Alamchandi Temple, Puri – The Temple

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.