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The temple of Lakshmi is situated on the north-western corner of the inner enclosure of the Jagannatha temple comlex of Puri. This temple is one of the most important Sakta-shrines of Orissa. Goddess Laksmi is the immaculate wife of the Lord Jagannatha.14 It is generally believed that one's pilgrimage to Lord 247

Jagannatha temple remains incomplete without visit to the temple of His consort Laksmi. The temple of Laksmi is the most important of all the temples within the precincts of the main temple. 15 The temple is built in sand stones, called Baulamala and Kanda patharas. It is one of fine specimens of the Kalinga Style temple architecture in Orissa. The temple faces to east. The temple of Laksmi consists of five structures such as vimana, jagamohana, natamandapa, bhogamandapa and additional mandapa. It appears that the vimana and the jagamohana were originally constructed and the others were added in subsequent period. The vimana and its front jagamohana were under thick coat of lime plaster till they have been deplastered by the Archaeological Survey of India in the late seventies of the twentieth century.16 Vimana:The vimana of the Lakshmi temple is a pancaratha rekha deula (Pl.No-11) and its height is about 45 feet from the surface of the temple complex. It stands on a low platform of 1 foot 5 inches high. The base of the vimana is square of 25 feet. The vimana has four vertical divisions such as pista, bada, gandi and mastaka. The pista or platform consists of three horizontal mouldings, which are decorated with scroll works, lotus petalled devices and jali works. and The bada of the vimana consists of three vertical divisions viz pabhaga, jangha and baranda. The design of bada is neither like the temple of Ganga period nor identical to the early temple of 6th to 8th century AD. The pabhaga consists of the conventional mouldings of khura, kumbha, patta, kani and basanta. The pabhaga mouldings and the intervening recesses are extensively relieved with scroll works, floral devices, figures of nayikas, simha vidalas, gaja vidalas, khakhara mundis, pidha mundis, jali works, a frieze of elephants and kirtimukha motifs. The jangha of the bada consists of a single vertical element. The pagas the intervening recesses of the jangha are relieved with elongated khakhara mundis, simha vidalas, naga and nagi pilasters, scroll works, sala bhanjikas, asta dikpalas, floral devices and kirtimukha motifs. The pilasters are decorated with gaja vidalas at the bottom and entwined with nagas and nagis. In the niches of the khakhara mundis are housed with eight seated dikpalas of whom Indra, Agni, Nairrta, Kuvera and Isana are still in their appropriate directions. Figures of bharabahakas or atlantid are housed in the khakhara mundi niches of the upper 248

part of jangha. The central niches of the three sides of the bada are housed with parsvadevata images of Gaja-Lakshmi in abhiseka style. The baranda of the bada consists of six decorative horizontal mouldings, which are relieved with scrollworks, flower devices, jali works, a frieze of elephants and dancing female figures. The bada of the vimana is surmounted by the curvilinear superstructure, which displays five pagas. The jhapa simhas are only projected on the middle portion of each side raha paga of the gandi. The base of the front side raha paga of the gandi contains an angasikhara, which is crowned by the gajakranta motif. Dopichha lions are projected on the top of the kanika pagas of the gandi. Deula Carini figures are also inserted in the four cardinal directions of the beki above rahas. The mastaka of the vimana consists of beki, amalakasila, khapuri, kalasa ayudha (cakra). Here the dhvaja is not noticed above the ayudha. Goddess Laksmi is being worshipped in the sanctum as the presiding deity of the temple. The four armed devi Laksmi has been installed on the simhasana of 2 feet high. She has the form of a Gaja-Laksmi (Pl.No-45). Her right upper hand holds a lotus flower, right lower hand displays varada mudra, left upper hand shows a lotus flower and left lower hand displays abhaya mudra. The image of Lakshmi is carved out of a black-chlorite slab and its height is little more than 3 feet. The inner walls of the sanctum are devoid of decorative elements in contrast to the exterior walls. There is sandhisthala noticed between the vimana and jagamohana. The outer walls of the sandhisthala are relieved with siksadana scene, royal war tour scene and other decorative elements like the bada of the vimana. Jagamohana:G.C.Tripathy opines that the jagamohana of the Lakshmi temple was built subsequently during the reign of Mukunda Deva (1655-1693AD). 17 This view is not accepted by most of the scholars. The structure of jagamohana is a pidha deula and its height is about 35 feet from the surface of the temple complex. The jagamohana has also four-fold vertical divisions such as pista, bada, gandi and mastaka. It stands on an ornamental pista of 1 foot 6 inches high. The pista is decorated with scroll works, flower medallions and lotus petalled devices. The bada of the jagamohana is also trianga type i.e. having three vertical divisions viz pabhaga, 249

