Markandeswar Temple, Puri –
The Temple
The temple is located on the
southern embankment of Markandesvara Tank. The Temple is facing towards east.
The temple is located 5.50 metres below the present road level. The temple is
Pancharatha on plan and has panchanga bada in elevation. The Temple has four
parts such as Vimana (Main Temple), Jagamohana (Entrance Hall), Natamandapa
(Dancing Hall) and Bhogamandapa (Offering Hall). The sanctum follows rekha
deula type and jagamohana follows pidha deula type of Kalingan order.
The Vimana is square in plan.
The Natamandapa and Bhogamandapa are of later construction. Both the
bhogamandapa and Natamandapa have pidha roof. The temple has a square vimana
and jagamohana stands on a lofty platform and both the Natamandapa and
Bhogamandapa also stand on a shallow platform. Presiding Deity is called as
Markandeswar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Shiva Lingam within a circular
Yonipitha.
The Shiva Linga is in cracked
condition due to sudden appearance of Siva from Linga to save his devotee
Markandeya from Yama’s attack. The same incident has been depicted with a
painting in one portion of inner wall. The other portion bears the picture of
Sri Jagannath in his four shapes. ln the front side wall, the picture of Shiva
in the stage of meditation is drawn in colours.
There are Parsvadevta images of
Ganesh & Kartikeya in the outer parts of Vimana. The Jagamohana houses a
small stone slab which contains the legendary images of Markandeya, Mrityunjay
Shiva and Yama. There is a big wooden bull, the traditional mount of
Markandeswar and Parvati, in the side of Nata Mandapa is kept being used on the
occasion of their marriage ceremony. On the other side, the wooden Vimana is
placed which is used in carrying the deity for participation in Chandana Yatra.
There is a small shrine for Goddess
Parvati in the temple premises. The upper part of the inner wall of the Parvathi
temple is depicted with Dasamahavidya (Kali, Tara, Sodashi, Bhubaneswari, Bhairavi,
Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagala, Matangi, Kamala or Raj Rajeswari). There is a
Kitchen or Rosaighara and a well in front of the kitchen on the southern side
of Jagamohana. There are two small shrines in the premises known as Pancha Pandava
Shrine and Baidyanatha and Rameswar Shrines.
There is a shrine housing a rare
image of cat - faced Hanuman or a Marjar Hanuman in the outside wall of the
main temple. In Valmiki Ramayana, it is stated that Hanuman entered in Ravana’s
harem to trace Sita in form of a cat. There is a platform called Gamha Vedi in
front of the main gate way entrance. It is connected with festive occasion of
Gamhapurnima and Balabhadra Janma.
A shrine for Sapta Matrikas can
be found by the side of Gamha Vedi. This Shrine houses the seven idols
representing Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and
Chamunda. Each idol is about four feet high kept over a platform. These idols
are flanked by idols of Ganesh and Virabhadra at each side. Each mother except
Chamunda has her child in her lap. It is one of the important Shakta shrines of
Odisha.
There is another shrine housing
the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and other deities can be seen in
the temple premises. There is the Kaliyadalan Mandap or Boitideula in front of
Jagannath Shrine. Its upper part is designed as a boat which is a rare
structure in Puri. It was built by Kirti Chandra, the King of Bardhaman in West
Bengal in 1746 AD. There is a Dolamandapa by the side of Kaliyadalan Mandap. Dhableswar
Shrine is situated is in front of Dolamandapa.
Markandeya Tank:
For brief details, please refer below link;
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