The document provides an overview of Hindu temples located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. It discusses the history and architectural styles of temples built between the 6th-16th centuries CE by various dynasties. Key temples described include the Lingaraja temple, Muktesvara temple, Rajarani temple, and Parasuramesvara temple. The temples feature intricate carvings and sculptures depicting Hindu gods, myths, and erotic scenes. The document also briefly mentions archaeological sites like Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves that contain ancient Buddhist sculptures and inscriptions.

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Dravida Utkala Jatra 2017
2-Oct-2016 www.tamilheritage.in , 30 D silva road, Mylapore, Chennai 600004 . Ph: +91 44 24671601 .
Temples of Bhubaneswar
Part 1
Krishnakumar.T.K
Tamil HeritageTrust

2. Contents
2
 Introduction
 History
 Architecture
 Temples of Bhubaneswar – I, II, III

3. Bhubaneswar – An Introduction
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 Ekamra Kshetra
 Ekamra Purana
 Temple City of India
 Can be compared to Delhi
 SwarnaTribhuja (GoldenTriangle)
 1000 years of temple building activity

4. Builders of Bhubaneswar Monuments
4
 Ashoka (3rd century BCE)
 Kharavela (2nd century BCE)
 Shailobhava Kings (6th cent mid – early 8th cent CE)
 Bhaumakara Kings (736 CE – 950 CE)
 Somavamsi Kings (950 CE – 1112 CE)
 Ganga Kings (1112 CE – 1435 CE)
 Gajapati Kings (1435 CE – 1542 CE)

5. OrissaTemple Architecture – Rekha
 Rekha Deula
 Curvilinear
superstructure
 Style of Sanctums
5

6. OrissaTemple Architecture – Pidha
6
 Pidha Deula
 Tiers sitting one upon
the other
 Pyramidal shape
 Jagamohana and other
structures
 Rarely Sanctums

7. OrissaTemple Architecture – Khakhara
7
 Khakhara Deula
 Similar to Gopura
 Found in Shakti
temples

8. TypicalTemple Layout
8
Vimana
Jagmohana
Natamandira
Bhogamandira

9. Initial Period9
 6th to 9th cent CE
 Shailobavas and Bhaumakaras
 Sanctums alone
 Sanctums and Jagamohana alone
 Jagamohana with flat roof instead of Pidha order
 Eka Ratha orTri RathaTemples
 Ketu missing in Navagraha panel
 Bada with three divisions

10. Initial Period10

11. Medieval Period11
 9th to 11th cent CE
 Later Bhaumakaras and Somavamshis
 Introduction of erotic sculptures
 Natural joining of Sanctums and Jagamohana
 Jagamohana with Pidha order
 Naga-Nagi pilasters
 Vyala and decorative motifs
 Parsvadevta carved of separate single stone
 Ketu included in Navagraha panel

12. Medieval Period
12

13. Mature Phase
13
 11th to 13th cent CE
 Later Somavamshis and Gangas
 Bada into five segments
 Gandi with Angasikharas (miniature temples)
 Structural motifs such as Pidha Mundi
 Projected lion (Udyota Simha)
 Natamandapa and Bhogamandapa
 Vahana stambha
 Subsidiary shrines for niche images

14. Mature Phase
14

15. Final Phase
15
 14th to 16th cent CE
 Gajapati Rulers
 Pidha order for sanctums and
Jagamohana
 Decorations missing
 Plain walls

16. TheTemples - I
16
 Lingaraja
 Chitrakarani
 Yamesvara
 Sari
 Mohini
 Ananta Basudev

17. LingarajaTemple
17
 BiggestTemple
 11th cent. by Somavamshis
 Later addition by Gangas
 150+ sub-shrines
 180 feet tall vimana
 Magnificent Shiv Linga – 8 ft in diameter
 Sanctum, Jagmohana, Natamandir, Bhogamandir
 Parvati temple – 13th cent by Gangas

18. LingarajaTemple18

19. LingarajaTemple19

20. ChitrakaraniTemple
20
 13th cent by Gangas
 Chamundi temple
 Panchayatna style
 Surrounded by four Rekha shrines in four sides
 Walls intricately carved with many sculptures
 300 m. from Lingaraja – Rath Road

