Hindu Temples of India: Odisha

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Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Sivatirtha Matha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Sivatirtha Matha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Sivatirtha Matha is a Hindu religious monastery located in Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha, India. The mutt is situated in the outskirts of old town of Bhubaneswar. The matha is situated in front of the northern entrance of Lingaraj temple across the Ratha road.

History

The Matha belonged to Sankaracharya Sampradaya. The endowments department of Odisha took over the matha in 1970.

The Matha

The matha is facing towards east. The wooden logs used for preparing the chariot of Lord Lingaraj are consecrated here in the monastery before used by the carpenters. The burial shrines of the matha are located within the matha premises in the eastern end. There are thirteen burial shrines arranged in two rows.

There are nine shrines in the rear row of which four shrines from the northern side have been encroached upon by a private compound wall. The shrines on the south are partially buried. There are four shrines in the front row of which three shrines are buried up to the gandi while the fourth one is buried up to the bada. The burial shrines are square on plan.

Festivals

Chandan Yatra and Dola Purnima are the most famous festival celebrated here. During Dola Purnima, Lord Lingaraja arrives to this Matha to take community lunch.

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2023/11/sivatirtha-matha-bhubaneswar-connectivity.html

Location

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

Svapnesvara Mahadeva Temple, Patharachakada, Odisha

Svapnesvara Mahadeva Temple, Patharachakada, Odisha

Svapnesvara Mahadeva Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Patharachakada Village near Kantilo Town in Khandapada Block in Nayagarh District in Odisha, India. The temple is situated on the right bank of Mahanadi river.

History

The temple was constructed in 10^th century CE by the Somavamsis but the present temple is highly renovated one.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards west. The temple is pancharatha on plan & panchangabada in elevation. The temple consists of rekha vimana and pidha jagamohana. Both the vimana and jagamohana are square on plan. The interior northern wall of the jagamohana has an image of twelve armed Mahishasura Mardini. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity Svapnesvara in the form of Shiva Linga within a circular yonipitha. The exterior is devoid of any decoration except a number of deities attached in the bada portion of the temple.

Images of Ganesa Kartikeya and Parvati can be seen in the parsvadevata niches. Images of Uma Mahesvara and Ganesha can be seen in the bada portion. Each raha is represented with two udyotasimha one above the other. The frontal raha has only one udyotasimha which is surmounted by a miniature rekhamundi. Idols of Ekapada Bhairava, Astikajaratkaru, Surya, Varahi, Hanuman, Udyotsimhas and architectural fragments can be seen in the temple premises.

Narayani Temple:

Narayani Shrine is situated close to Svapnesvara Temple. There is a pond situated close to this shrine.

Festivals

Shivarathri and Kartika Purnima are the famous festivals celebrated here.

Prayers

It is believed that the couple taking bath in the temple pond will be blessed with child boon.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Kantilo, 13 Kms from Bijipur, 17 Kms from Khandapada, 36 Kms from Nayagarh, 78 Kms from Bhubaneswar Airport and 79 Kms from Bhubaneswar. The temple is situated on Bijipur to Kantilo route.

Location

Friday, August 25, 2023

Biranchinarayan Temple, Buguda, Odisha

Biranchinarayan Temple, Buguda, Odisha

Biranchinarayan Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Surya located in Buguda Town in Buguda Block in Ganjam District in Odisha, India. This temple is the second Surya temple constructed in Odisha, after the famous Konark Sun Temple. This temple is famously called as wooden Konark / Arkha Kshetra.

Legends

As per legend, Lord Biranchi Narayana informed King Srikara Bhanjadeva about the presence of his idol in a state of neglect in the wooded area close to Keshripalli of Ganjam District in the dream of the king. The king reached the place and enquired about the idol to the villagers. A farmer told him that blood was oozing out whenever he was polishing his sword on the stone. The king with the help of the farmer dug out the stone and discovered an idol of the Lord Biranchi Narayana along with seven horses and a wheel. Then king built a temple and installed this idol in the temple. There is a belief that the idol is the lost idol of Konark Sun Temple.

History

The temple was built in 1790 CE by King Srikara Bhanjadeva of Bhanja Dynasty. The idol enshrined in the sanctum was placed much later. It is said that the idol was recovered from the ruins of Malatigarh. The temple is a protected monument of Odisha State Archaeology and under Endowment Department, Government of Odisha.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards west. The temple is built in the form of a chariot driven by seven horses. The temple rests on 32 intricately carved pillars. The pillars, the wheel of the chariot and the horses are carved out of stone and the rest of the temple is made out of wood. The fascinating feature is the depiction of forty-six intricately wooden carved pillars, thirty-two of shorter height and fourteen of taller height providing support to the roof of the temple. The sanctum enshrines an image of two armed Surya standing on a chariot over a platform. The chariot is driven by seven horses with one wheel on its left side, with Aruna as the charioteer. The idol is about five feet tall. The rays of the setting sun fall on the feet of Lord Surya daily.

The temple has two small replicas of the main idol made from copper and wood. The temple is famous for its wood carvings and wall paintings depicting the scenes of Sita-Vivaha, Bali Vadha, Setubandha Nirmana, Mayamirga Vadha, battle between Rama & Ravana, Krisnalila, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Kanchibhijana, the plan of the Jagannatha temple within the Shankhakshetra (Puri), Radha Krishna, courtesans, musicians, animals and social scenes. The temple also has a wide collection of 400 books of which around 200 are Tala Patra Pothis (engraved palm leaves documents) on Odia vyakarna (grammar), Puranas and texts on Ayurveda medicines among others. There is a Jagannath Temple situated at the other end of the main road.

