Satrughnesvara Temple,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Satrughnesvara 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. Satrughnesvara 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 Lakshmanesvara Temple and Bharatesvara 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 Lakshmanesvara Temple and Bharatesvara 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. It is the third temple in the group of temples and located in
the southern most corner in the premises. This is the most beautiful temple in
the complex as it was the only temple retained most of its original
architecture features.
It is located in the middle
among the three temples. This temple is a living temple. Presiding Deity
is called as Satrughnesvara. 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. The
temple is triratha on plan and triangabada in elevation. The temple has a rekha
vimana of early Kalingan order.
The inscribed graha lintel in
Satrughnesvara temple can be dated prior to Parasurameswara temple based on
paleographic ground. Thus, placing Satrughnesvara temple to the latter half of
the sixth century CE, around 575 CE. This graha lintel was found on a niche in
the southern eave and has an inscriptions naming these planets. This block has
now been moved to Odisha State Museum. Dvarapalas
and ornate scroll works can be found at the doorjambs.
The lintel above the doorjambs does
not have Lakshmi or Navagraha panel like other temples. Instead, it has a panel
showing Shiva-Parvati in the center. Below them are their mounts, Nandi and
lion. They are both seated opposite to each other, separated by a trident which
is placed in between. The front side of
the Vimana has the sculpture of Ravana trying to lift Kailasa mountain (Ravana
Anugraha Murti) where Shiva and Parvati are seated. Kartikeya and Ganesha are
present on either side, while a lion and a bull are below Shiva-Parvati. Ravana
is shown with five heads and ten arms.
Above the sculpture of Ravana
Anugraha Murti, a sculpture of twelve armed Nataraja is found in the front side
of Vimana. He is shown holding a serpent in his two upper hands, spread
across his body above his head. His mount, Nandi, is shown seated near his feet
on his right. Above the Nataraja image, an image of Lakulisa is present
suggesting the affiliation to the Pasupatha sect.
The Vimana have many sculptures
and scroll works like Lakulisa, Nataraja along with a Kartikeya on peacock,
rare dancing Ardhanareeswarar, Harihara, Ganesha, marriage scene of Parvati and
Shiva, Linga pooja by devotees, royal procession, fighting scenes, amorous
couples, hamsa motif, makara motif, etc. Only Kartikeya is found as the
niche image and the other niches are empty without any idols.
Connectivity
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