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Temples of Orissa

Rajarani Temple : (Bhubaneswar)    Although the Rajarani  temple  has been one of the most notable monuments of the place, such a name does not occur in any of the four sanskrit texts that profess to deal with the history of Bhubaneswar from the orthodox standpoint. 

       The names of all Saiva temples at Bhubaneswar ends with Eshwar, e.g. Parsurameswar, Brameswar, Mitreswar, Yameswar etc. The names of non- Saiva temples have been derived from their presiding deities,e.g.,Gauri temple,Parvati temple, Mohini temple and Ananta-Vasudev temple etc.

Brahmeswar Temple : (Bhubaneswar) : The next dated temple, Brahmeswar, shows mature workmanship and advanced architectural features. Here the canons of Orissan architecture is found to have been fully applied. Among the dated temples it is the earliest one where iron beams have been used, and where porch or the Jagamohana consists of the full-fledged Pidha-Deula with the usual crowinging members. It is a pancha-ratha temple with five plasters, namely two corner plasters, two intermediate ones & one central one, fully developed which give the structure almost a rounded appearance.

Sureswar & Gouri Temple (Bhubaneswar) There are two other temples at Bhubaneswar, which may be regarded as close contemporaries of the Mukteshwar temple. One of them is the Sureswar, a very small structure which stands near the Kotitirtheswar temple in the close neighbourhood of the Swarnajaleswar temple and the other is the Gouri temple situated in the compound of the Kedareswar temple.

Siva Temple of Baudha (Baudha) : The siva temple at Baudha, seem in all appearance, to belong to the early period of the Somavamsi supremacy. The fine execution of the temple with its superb proportion and exquisite finish of the scluptures and other decorations indicate a resurgent movement linked up probably with the advent of  the  Somavamsi dynasty.

Satrughaneswar Temple (Bhubaneswar) : This temple belongs to the 6th century A.D. group of temples. Even the earliest extant temple, the Satrughaneswar, is found to be a mature conception and origin of the monument apparently lie further back. It represents a Sikhara temple  and its shape as available now after restoration and a few sculptures that still exists on the monument or have been recovered from it, supply affinities with those of the Dasavatara temple at Deogarh. The sculptures of the Satruganeswar are marked by the vigour & exuberance of the designs recalling the best characteristics of the Post-Gupta Art.

   The ruined temple of Laxmaneswar standing by its side appears to be a closely  analogus monument in shape as well as from and it seems to be an immediate successsor of the Satrughaneswar.

Swarnajaleswar Temple : (Bhubaneswar) It stands on the road from the Lingaraj to the Kedargouri temple and was in a utterly ruined condition, but the structure is being restored now. The evidences that connect with the Parsurameswar are that the cult images in both have attributes and that both possess close architectural affinities. It bears on the lintel of its northern niche a scene of Lord Siva's marraige, which can be regarded as a replica of the same scene carved on the lintel of the eastern niche of the Parsurameswar. The Swarnajaleswar like all the early temples also bears several scenes from Ramayana & The Mahabharata in a sunken panel running round the Vimana and making the transition between the Vada and the Sikhara.  

Sari Deul Temple (Bhubaneswar): It is situated just behind the Jagannath Ballabh Matha on the southern side of Vindu Sarover.The temple both in dimension and workmanship is in no way inferior to that of Ananta-Vasudev, but with houses surrounding it on all sides,it is now relegated to an obscure corner. It is a typical example of a Sapta-Ratha temple and its art & architecture provide ample evidence to indicate that it belonged to the Ganga period.The pilasters have been over crowded with numerous scrolls containing the favourite designs of the Ganga art.

Papanasini & the Kapileswar(Dhenkanal): After the Gangas,the glorious period of temple- building activities in Orissa was over,but the spirit lingered on during the succeeding period of Suryavamsi supremacy which also witnessed the erection of some notable temples in Orissa.The half-ruined porch standing near the papanasini tank still bears an inscription referring  itself to the reign of Kapileswar(A.D.1435-1467).The decorative female figures which adorn the half-ruined porch,merely represent the crude imitations of their earlier prototypes.The inscribedslab that contains the elephant procession and an image of Nataraja carved on the northern wall of the structure,represent no doubt,fine specimens of art of this period,in the close vicinity of Kapileswar is a pancha-ratha temple and is similar to the Mukteswar of Bhu- baneswar.It niches,the Naga and Nagi columns,scroll works,Alasa-kanyas and half amalakas on the gandi provide clear evidence that the temple was built about tenth century A.D.

Remuna(Balasore):The temple of  Kshirachora Gopinatha that stands here at a distance of about eight miles from Balasore district,is a modern one;but the image of Gopinatha is certainly much older than the time of Srichaitanya who visited it as evidenced by the Gaudiya Vaisnav literature.The deity had originally no image of Radha associated with it.

Yogini Temple(Bhubaneswar):On the outskirts of Bhubaneswar is Hirapur village with its Hypatheral temple of sixty-four Yoginis.One among them the two such distinguished temples in Orissa and four such in India,it has beautiful Yogini images -a great study for the connoisseurs of art & architecture.The second one is located at Ranipur-Jharial with a plethora of others temple.



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