Festivals

Magha Ratha Saptami, Pausha Samba Dashami, Makara Sankranti, Rama Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Rath Yatra, Danda Yatra, Durga Puja and Kali Puja are the major festivals celebrated here.

Prayers

Devotees suffering from eczema pray here for relief.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 1 Km from Buguda Bus Stand, 13 Kms from Ballipadar, 31 Kms from Asika, 36 Kms from Odagaon, 60 Kms from Nayagarh Town Railway Station, 70 Kms from Ganjam and 140 Kms from Bhubaneswar Airport. The temple is situated in the Badadanda Sahi of Buguda town at about 500 metres to the south-west of Palasara Chowk. Buguda is situated on Ballipadar to Odagaon route.

Location

Vishnu Temple, Konark, Odisha

Vishnu Temple, Konark, Odisha

Vishnu Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in the Konark Sun Temple Complex in Konark Town in Konark Block in Puri District in Odisha, India. This temple is situated to the south-west of the Chayadevi Temple in the Konark Sun Temple Complex. This temple is a protected monument of Archaeological Survey of India.

History

This temple is believed to be built by the Somavamsis in 10^th century CE. The temple was buried under the sand and was discovered in 1956 during the excavations carried out in the Konark Sun Temple Complex. This discovery was significant because it confirmed that the Konark Sun Temple complex revered all the major Hindu traditions and was not an exclusive worship place for the Saura cult as previously believed. The significance of Konark Sun Temple as a place of Vaishnavism pilgrimage is attested to in Vaishnava texts. It is said that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the early 16^th century CE scholar and founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, visited the Konark temple and prayed on its premises.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east. The temple consists of rekha vimana and pidha jagamohana. The temple is completely in ruined state except a portion of its bada. The temple is pancharatha on plan and panchangabada in elevation. The vimana is square on plan and the jagamohana is rectangular on plan. The interior of the jagamohana is plain. The base of the doorjamb of the jagamohana entrance way has dvarapalas on either side. Each door keeper holds a staff in one hand and shows abhaya mudra in the other hand.

Images of Balarama, Varaha, Trivikrama and a broken image of Narasimha can be seen in the sanctum. However, the original idol enshrined in the sanctum is missing. These images might have been adorned in the niches in the temple in the past. The exterior of the temple is devoid of any decoration except the architectural motifs like khakharamundis and pidhamundis on the walls of the jagamohana.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Konark Bus Stand, 15 Kms from Gop, 27 Kms from Astaranga, 35 Kms from Puri, 35 Kms from Puri Railway Station, 63 Kms from Bhubaneswar Airport and 67 Kms from Bhubaneswar. Konark is situated on Puri to Astaranga route. Konark is well-connected by Odisha State Public Transport buses plying on National and State highways linking it to Puri, Bhuvaneswar and other cities of Odisha.

Location

Chayadevi Temple, Konark, Odisha

Chayadevi Temple, Konark, Odisha

Chayadevi Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to goddess Chayadevi, the consort of Lord Surya located in the Konark Sun Temple Complex in Konark Town in Konark Block in Puri District in Odisha, India. This temple is also called as Mayadevi Temple. This temple is situated to the south-west of the main shrine in the Konark Sun Temple Complex. This temple is a protected monument of Archaeological Survey of India.

History

This temple is believed to be built by the Somavamsis in 11^th century CE. It was discovered during excavations carried out between 1900 and 1910. Early theories assumed that it was dedicated to Surya's wife and thus named the Mayadevi Temple. However, later studies suggested that it was also a Surya temple, albeit an older one that was fused into the complex when the monumental temple was built.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a raised platform. The temple consists of rekha vimana and pidha jagamohana. The temple is pancharatha on plan and panchangabada in elevation. The temple is completely in ruined state except a portion of its bada. A platform projecting on the eastern side forms the main entrance of the temple. The vimana and the jagamohana are square on plan.

The temple is standing over a pista consisting of three mouldings. The mouldings of the pista is decorated with lotus petals, scroll works and scenes of royal processions. The bada portion is decorated with naga and nagi pilasters, six-armed Nataraja and amorous couple in khakharamundis. The niches in the kanika pagas evidently carried eight dikpalas, of which only Agni remains at the southeastern corner.

There is an image of Surya in the northern side. The parsvadevata niches contain images of Surya in different forms. Images of dikpalas, gaja-vidalas, nayikas of different form and maithuna images are inserted in the niches on the walls of the jagamohana. The base of the doorjamb of the jagamohana entrance way has dvarapalas in the niches of the khakharamundis on either side.

The interior of the jagamohana is devoid of any decoration except the ornamental pilasters at intervals. Each pilaster has framed niches containing images of nayika in various modes. The ceiling of the jagamohana was spanned by corbels. Two sets of Navagraha architrave now kept in the Konark museum were found during excavation of this temple.

Connectivity

Location

Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha

Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha

Sun Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Surya located in Konark Town in Konark Block in Puri District in Odisha, India. The temple is in the form of a giant ornamented chariot with twenty four wheels, drawn by seven horses to represent the mythological chariot of the Sun god. This temple is considered as the most famous Sun temple in India. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India. The temple is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of India.