Somanatha Temple, Ghoradia, Odisha

Somanatha Temple, Ghoradia, Odisha

Somanatha Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Ghoradia Village in Delanga Tehsil in Puri District in Odisha, India. The temple is situated on the left bank of Daya river. The temple is believed to be built in 12^th century CE by the Gangas. The temple is a protected monument of Odisha State Archaeology and taken care by Somanath Temple Committee.

The Temple

This temple follows panchayatana style of architecture. Panchayatana is an architectural style where the main shrine is built on a raised platform with four smaller subsidiary shrines at the four corners and making it a total of five shrines. This main shrine is facing towards west. The main shrine consists of rekha vimana, antrala, pidha jagamohana and pillared mandapa. The vimana is pancharatha on plan and triangabada in elevation. The vimana is square on plan whereas jagamohana is rectangular on plan. The sanctum is situated at about 2.5 feet below the entrance level. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Somanatha in the form of patalaphuta Shiva Linga within a circular yonipitha made of black chlorite.

The exterior is decorated with vajramundi niches in the jangha enshrining dikpalas in the kanika pagas and different forms of Lord Shiva like Andhakasura Vadha Moorthy, Ekapada Bhairava, Nataraja and Parvati in the anuratha pagas, miniature rekhamundi in all pagas on the base of the gandi, tala-garbhika in the pabhaga, udyota simha in all direction at the raha and dopichhasimhas and deulacharinis over the beki. Sculptures of four armed Ganesha, Nandi, Udyota Simha, Nandi, miniature rekhamundi enshrining female devotee worshipping Lingam, hero stone can be seen in the temple premises.

Northwestern Shiva Temple:

This temple is situated on the northwest corner of the Somanatha temple complex and considered one of the four subsidiary shrines. This temple is believed to be built in 11^th century CE by Somavamsis. This temple is facing towards east. The temple consists of rekha vimana and shallow frontal porch. The temple is pancharatha on plan triangabada in elevation. The sanctum is square on plan. The presiding deity is missing now. The exterior is decorated with vajramundi niches in the jangha, miniature rekhamundis, pidhamundis, talagarbhika, kirtimukhas and udyotasimha.

Northeastern Shiva Temple:

This temple is situated on the northeast corner of the Somanatha temple complex and considered one of the four subsidiary shrines. This temple is believed to be built in 11^th century CE by Somavamsis. This temple is facing towards west. The temple consists of rekha vimana and shallow frontal porch. The temple is pancharatha on plan triangabada in elevation. The sanctum is square on plan. The presiding deity is missing now. The exterior is decorated with vajramundi niches in the jangha, miniature rekhamundis, pidhamundis, talagarbhika, kirtimukhas and udyotasimha.

Southwestern Shiva Temple:

This temple is situated on the southwest corner of the Somanatha temple complex and considered one of the four subsidiary shrines. This temple is believed to be built in 11^th century CE by Somavamsis. This temple is facing towards east. The temple consists of rekha vimana and shallow frontal porch. The temple is pancharatha on plan triangabada in elevation. The sanctum is square on plan. The presiding deity is missing now. The exterior is decorated with vajramundi niches in the jangha, miniature rekhamundis, pidhamundis, talagarbhika, kirtimukhas and udyotasimha.

Southeastern Shiva Temple:

This temple is situated on the southeast corner of the Somanatha temple complex and considered one of the four subsidiary shrines. This temple is believed to be built in 11^th century CE by Somavamsis. This temple is facing towards west. The temple consists of rekha vimana and shallow frontal porch. The temple is pancharatha on plan triangabada in elevation. The sanctum is square on plan. The presiding deity is missing now. The exterior is decorated with vajramundi niches in the jangha, miniature rekhamundis, pidhamundis, talagarbhika, kirtimukhas and udyotasimha.

Festivals

Shivarathri, Kartika Purnima, Sankranti and Dola Purnima are the festivals celebrated here.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Kuapada, 4 Kms from Beguniapada, 6 Kms from Motari Railway Station, 10 Kms from Delanga, 11 Kms from Kanas, 15 Kms from Khordha Road Junction Railway Station, 17 Kms from Khordha New Bus Stand, 18 Kms from Khordha, 32 Kms from Bhubaneswar Airport and 39 Kms from Bhubaneswar. The temple is situated on Khordha to Delanga route via Beguniapada.

Location