Hindu Temples of India: Mohini Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Mohini Temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Mohini Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, India. This temple is situated on the southern bank of Bindu Sagar Tank. It is one of the popular Shakti temples in Bhubaneswar. Presiding Deity of this temple is ten-armed Chamundi Devi. The Temple architecture bears a close resemblance to the Parasurameswar Temple.

History

Mohini Devi, the Queen of Bhauma King Sivakara Deva II constructed the temple named after her on the southern banks of Bindu Sarovar in 687 CE.

The Temple

Mohini Temple is a small temple, situated on the southern banks of Bindu Sagar. The Temple architecture bears a close resemblance to the Parasurameswar Temple. The temple consists of a Sanctum and Jagamohana. The Jagamohana was completely damaged and has been renovated badly with marbles in the interior. The temple is tri ratha on plan and tri anga bada in elevation.

There are hardly any designs or decorations found on the vimana or exterior walls. The sanctum sanctorum has rekha type vimana and Jagmohana is pidha type. The Tower over the sanctum rises to a height of about 9.45 m. The Sanctum houses ten armed Chamunda Devi. The image is terrific and is depicted in tantric form with sunken belly, wearing garlands of skulls and standing on a corpse.

There is an idol of a six-armed Mahishasuramardhini lying on the floor in the sanctum. There are some idols such as eight armed Durga and others are found in the Jagamohana. All these idols were found during the excavations in nearby places. There is a small sub-shrine without any deity located in the prakara. Here, the niche images are carved on the stones of the wall.

The exterior walls have five niche images (Parsvadevatas). They are Ganesha shown seated in ardhaparyanka mudra on a throne, Kartikeya along with his consort on a peacock, Goddess Parvati with two attendants and a lion, a damaged idol of Durga and a pair of damaged unidentified idols where one of them is holding trident and another is holding an axe. Two large vessels are put on either sides of them.