Kapilesvara
Temple, Kapileshwar,
Bhubaneswar – The Temple Complex
This Temple is a living temple,
facing towards east and maintained by Kapilesvara Temple Trust Board. The
precinct is located on the northern embankment of Manikarnika tank over an area
of 44 square metres. There are about 34 small and big temples or other type of monuments
located in this complex. The main temple of the complex is Kapilesvara
Shiva temple. The dominant feature of the temple is the 60-foot-high temple and
its adjacent pond, surrounded by stone steps. The temple has two entrances.
Both these inner and outer entrances have the sculptures of lions on either
sides. The outer entrance has a pyramidal shaped roof.
Kapilesvara Temple:
This temple is the main
temple in the entire complex. The temple was built in the 14th century
CE by the Suryavamsi Gajapati ruler Kapilendradeva. The temple has a vimana (shrine), jagamohana, nata
mandira and bhoga Mandapa. The vimana is in rekha
order, jagamohana is pidha and nata-mandira and bhoga
mandapa are flat roofed and of later constructions.
The temple is pancha ratha on
plan and Panchangabada in elevation. The vimana (shrine) is about 11.40
metres in height. Parvati, Kartikeya
and Ganesha
are the niche idols around shrine walls. Presiding Deity is called as Kapilesvara.
He is housed in the form of Shiva Linga at the center of a
circular yonipitha inside the sanctum.
There is a Gajalakshmi seated
in lalitasana over a lotus pedestal in the lintel at the entrance.
She holds lotus in her both hands; above the lotus two elephants are pouring
water over the deity. Dvarapalas along with river goddesses of the Ganges and
Yamuna mounted over their respective mounts can be found at the base of door
jambs.
The exteriors as well as walls,
pillars and even some portions of the roof of the chief sanctorum are decorated
with exquisite carvings and artistic features. Amongst the most unique features
of the temple are the minor statues that seem to portray the king’s supremacy.
These statues, carved on the exterior of the temple walls, are intricate
depictions of the king and his aides who can be seen obeying different orders
of their ruler.
Adi Kapilesvara Temple:
Adi Kapilesvara Temple is situated
inside the Kapileswara temple Complex. It is a living temple and facing west. Presiding
Deity, Adi Kapilesvara is housed in the shrine in the form of Shiva Lingam
within a circular yonipitha. The temple is surrounded by the precinct compound
wall in east, Ghanteswar temple in west and Baidyanath temple in south. The
temple has a vimana (shrine)
depicting pancha ratha (five chariots) and a frontal porch.
For brief details, please refer below link;
Bhandara Ghara Shrine:
For brief details, please
refer below link;
Ghanteswara Temple:
This temple is situated inside
the Kapileswara Temple Complex. The temple is facing towards west. Presiding Deity is called as Ghanteswara. He is housed in
the shrine in the form of Lingam over a square yonipitha made of
laterite. The temple has a vimana in pidha
order with a triratha (three chariots) on plan. The gandi has three
tiers. The total height of the temple is 2.83 m. The temple is surrounded by
Bhoga-mandapa of Kapileswara temple in north, Rosasala pathway in east, Dutiya
Kapileswara temple in the west and Gupteswar temple in south.
Guptesvara Temple:
Guptesvara Temple is situated
inside Kapilesvara Temple Complex. Presiding Deity is called as Guptesvara. He
is housed in the shrine in the form of Lingam within a circular yonipitha.
The temple was built in 14th
– 15th Century A.D. It was built by Gajapati rulers. The temple has
a square sanctum with a frontal porch. It is Pancharatha in plan. The vimana is of pidha Deul style. It was
built with Dry masonry Construction techniques in Kalingan style.
Kalika Siva Temple:
Kalika Siva Temple is located
beyond the southern compound wall of Kapilesvara Temple and close to the
northern embankment of Manikarnika tank. It is also called as Bakresvara Temple
/ Tirthesvara Temple. It was built around 10th / 11th
Century A.D. The temple is facing towards west. The temple is surrounded by
Bhaskaresvara Siva temple on its west Kapilesvara temple compound wall on its
east, Manikarnika tank on its south and Kapilesvara gate way on its north.
Presiding Deity is called as Kalika
/ Bakresvara / Tirthesvara. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva
Lingam within a circular yonipitha. The temple has a vimana and a frontal
porch. The temple is in pidha order. The sanctum is square on plan. Niches
around the shrine walls are empty. I t is now under the care and maintenance of
Kapilesvara Temple Trust Board.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple:
Lakshmi
Narayan Temple is situated inside Kapilesvara Temple Complex. The Shrine houses Lakshmi Narayana
seated in padmasana over a lotus pedestal. Narayana has four arms holding conch
in his upper right hand, a lotus in upper left hand and lower left hand is
holding a mace. Lakshmi is seating on his left lap. Both the images are crowned
with Kirita mukuta. Lakshmi is holding a lotus. The temple has a vimana in
pidha order. There is a Garuda image over a pillar in front of the temple. This
temple is closely attached with the pathway of the kitchen.
