Lakshmanesvara Temple,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Lakshmanesvara Temple is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, India. The
Temple is considered as one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneshwar. The Temple
was believed to be built in 6th Century CE. Lakshmanesvara Temple is
one of three temples located in the same complex and they are all located
opposite to Ramesvara Temple. The other two temples located in the complex are Bharatesvara Temple and Satrughnesvara Temple.
This group of temples along with Ramesvara Temple completes the set of four
temples named after the four main heroes of Ramayana. This Temple is situated on
the left side of the road leading from Kalpana chowk to Lingaraja temple and
just opposite to the Ramesvara temple. This group of Temples are
maintained by Archeological Survey of India.
Legends
It is said that Lord Rama along
with his wife Sita, while he was returning to Ayodhya after his victory over
Ravana, in Lanka, was passing over Ekamra
Kshetra. Sage Vashishta advised Lord Rama to worship Lord Shiva. Lord
Rama decided to worship Lord Shiva in Ekamra
Kshetra (Bhubaneswar) itself. He installed a Shiva Linga, in the name of
Ramesvara and worshipped. His brothers Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugna also
installed Shiva Linga in a row opposite to the one installed by Lord Rama. Temples
were built for these Shiva Lingas at later period. Subsequently, the Lingas
installed by Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugna came to be called as Lakshmanesvara,
Bharatesvara and Satrughnesvara.
History
It is believed that this group
of three temples were built by the Shailodbhavas in the later part of 6th
century CE. This group represents the earliest extant temples in Bhubaneswar
and is an example of earliest Kalingan temple architecture style.
The Temple
This group of temples were in
complete ruins and had been restored utilizing ancient materials. In due
course, some of the sculptures and stones got interchanged between these
shrines. Lakshmanesvara is restored without its crowing member and facing
stones, Bharatesvara base was restored with plain blocks of stone, and
Satrughnesvara is the only shrine in good state of preservation among the three
temples.
This temple shares the same
campus with Bharatesvara Temple and Satrughnesvara temple. These temples are
constructed in a line on north-south axis. All these
Temples are enclosed within a compound wall. This is a west facing temple. Only
the lower part of this temple had survived and the temple in current form is
reconstruction. It is the first temple in the group of temples and located in
the northern most corner of the complex.
This temple is a living temple.
Presiding Deity is called as Lakshmanesvara. He is housed in the sanctum in the
form of Shiva Linga. Nandi can be found facing the sanctum. The main entrance
door, in all the temples, is in T-shape design, reminiscent of the Gupta period
temples. Dvarapalas and ornate scroll works can be found at the doorjambs. An
image of Surya is found above the lintel over the main entrance. The temple is
triratha on plan and triangabada in elevation.
The temple has a rekha vimana of
early Kalingan order. The interior is plain. Remains of a rectangular plinth in
front of the temple suggests presence of a jagamohana (hall). A single pillar
is found lying inside the sanctum suggesting that the jagamohana was a pillared
hall. The exterior wall is decorated with varieties of motifs, amorous couples,
flying Vidyadharas, hamsa, makara motifs etc. Some scattered architectural
fragments are found near the temple.
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