple is of late Kalingan style dating back to 15th century. The present temple was built during the Gajapati Rulers. A four-handed black chlorite image of Brahma holding Veda and water vessel in upper two hands and rosary, abhaya mudra in lower two hands. A visit to Lingaraj Temple is incomplete without visiting this temple and Ananta Vasudeva Temple. Currently the daily worship is done by Brahmins belonging to Panda family.Brahmeswara Temple, Bhubaneswar
Brahmeswara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, erected at the end of the 9th century CE, is richly carved inside and out. This Hindu temple can be dated with fair accuracy by the use of inscriptions that were originally on the temple. They are now unfortunately lost, but records of them preserve the information of around 1058 CE. The temple is built in the 18th regnal year of the Somavamsi king Udyotakesari by his mother Kolavati Devi. This corresponds to 1058 CE.The Temple
The temple is built with traditional architectural methods of wood carving, but applied on stone building. The buildings were built in a shape of full volume pyramid, and then the would be carved inside and outside.The basic structure of the Orissan temple has two connecting buildings. The smaller is the Jagmohana, or assembly hall. Behind it is the Sikhara, the towering sanctuary. Later temples have two additional halls in front—one for dancing, and the other for banquets
The Brahmeswara shows quite a bit of affinity with the much earlier Mukteswar Temple, including the carved interior of the Jagmohana, and in the sculptural iconography such as the lion head motif, which appeared for the first time in the Mukteswara, and is here evident in profusion. There are quite a number of innovations, however, including the introduction of a great number of musicians and dancers, some holding lutes, on the exterior walls. For the first time in temple architectural history iron beams find their first use.
On sandstone walls there are symbolic decorations and the notion of godlike figures that helps the believer in his meditation. The carvings over the door frame contain beautiful flower designs as well as flying figures. Like the Rajarani, there are images of the eight directional Guardian Deities. There are also quite a number of tantric-related images, and even Chamunda appears on the western facade, holding a trident and a human head, standing on a corpse. Shiva and other deities are also depicted in their horrific aspects.
One of the lost inscriptions stated that a Queen Kolavati presented 'many beautiful women' to the temple, and it has been suggested that this is an evidence of the 'Devadasi' tradition, which assumed such importance in later Orissan temple architecture and temple life.
Budha Deula, Bhubaneswar
The Budha Deula temple is an Indian is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is located in Badu Sahi, Old Town of Bhubaneswar in Orissa. The enshrined deities of this temple are two Sivalingams with circular yonipitha. Another four Siva-lingamswith yonipitha are also found in between the larger two. These sculptures are discovered from Bindusagar and are placed here.
Cultural significance
The temple is surrounded by Bindusagar tank in north, Mohini temple in south and Akhada Chandi temple in west. It attains its huge importance during sradha, pinda, mundanakriyaArchitectural features
The main door of the temple faces towards east. This shrine is a RCC roofed hall of modern construction, the doorjambs are plain.Byamokesvara Temple, Bhubaneswar
Suresvara Mahadeva temple, also known as Byamokesvava temple, is located in the Tala bazaar market complex, Old Town of Bhubaneswar, the capital of the state of Orissa. The temple is located in front of the Lingaraj Temple across the road in the left side of the eastern gateway at a distance of 10.00 m. The temple faces towards the west. It is a living temple and the enshrined deity is a Siva lingam with a circular yonipitha at the centre of the sanctum. At present the sanctum is 1.50 m below the present road level. It is a recently recovered temple that had been buried. It was built in 10th century AD. The temple is maintained by the local shopkeepers.Significance
The locals ascribe the temple to the Kesharis (Somavamsis). Festivals like Maha Shivratri or Sivaratri, Sankranti, Jalabhisheka etc. are observed.The Temple
The temple is surrounded by shops on the northern and southern sides, residential buildings to the east and the road to the west. Except the entrance on the west the entire temple is buried up to the baranda portion of the bada. Hence the ground plan of the temple could not be ascertained. However it is pancharatha in plan with a central raha and pairs of anuratha and kanika pagas on either side of the raha. There are five flights of steps leading down into the sanctum which is 1.50 m below the present road level. In elevation, the vimana is of rekha deul and measures 7.00 m in height from baranda to mastaka. The gandi measures 5.00 m and the mastaka measures 2.00 m in height.The gandi is devoid of any sculptural embellishment. During the renovation work red coloured wash has been given to the temple. The doorjambs are decorated with three vertical bands and the river goddesses are usually found in the upper part of the door frame on either side of the navagraha slab. The doorjamb measures 1.72 m high x 1.30 m wide. Ganga is found on the right side of the doorframe and Yamuna in the left. They stand over their respective vehicles with their outside hand on the thigh and the uplifted inside hand holding a vase as in the examples in the Muktesvara compound. Their hair is stylistically depicted and their faces are illuminated by an identical soft and warm smile. Both are associated with dwarf-attendants. At the base of the doorjamb Saivite dvarapala are found on either side, whose upper parts only are visible.
