Yajna Varaha Temple, Jajpur – The Temple Complex

Yajna Varaha Temple, Jajpur – The Temple Complex

The temple complex is located at an elevation of 15 feet (4.6 m), on an island created by two branches of the Vaitarani River. This temple is facing towards east. The temple complex measures at about 98 feet X 131 feet. The Sanctum Sanctorum is built over a raised plinth. It measures at about 83 feet X 39.4 feet. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of rekha vimana, antarala and pidha jagamohana. The Sanctum Sanctorum is Pancharatha on plan and Panchangabada in elevation.

Both the vimana and jagamohana are square on plan. The interior of the jagamohana and antarala are decorated with modern paintings of floral and animal or bird motifs. Sculptures of Saivite dvarapala, head of Brahma and Astikajaratkaru (the goddess Manasa cradles her child Astika or a dead man who is revived) can be seen in the walls of the jagamohana. A Garuda pillar can be seen in the middle of the jagamohana. The Sanctum houses two idols of Varaha, an idol of Lakshmi and an idol of Jagannatha.

The Jagannatha idol is made of wood whereas others are made of stone. All the images are kept over a high pedestal. The niches in the talajangha of the jagamohana has images of the Buddhist deity Prajnaparamita, Vishnu, Kalyana Sundara, Narasimha, Ganga, Varaha, Parvati, Giridhari Govardana and dancing panels. The brackets supporting the gandi (temple pinnacle) have erotic sculptures of male and female figures and figurines of bharabahaka (goblins supporting the roof) and mother and child.

The talajangha of the vimana exhibits erotic sculptures, mother and child, and amorous couples. Musicians, devotees and Yamuna (a river goddess) are carved on the upara jangha. The pinnacle is Pancharatha (containing five Pagas or segments) in nature and decorated with figures of the udyotasimha (lion with lolling tongue) and gajasimhas (the lion riding an elephant), all on central pagas (raha), except the main paga which bears a Varaha image.

Bimala Temple:

The temple is situated on the south side inside Yajna Varaha Temple. This temple is facing towards east. The temple is Pancharatha on plan and triangabada in elevation. The temple consists of rekha vimana and a pillared frontal porch. The vimana is square on plan whereas the frontal porch is rectangular on plan. The Sanctum houses goddess Bimala with a Shiva Linga. Udyota Simha can be seen on each raha. Idols of Matru Murti and Hanuman can be seen on either side of the entrance.

Hara Gouri Temple:

The temple is situated to the south east of the Yajna Varaha temple within the temple complex. The temple is believed to be built by Gangas in 15^th century CE. This temple is facing towards south. The temple has a pidha vimana of impoverished Kalingan order and half of its bada is buried in the ground. This shrine measures 3.2 by 2.9 metres (10.5 by 9.5 ft) with a partial visible height of 4 metres (13 ft) as the rest of the shrine is below the ground.

The Sanctum houses the presiding deity, Hara Gouri in the form of Ekamukhi Shiva Linga. Udyota Simha can be seen on the northern raha.  Idols of a four-armed Vishnu and four armed Ganesha can be seen on the wall at the entrance of the temple. During the rainy months and floods in the river, the sanctum, which is below the ground level, gets submerged.

Kharakhia Varaha Temple:

The temple is situated to south of the Yajna Varaha temple within the temple complex. The temple is facing towards north. The temple consists of pidha vimana and pillared pidha frontal porch. The vimana is square on plan whereas the frontal porch is rectangular on plan. The original structure is dated to 15^th century during the reign of Gajapati kings. This temple has been refurbished as a modern temple structure (with bricks and cement mortar) with measurements of 5.25 by 5.15 metres (17.2 by 16.9 ft) in plan with a height of 5 metres (16 ft). The Sanctum enshrines idols of Varaha and Lakshmi.

Mukteswara Temple:

The temple is situated to the south of the Yajna Varaha temple, within the temple complex. The temple is facing towards east. The temple is triratha on plan and has plain bada in elevation. The temple has a single pidha vimana of impoverished Kalingan order. The vimana is square on plan. The Sanctum houses Mukteswara in the form of Shiva Linga within a circular yonipitha. Udyota Simha can be seen on the northern raha. The temple is buried half of its bada and during rainy season the sanctum is submerged due to the high-water level of the adjoining river Vaitarani.

Gadadhara Vishnu Temple:

The temple is located in front of the Yajna Varaha temple within the temple complex. This temple is facing towards west. The temple is triratha on plan and triangabada in elevation. It is a pidha temple of impoverished Kalingan order. The Sanctum houses idols of Narasimha and Vishnu.

Samadhi of a bird:

There is a samadhi of a bird in the temple premises. It is said that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple and sat under a Banyan tree. A small bird landed on lap of the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, sang few songs and left its mortal coil to heaven. The Banyan tree is still present in the temple premises. The base of the tree is considered as the Samadhi of the bird.

Other shrines:

Shrines of Surya, Jagannath, Kasi Biswanath, Chaitanya Pada Pitha (housing the footprints of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu), Navagrahas, Sunya Vedi and Chamunda can be seen in the temple premises.  

Loose Sculptures:

The temple also houses few loose sculptures of four armed Ganesha, Trivikrama, Dhyani Buddha, Narasimha, Brahma, Uma Mahesvara Moorthy, Vamana and a broken sculpture of Lord Vishnu.