21. ChitrakaraniTemple21

22. YamesvaraTemple
22
 14th cent by Gangas
 Lesser known but extremely beautiful
 Location – 300 m from Chitrakarani on the same
lane; after ICICI ATM
 Big Nandi mandap – Unusual in Orissa
 Two Deep Stambhas
 Mini sub-shrines partially under-ground

23. YamesvaraTemple23

24. SariTemple
24
 13th cent by Gangas
 One of the most beautiful temples
 Location – 500 m fromYamesvara; on Bindu Sagar Road
 Sapta RathaVimana and Nava Ratha Jagmohana
 Not even a single stone left without sculpture/designs
 Pidha and Khakhara Mundis
 Virala and Gaja Kranta
 Dikpalas with their consorts
 Amorous sculptures
 Intricate sculptures on sanctum as well as Jagmohana
 Balustrated windows with Nayikas
 Nayikas in different postures

25. SariTemple25

26. SariTemple26

27. MohiniTemple
27
 Near SariTemple – on the banks of Bindu Sagar
Lake
 One of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar
 Built by Queen of Bhauma King Sivakara Deva II in
687 CE
 Ten armed Chamunda Devi
 Tantric form – sunken belly – skull garlands –
standing on corpse

28. MohiniTemple28

29. AnantaVasudevTemple
29
 The second biggest temple
 Only notableVaishnaivite temple
 Built by Chandrika, daughter of Gangas King Anaga Bhima III in 1278 CE
 A complete temple with all four parts
 Pancha Ratha and Panchanga Bada
 Biggest Kitchen
 Intricately carved walls
 Sculptures of Nayikas, animals, design motifs
 Erotic sculptures
 Located near Bindu Sagar Lake

30. AnantaVasudevTemple30

31. Temple - II
31
 Uttaresvara
 Swarnajaleswara
 Parasuramesvara
 Muktesvara
 Raja Rani

32. Uttaresvara Group ofTemples
32
 Located on the northern banks of Bindu Sagar; 200 m.
from Ananta BasudevTemple
 8th cent CE – Bhaumakara Kings
 Flat roof for Jagmohana
 Stylish Kartikeya Parsvadevta
 Bhimesvara – same period – similar features
 Ashtha SambhuTemples – identical design
 10th cent CE Somavamshi period

33. Uttaresvara Group ofTemples33

34. SwarnajaleswarTemple
34
 Located near ParasuramesvarTemple
 7th cent CE – Shailobhavas
 Older than Parasuramesvar
 Beautiful Niche images
 One of the best temples
 Architectural designs, motifs and decorations
 Nataraja panel and Shiva’s family

35. SwarnajaleswarTemple35

36. SwarnajaleswarTemple36

37. ParasuramesvaraTemple
37
 7th cent CE – Shailobhavas
 Arguably the most beautiful temple after Muktesvara
 Best example for early Kalingan architecture
 Flat roofed and terraced Jagamohana
 Beautiful Niche images
 Sapta Matas
 Decorative motifs
 Mythological animals
 Various designs and decorations
 RavanaAnugraha Murti, Shiva with family, etc.
 Inscriptions found

38. ParasuramesvaraTemple38

39. ParasuramesvaraTemple39

40. ParasuramesvaraTemple40

41. MuktesvaraTemple
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 Arguably the best temple
 10th cent CE by Somavamshi
 Important role in development of temple architecture
 First temple to have pyramidal roof for Jagmohana
 Unique torana – arched gateway
 Exterior walls andVimana are intricately carved
 Nagas, Motifs, women riding lions, scroll works, etc
 Lotus petal design on the ceiling
 Adjoining Siddhesvara
 12th cent by Gangas
 Beautiful Parsvadevta and intricate sculptures