In the lalatabimba there is a Gaja-lakxhmi image. The deity is holding two lotuses in her two hands over which elephants are standing on either side. The architrave above the doorjambs measuring 1.85 m is carved with the navagrahas. Ketu is depicted as a full figure on his knees as seen in the Tirthesvara temple.
The building material used for the construction of the temple is coarse grey sandstone. The construction technique is dry masonry and the style is Kalingan. The river goddesses are found in the upper part of the doorjamb. This is an exception in the temples of Bhubaneswar. Generally they are found at the base of the doorjamb along with the dvarapalas.
Chakreshvari Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Chakresvara Shiva temple is a living Hindu temple built in 10-11 AD dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Hatiasuni lane, Rajarani Colony, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. The deity, lingam is within a circular yonipitha in side the sanctum. The temple is surrounded by private residential buildings in eastern and northern side and chakresvara tank in the west. It is The temple is of great significance as various rituals like Sivaratri, Diwali, and Sankranti are observed here. Also this temple serves as a purpose of a sacred place for Thread ceremony, Rudrabhiseka, Chandrabhiseka.Architectural features
The temple stands on a low platform. On plan, the temple has a vimana and a renovated frontal porch. The vimana(shrine) is pancharatha and the frontal porch. On elevation, the vimana is of rekha order extends from pabhaga to kalasa. From bottom to the top, the temple has a bada, gandi and mastaka. With three-fold divisions of the bad the temple has a trianga bada. At the bottom, the pabhaga has four base mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata and basanta.Special Feature
In the lalatabimba, four-armed Lord Ganesha which is found in place of the usual Gaja-laxmi. It is an exception of the temples of Bhubaneswar. Another departure is noticed at Kalarahanga where the lalatabimba is occupied by images of both Ganesha and Saraswati. In front of the temple, there are images of Parvati and Kartikeya and an amlaka stone in the southern side of the temple.Decorative features
The doorjambs are decorated with three vertical bands of scroll works like puspa sakha, nara, sakha and patra sakha from exterior to interior. At the lalatabimba there is a four armed Ganesha within a niche seated over his mount mouse. At the base of the doorjamb, there are dvarapala niches on either sides. The niches enshrine two armed Saivite dwrapala holding trident in their right hands and varada in left hands. The architrave above the doorjamb is beautifully carced with Navagrahas within the niches. Surya holds lotus in his hands, Rahu holds half moon and Ketu with a serpent tail.Champakesvara Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Champakesvara Siva Temple is located Ambika Sahi in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. It is 157 metres west of Parasuramesvara on the right side of the Kotitirthesvara lane leading to Bindu sagara. It is a laterite temple. Local people believe that the enshrined Siva lingam is patalaphuta and the precinct is the abode of nagas(champa naga) after whom the deity is named as Champakesvara. The local people also believe that the temple precinct which is a den for the snakes do not harm any body.The Temple
The temple dates back to 13th century A.D. The temple has a lot of significance in the past as well as today. It was of significance during the Ganga period. Sivaratri, Jalasayi, Rudrabhiseka, Sankranti are observed in this temple. Thread ceremony, birth day and marriage engagements are also carried out here. The temple is inside a laterite compound wall, which is surrounded by residential buildings on the northern side, Visvanatha temple in the southern side, Kotitirthesvara tank in the eastern side and the lane in the northern and western sides.Raha niche and parsva devatas
The raha niches of the western, northern and southern sides are identical in measurement measuring 0.85 metres in height, 0.47 metres in width and 0.34 metres in depth. All the niches are empty.Decorative features
The door jambs are later addition, which are plain. There is no navagraha architrave. The pabhaga is devoid of sculptural embellishment. The jangha is separated by a single moulding bandhana. The jangha is decorated with simple pilaster designs. The baranda is also left plain .At the base of the gandi in the raha paga there are three miniature rekha deul and the central one is higher than the rest two. The gandi is plain except miniature rekha deul and bhumi amlas in the kanika paga. Four bhumi amlas are found in the kanika paga. The raha paga of the gandi on all the four sides have udyota simha.Special features
