The 11th century Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha was built during the Somavamsi rule using red and yellow sandstone. While now devoid of deities, its architecture indicates it was originally dedicated to Lord Shiva. Notable for its curved tower resembling those in Khajuraho, the temple rises from the ground in diminishing miniature towers. Though plain inside, its exterior features intricate sculptures of figures like the eight guardians of directions.

1. RAJARANI TEMPLE

2. ● The temple was built during the later stages of
the Somavamsi rule in the 11th century AD.
● Today the temple today is devoid of any
presiding deity, there are telltale signs in the
architecture of the temple to corroborate that it
was a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the most
notable one being the carving of sage Lakulisa
just above the entrance door and below the
navagrahas.
● The temple is known as Rajarani Temple,
because of the red and yellow sandstone called
Rajarania that was used in its construction.
● With passage of time, the stone imparts an
amber shade which accentuates the architectural
beauty of the temple. Rajarani Temple is an
11th-century Hindu temple
located in Bhubaneswar, the
capital city of Odisha (Orissa
previously), India.

3. ● The structural plan of the temple resembles the
Kandariya Mahadev Temple of Khajuraho which can be
attributed to the fact that the Somavamsi’s came to
Odisha from Central India.
● Unlike the sanctum sanctorum, the jagamohana
(entrance hall) is devoid of any carvings.
● The stark contrast actually adds to the beauty of the
temple.
● The temple has another interesting feature which is
unique in the temple architecture of Odisha, i.e the tower
over the Sanctum Sanctorum rises from the ground like a
beehive with smaller miniature towers, one on top of the
other merging seamlessly with it, just like a mountain
range where the peak is surrounded by smaller
mountains.
● This might well be symbolic of the yearning of the human
soul trying to reach higher and higher till it merges with
the eternal almighty spirit.
STRUCTURE OF THE TEMPLE

4. Kalingan Pancharatha Style
(Kalinga Architecture)
completed in the 11th century
● The Orissan temples have two parts namely the sanctum (deul or vimana)
and the other is the place from where pilgrims view the sanctum (called
jagamohana).
● The initial deul temples were without the jagamohana as seen in some of
the older temples in Bhubaneswar while the later temples had two additional
structures namely nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of
offerings).
● Amalaka (also called mastaka), a stone disk with ridges on the rim, is placed
over the bada (tower) of the temple.
● Rajarani Temple stands on a raised platform. The temple was constructed of
dull red and yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani".

5. ● It is pancharatha in plan with a curvilinear superstructure
(rekha shikhara) 18m(55 ft) tall.
● The vimana (tower) is surrounded by a cluster of miniature
towers with double crowning elements and appears round,
unlike other temples in Bhubaneswar but like the towers of
Khajuraho temples.
● The temple stands on a plinth with three mouldings.
VIMANA
● The jagamohana (porch), though demonstrating a
pyramidal structure, is yet to take on the status of a
complex structure on its own.
● It bears signs of the repair done in 1903 when it
collapsed into ruins.
● The plan of the jagamohana is square compared to
the rectangular ones present in earlier temples
JAGAMOHANA
VIMANA JAGAMOHANA

6. The temple interior is plain. Rajarani Temple is no longer a
living temple and there is no idol within the sanctum.

7. ● The sculptures have a depth that
was lacking in the Mukteswara
Temple sculptures.
● The slightly projecting entrance is
flanked by round thick columns
entwined by naga on the left.
● Guardians of the eight directions
project from the base of the temple
in the eight directions, starting from
the gateway in a clockwise
direction around the porch and the
deul, ending at the torana
(entrance).
SCULPTURES
Beautiful Sculpture in the wall of Rajarani
temple, Credit: Bernard Gagnon

8. AGNI YAMA NRRTTI VARUNA