Kapala Mochan Temple, Puri,
Odisha
Kapala Mochan Temple is a Hindu Temple
dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Puri, a famous pilgrimage town in the state
of Odisha, India. This Temple is considered as one of the Pancha Pandava
Temples, associated with
Nakula, one of the brothers among the Pancha Pandavas. It is also considered as
one of the Ashta Sambhu Temples protecting Puri in all directions. The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Puri
Jagannatha Temple, 2 Kms from Puri Bus Stand and 3 Kms from Puri Railway
Station. The Temple is situated to the south west of Jagannath Temple
in the Manikarnika street. The temple is located on the left side of Gandua
Chaura Chowk in Manikarnika Street.
Legends
Kapala Mochana Mahadeva:
Initially Brahma had five heads.
Lord Shiva plucked one of those head, and the Kapala (Head of Brahma) remained
attached to Lord Shiva’s hand, thus he committed the sin of killing a Brahmana
(Brahma Hathi Dosha). He could not get rid of it and went everywhere but this
sin followed him. Finally, when Lord Shiva was passing through Puri, suddenly
the Kapala fell from his hand by the power of Puri Dham and Jagannatha. Hence,
the Kapala fell from Lord Shiva hands and sin got absolved, Lord Shiva came to
be called as Kapala Mochana Mahadeva.
Pancha Pandava Temples:
Kapala Mochan Temple is one of
the Pancha Pandava Temple of Puri. As per the legend, Pancha Pandavas
(Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva) during their exile visited
Puri and stayed here for one day. They worshipped Lord Vishnu for the safety of
their journey. As a symbol of their visit, five Shiva temples were built at
Puri in memory of their stay at this holy place. These famous five Shiva
temples are Lokanatha,
Jameswara, Kapalamochana, Markandeswarar and Nilakanthesvara.
Together, these temples are called as Pancha Pandava Temples. Kapala Mochan
Temple is associated with Nakula, one of the brother among the Pancha Pandavas.
Ashta Shambhus:
As per Skanda Purana Purusottama
Mahatmya, Puri is called as Shankha Kshetra as it is conch shaped. Puri
Jagannath Temple stands at the centre. lt is surrounded and protected by eight
shrines called Ashta Shambhus. Markandeswar is one among them. The others are Kapalamochana,
Kshetrapal, Yameshwar, lshaneswar, Bilweswar and Neelakantha.
History
The Temple was built in 10th
Century CE by Somavanshi Kings.
The
Temple
The Temple is considered as one
of the Pancha Pandava Temples of Puri. This temple is facing towards east. The
temple is Pancharatha on plan and Panchangabada in elevation. Presiding Deity
is called as Kapala Mochana Mahadeva. He is housed in the sanctum in the form
of Shiva Lingam within a circular yonipitha. The Temple is situated 6.60 meters
below the present road level. The Sanctum follows rekha deula style and
Jagamohana follows pidha deula style. There is an idol of ten-armed Kali inside
the Jagamohana. She is called as Dasa Bhuja Shyama Kali. In addition to Dasa
Bhuja Shyama Kali, there is a Kartikeya image and a four-armed female figure inside
the jagamohana.
There is an 8th – 9th
century image of Ganesa made of sand stone enshrined in a separate shrine in
the northern side of the temple near the wall. The image is without the mount
mouse, which speaks of the antiquity of the image. It is quite probable that
this image was one of the Parsvadevta of the original Siva temple of the
precinct. The image of Lord Narasimha is also carved on the temple wall. There
is a sacred pool, called as Manikarnika, found in the temple premises.
Festivals
Kapalamochana Mahadeva
participates in the Chandana
Yatra festival of Lord
Jagannath. This temple is also connected with Sitalasasti,
Dolapurnima and Rudravisekha of Lord Jagannath Temple. Marriage ceremony,
engagement and thread ceremony etc. are observed here.
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;
Location
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