Laterite temple, which was originally a panchayatana precinct as evident from the ruins of shrines in the western corners of the precinct. In one of these subsidiary shrines, there is a four armed broken image of Kartika in standing position. The lower left arm is broken and the upper left arm rests over a cock, which is upheld by a diminutive woman. There is an ancient well in front of the temple, which measures 1.30 metres square with a depth of 5.25 metres.Chandrasekhara Mahadeva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Chandrasekhara Mahadeva Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva located in the village Patia, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. The enshrined deity is a Siva lingam within a circular yoni pitha.The temple has a private ownership but is held by many people at the same time.The Temple
The temple dates back to approximately 19th century A.D. This is inferred from the architectural features and building materials. The temple has a lot of cultural significance attached to it. Rituals like Badaosa and Sankranti are observed here. The Patia Grama Mangali Trust Board is also associated with this temple.Surrounding
The temple is surrounded by residential buildings in north and south, pasture land in west and a concrete hall in the east.Architectural features
The temple has a vimana and a cement concrete hall in front of the vimana, which served as jagamohana. On elevation, the vimana is of pidha order having bada, gandi and mastaka measuring 4.80 metres in height from bottom to the top. The bada of the temple measures 1.75 metres in height. The gandi measures 1.55 metres and the mastaka 1.50 metres in height. The door jambs are a decorative element of the temple. They measure 1.20 metres x 0.51 metres. The building material is laterite. The construction technique used is Ashlar masonry with cement plaster and it has Kalingan style.Chintamanisvara Siva Temple, Bhubaneswar
Chintamanisvara Siva Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva located in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, India. It is situated at the end of the Chintamanisvara road branching from Cuttack - Puri road near the Old Station Bazar. The temple faces towards west and the enshrined deity is a Siva lingam with a yonipitha.
The Temple
The temple dates back to 14th century A.D. According to local legend the temple was built by the Kesharis (Somavamsis). Various religious sacraments like Sivaratri, Siva vivaha, jalasaya, rudrabhisekha are performed here. Marriage and thread ceremonies are held here.Architectural features
On plan, the temple has a square sanctum, the vimana is of rekha order. From bottom to the top the temple has a bada, gandi and mastaka. There are fivefold divisions the panchanga bada and at the base the pabhaga has a set of five mouldings i.e. khura, kumbha, pata, kani and basanta. Khura portion of the temple has partly been buried. Jangha is segmented into tala jangha and upara jangha by a set of three mouldings of the bandhana, baranda with seven mouldings. The gandi is devoid of any decoration and the mastaka as with Orissan temples has components like beki, amalaka, khapuri and kalasa.Eastern niche enshrines a four armed Kartikeya image. His major left is in varadamudra and right hand holds a mace. His uplifted back left hand holds a cock and his right hand is held over the head of the peacock. Southern niche houses a four armed Ganesha image who is holding rosary in his major right hand and modaka patra in his left hand. His uplifted back right hand holds an ankusa while his left hand holds a broken tooth(tusk).The northern raha niche houses goddess Parvati.
Decorative features
The tala jangha and the upara jangha of the bada are carved with a series of khakhara mundis and pidha mundis respectively. In the beki recess above the kanika paga there is a deula charini whereas above the raha paga at the center there are four armed divinities. The base of the doorjamb is carved with two khakhara mundis on either side. Temple is enclosed by a modern compound wall measuring 40.00 square m, 1.80 m in height with a thickness of 0.20 m. There is a four armed Ganesha in the right side of the doorjamb. The deity is holding a Parasu and rosary in his lower left and right arms and modakapatra in upper left and a broken tooth(tusk) in lower left arm.Chintamanisvara Tank
It is a temple tank
located within the precinct of temple. According to local people the tank was
dug by the Kesharis. Festivals like Kartika purnima and Sravana purnima are
observed here. The tank is rectangular in shape made of laterite measuring
22.40 m in length and 11.20 m in breadth with a depth of 3.00 m. The tank is
fed by a natural spring with waters from underground. As a result of which
water level is always constant throughout the year. There is an outlet in the
eastern wall to discharge the excess water.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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