Siddhesvara Temple:
For brief details, please
refer below link;
Somabaresvara
Temple:
Somabaresvara Temple is situated
inside Kapilesvara Temple Complex. Presiding Deity is called as Somabaresvara. He is housed in the sanctum in the form
of Lingam over a square yonipitha made of sand stone. The temple has a vimana
in pidha order. It is triratha on plan and the temple is buried up to the Varandah.
The temple is facing towards west. The temple is surrounded by Beharana mandapa
in the west, Kapila Kunda in the east, Southern entrance of the Natamandapa of
Kapilesvara temple in the north and Kala Bhairava temple in the south.
Bhaskaresvara Temple:
This Temple is a living Temple.
Presiding Deity is called as Bhaskaresvara. He is housed in the shrine in the
form of Shiva Lingam. The Vimana is of Pidha order. It was built by the
Somavamsi rulers in the 10th or 11th century CE.
Chakresvara Temple:
This is a living Temple.
Presiding Deity is called as Chakresvara. He is housed in the shrine in the
form of Shiva Lingam. The Vimana is of Pidha order. It is triangabada in
elevation. It was built by the Somavamsi rulers in the 10th or
11th century CE.
Dula Devi Temple:
It is located on the right side
of Duladevi Chowk in Kapileshwar. This Temple is situated at about 100 metres
south east of Kapilesvara Temple Complex. This Shrine houses four armed Mahishamardini killing
the buffalo demon, Mahisha. This Temple was built by the Bhoi rulers in the 18th
century CE.
Jaresvara Temple:
Presiding Deity is called as Jaresvara.
He is housed in the shrine in the form of Shiva Lingam. The Temple was built by
the Gajapati rulers in the 16th century CE. The temple is
Pancharatha on plan and Panchangabada in elevation. The vimana is of pidha
order.
Dutiya Kapilesvara Temple:
Presiding Deity is called as Dutiya
Kapilesvara. He is housed in the shrine in the form of Shiva Lingam. The Temple
was built by the Suryavamsi Gajapati rulers in the 15th century CE. The
Vimana follows Pidha Deula style and flat roofed jagamohana.
Dakshina Kali Temple:
Dakshina Kali Temple was built
by Kapilendradeva of Gajapathy Dynasty in 14th Century CE. Presiding
Deity is called as Dakshina Kali. She is having four arms. The temple has a
Pancharatha vimana and saptaratha Jagamohana. The Vimana is of Rekha Deula
style.
Shaneesvara Temple:
Presiding Deity is called as Shaneesvara.
He is housed in the shrine in the form of Shiva Lingam. The Temple was built by
the Ganga Kings in the 12th century CE. The temple is triratha on
plan and triangabada in elevation. The vimana is of rekha order.
For brief details, please
refer below link;
https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/beharana-mandapa-kapileshwar-bhubaneswar-odisha.html
Hazara Mandapa:
Hazara
Mandapa is situated inside Kapilesvara Temple Complex. The Mandapa is surrounded
by Sanisvara Temple in east, temple
compound wall in west and south and Dwitiya Kapilesvara in north. It is a lofty
Mandapa
provided with a flight of steps in the northern side. There are 16 pillars that
support the roof of the Mandapa. The pillars are arranged in four rows, each
row with four pillars.
It
was built in the 13th century A.D and it is
now under the care and maintenance of Kapilesvara Temple Trust Board. In
the first Saturday of every Shivarathri Lord Lingaraja comes to visit Lord
Sanisvara sitting over this Mandapa. Then the lord marches towards the
Kapilesvara Temple to meet God Kapila which is famously known as Kasia Kapila Bheta.
Sombara Mandapa:
For brief details, please
refer below link;
https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/somabara-mandapa-kapileshwar-bhubaneswar-odisha.html
Other Shrines & Temples:
The Temple complex houses many
sub shrines and temples within its precinct. Most of them are dedicated to Lord
Siva. Also, many Shiva Lingas and Idols can be found throughout the temple
complex without any shrines. There are shrines for Durga, Kali with Shiva on
her foot, Surya with his seven horses and other deities from Hindu pantheon. Marble
idols of Lord Rama with Sita & Lakshmana and Radha Krishna of recent origin
can also be found in the temple premises.
Bada Kua:
Bada Kua is a square shaped
rock-cut well. It is believed that it was built in 14th Century by
Ganga Kings. Different forms of Vishnu can be found in the niches of the well.
Temple Tank:
There is also a big tank
situated within the temple premises. The interior walls of the tank have been
decorated with beautiful carvings of deities.
Inscriptions:
Numerous inscriptions are also
found at various places in the temple believed to be eulogies in honour of
Kapilendradeva of Gajapathy Dynasty.
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