Alamchandi Temple, Puri – The Temple
The temple is facing towards east. The temple consists
of Vimana, Jagamohana and Natamandapa. It is built in sand stones. The Vimana
and Jagamohana are of ancient structure but the Natamandapa is of modern
construction. The vimana is of Pancha Ratha Rekha Deula and its height is about
30 feet from the surface of the temple complex. Devi Sodasi, Devi Kalika and
Devi Matangi are the niche idols around the shrine.
Presiding Deity is called as Alamchandi. She is housed
in the sanctum. She measures 3 feet in length and 2 feet in width. She is four
armed. She is holding knife in right upper hand, abhaya mudra in right lower
hand, trident in left upper hand and rosary in left lower hand respectively. She
has been installed on the portrait body of a corpse, which lies upon the
Simhaasana of 1 foot high. There is an image of Mahishamardini Durga, the
replica of the presiding deity, found from the simhaasana and it is made of
brass.
There is a Shivalinga made of black chlorite found on
the left side of Devi Alam Chandi. It has been kept on the floor of the
sanctum. He is locally worshipped as Krittivasa Mahadeva. The jagamohana of the
temple is a pidha deula and its height is about 20 feet from the surface of the
temple complex. The jagamohana has two doorways; one on the eastern side and
another in the southern side.
The doorway of the southern side is completely plain.
The doorjambs and the doorway lintel are not decorated with any element.
Navagrahas are carved on the architrave above the doorway lintel. There is only
an image of Mahavira installed on the plain pedestal. His right hand holds a
huge rock (Gandha Mardana Parvata) and the left hand possesses a Gada (mace) as
the usual attributes.
The Natamandapa of the temple is a modern flat roof
structure and its height is about 12 feet. Lion, the conventional mount of Devi
is installed in the floor of the Natamandapa. The niches of the inner walls of Natamandapa
are housed with Dasamahavidya figures. The Gaja Simhas are installed on the
both sides of the main doorway of the Natamandapa hall. They are acting as the
dvarapalas of the temple.
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