Kapilesvara Temple, Kapileshwar, Bhubaneswar – The Temple Complex

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 14^th 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.

Baidyanatha Temple:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/baidyanatha-temple-kapileshwar-bhubaneswar-odisha.html

Bhandara Ghara Shrine:

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/bhandara-ghara-shrine-kapileshwar-bhubaneswar-odisha.html

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 14^th – 15^th 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 10^th / 11^th 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;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/04/siddhesvara-temple-kapileshwar-bhubaneswar-odisha.html

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 10^th or 11^th 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 10^th or 11^th 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 18^th 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 16^th 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 15^th 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 14^th 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 12^th century CE. The temple is triratha on plan and triangabada in elevation. The vimana is of rekha order.

Beharana Mandapa / Baa-khia Mandapa:

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 13^th 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 14^th 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.