Siddha Mahavir Temple, Puri – The Temple

Siddha Mahavir Temple, Puri – The Temple

The temple is facing towards east. It is a living Temple. The temple has a vimana and a jagamohana stands on a rectangular platform. Both vimana and jagamohana are of pidha style which is a departure from the Kalingan order temple. Vimana is about 35 feet high. The three sides central niches of the bada are housed with Parsvadevatas images of Yamaraja, Keshari and Anjana Devi. The Jagamohana is about 30 feet high. The entrance doorway wall of the Jagamohana is inserted with two large panels depicting a Panchamukhi Ganesha and a Sikshadana scene.

The Jagamohana has one doorway towards east. Two lions are installed on the both sides of the doorway of Jagamohana. They are acting as the dvarapalas of the temple. There is an open flat Nata mandapa recently erected in front of the Jagamohana. It is supported by octagonal pillars. The height of the flat roof is about 15 feet from the surface of the temple complex. The ceiling of the flat roof is recently painted with different scenes, which mostly derived from the stories of Ramayana.

There is a pedestal of 2½ feet high noticed in the floor of the Natamandapa. The footprint of Lord Rama is carved on the top of pedestal for worship. The Endowment Trust of the Government of Orissa has built the Natamandapa of the temple in 2000. Presiding Deity is called as Veer Hanuman / Siddha Hanuman. It is one of the most beautiful & largest image in Odisha. The idol is about 6 feet in height. He holds gada in left hand and a massive rock boulder (Gandha-Mardana Parvata) in right hand.

The deity has been installed on the decorated masonry pedestal of 2 feet high. The slab of the presiding deity is carved with a series of diminutive Hanuman figures in different postures. They are locally considered as the Ashta Mallas such as Sugriva, Jambava, Vali, Angada, Susena etc. These figures are also believed to be the eight advisers of Lord Rama during his expedition to Lanka to fight against Ravana for rescue of Sita.

A brass image of Hanuman (Mahavira) has also been kept on the same pedestal as the festive idol for ceremonial occasions. The sanctum has one doorway towards the Jagamohana and it is devoid of decorative ornamentations. The images of Gaja Lakshmi and Navagrahas are completely absent in their respective places. Sculptural fragments & architectural fragments of earlier temples especially from Konark Sun Temple are used in the walls and niches of the present temple.

The temple is also adorned with different sculptures and scenes. There is a scene of royal procession with two elephants inserted into a niche of the northern sidewall of the Jagamohana of the temple. An elephant and a horse with their grooms are carved on the pedestal of the royal procession slab. A short inscription is engraved just below the sculptural panel. The royal procession scene was executed in the third quarter of the 13^th Century AD. There is a beautiful pond in front of the temple. Devotees wash their hands and feets in this pond before entering into the temple. The temple complex also houses a kitchen in the left side to cook foods for the presiding deity.