42. MuktesvaraTemple42

43. MuktesvaraTemple43

44. MuktesvaraTemple44

45. RajaraniTemple
45
 One of the most beautiful temples
 Originally Indresvara – no deity in the temple
 Named after a kind of stone used as the building material
 10th/11th cent by Somavamshi
 LoveTemple – Erotic Sculptures
 Naga Stambhas in the place of Dwarapalas
 Ashtha Digpalas
 Divine marriage of Shiva and Parvati
 Lakulisa and Navagraha panel on lintel
 Girls in different postures

46. RajaraniTemple46

47. RajaraniTemple47

48. RajaraniTemple48

49. Temples - III
49
 Brahmesvara
 Ramesvar
 Baital Deula
 Kapilesvara
 Chausathi
 Dhauli
 Udayagiri and Khandagiri

50. BrahmesvaraTemple
50
 One of the most beautiful temples
 Built by Kolavati Devi, mother of Udyotakesari, a
Somavamshi King, in 1060 CE
 Panchayatana temple
 Vimana and walls intricately carved
 Two balustrated windows with females in different
poses
 Ardhanareesvara, Ekapada, Nataraj,Veenadhara, etc.

51. BrahmesvaraTemple51

52. BrahmesvaraTemple52

53. BrahmesvaraTemple53

54. BrahmesvaraTemple54

55. Ramesvar Group ofTemples
55
 The oldest temples of Bhubaneswar
 Shailobhava – 6th cent CE
 Totally six temples
 Located near Kalpana Square – 2km from Lingaraja
 Shatrughanesvara – the most complete and
beautiful
 Divine wedding, procession, Nataraj, Shiva’s family,
Lakulisa, etc.

56. Ramesvar Group ofTemples56

57. Ramesvar Group ofTemples57

58. Baital Deula
58
 Tantric cult –Tini Mundia Mandira
 8th cent CE – Bhaumakaras
 Khakhara Deul
 Worshiped by Kapalikas andTantriks
 Chamundi – the presiding deity – ferocious
 Bhairav – sunken belly and ferocious
 Sapta Matas in the sanctum
 Abhalakapesvara – similar to Jain monk – form of Shiva
 Mahakala – seated on corpse
 Erotic figures, hunting scenes, Shiva, Parvati, Lakulisa, Eka pada, etc.
 8 armed Mahisasuramardini and 4 armed Durga
 Adjoning Sisiresvara –Very beautiful
 8th cent - Bhaumakaras

59. Baital Deula59

60. Baital Deula60

61. Baital Deula61

62. KapilesvaraTemple
62
 Group of 34 temples
 Birthplace of Kapila
 Original Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Buddha?
 14th cent CE – Kapilendra Deva, Suryavamshi
 Unique sculptures all over the temple
 A well containing niche images

63. KapilesvaraTemple63

64. ChausathiTemple
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 64YoginiTemple
 Fine example for occult tradition
 One of four existing Chausathi temples
 Hypaethral structure
 Circular structured temple
 Built by Hira Devi of Bhaumakaras in 9th cent CE

65. ChausathiTemple65

66. ChausathiTemple66

67. Dhauli
67
 Kalinga battlefield
 Two Ashokan edicts
 Rock cut elephant – oldest Buddhist sculpture of
Odisha

68. Udayagiri and Khandagiri
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 Kumari and Kumara Parvata – 18 and 15 caves
 Discovered in 1825 CE
 Kharavela 1st cent BCE
 Building activities till 10th cent CE
 Rani Gumpha –Victory march – biggest cave
 Chhota Hathi – Six elephants in a façade
 JayaVijaya Gumpha – Bodhi tree flanked by people
 Swargapuri Gumpha – Inscriptions abt King’s wife & successors
 Ganesha Gumpha – Most popular – Kalinga Jina idol
 Vyagra Gumpha – Mouth of a tiger – Popular cave
 Hathi Gumpha – the main source for the history of Kharavela
 Barabhuji Gumpha – 12 armed Sasana Devis
 Trusula Gumpha – 24Tiruthankaras

69. ThankYou
Krishnakumar T.K.
http://indiancolumbus.blogspot.com/
Tk.Krishnakumar@gmail.com
+91 99400 32491
For Queries / Clarifications Please
Contact
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