jangha and baranda. The pabhaga consists of the conventional mouldings of khura, kumbha, patta kani and basanta. The pabhaga mouldings are finely decorated with scroll works, flower devices,, bharabahaka figures,a frieze of elephants, erotic scenes, jali works and the figures of nayikas. The pagas of pabhaga are decorated with elongated khakhara mundis. The jangha of the bada is decorated with alasakanyas, khakhara mundis, simha-vidalas, kirtimukha motifs, bharabahaka figures, scroll works, flower devices and Buddha images. The niches of the khakhara mundis contain asta-dikpalas with their respective mounts and directions. Gavaksa:The jagamohana walls have two balustrated windows, one on the north and another on the south. The balusters of the windows are richly carved with dancing female figures holding musical instruments in their hands. All the figures are partly eroded by nature. The lintel of the balustraded window of each side is carved with an image of Gaja Laksmi in its centre. Different parts of the windows are extensively decorated with scroll works, a frieze of elephants, flower medallions, creepers with the frolicking boys, deers and stylish geese. The northen side gavaksa mandana is decorated with a war tour scene of king. Behind them a series of men and women on the march with holding weapons in hands. This group is fronted by a royal personage sitting on a four-legged pedestal with a pillow at the back and a band of retinues carrying umbrellas and fly-whisks. The images of Lakshmi and Sarasvati are also depicted on the northen side jangha wall of the jagamohana. The southern side gavaksa mandana is relieved with erotic scenes, kirtimukha motifs, amorous couples, bharabahaka figures and caitya window motifs. The baranda of the bada consists of four decorative horizontal mouldings, which are relieved with alasakanyas, bhararaksakas, stylish geese, caitya window motifs, flower medallions, simha vidalas (lion on elephant) rows of elephants and procession of warriors. The bada of the jagamohana is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure. It consists of two potalas, the lower and the upper potalas, which contain six and five pidhas respectively. The central raha paga of the upper pidha of each potala is decorated with a pidha mastaka design. 250

The mastaka of the jagamohana consists of usual elements of Orissan pidha deula such as beki, ghanta above which there is another beki, amalakasila, khapuri and kalasa. Here the ayudha and dhvaja are completely missing. Natamandapa:The natamandapa is a pidha deula and its height is about 18 feet from the surface of the temple complex. Architectural features indicate that the natamandapa and the bhogamandapa are built in subsequent period. The structure of the natamandapa stands on a platform of 2 feet 6 inches high. The base of the natamandapa measures square of 15 feet. The bada of the natamandapa is consisted of five divisions viz pabhaga, tala jangha, bandhana, upper jamgha, and baranda. The pabhaga is shown unadorned and consisted of vertical mouldings. The intervening recesses of the tala jangha are relieved with simha vidalas. Small dopichha-lions have been projected on the four corner walls of the tala jangha. The bandhana of the bada consists of three horizontal decorative mouldings. The intervening recesses of the upper jangha are excellently relieved with erotic scenes, amorous couples and nayika figures. The baranda of the bada consists of three horizontal decorative mouldings. The bada of the natamandapa is surmounted by the pyramidal roof and it consists of two flat shaped pidhas. There is no mastaka appeared from the top of the upper pidha. The inner niches of the eastern wall of the natamandapa are housed with the two images of Laksmi-Narasimha and Varaha. The inner left wall of the western side contains an image of Garuda. Small dopichha lions are placed on the inner middle corner walls of the four sides of the natamandapa. Bhogamandapa:The bhogamandapa is a pidha deula and its height is about 20 feet from the surface of the temple complex. This structure stands on a platform of 3 feet high. The base of the bhogamandapa is rectangular and it measures 35 feet in length and 25 feet in width respectively. The bada of the bhogamandapa is consisted of five divisions such as pabhaga, tala jangha, bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. The pabhaga consists of single vertical moulding, which is almost undecorated. The intervening recesses of the tala jangha are filled with amorous couples and simha-vidalas. Small dopichha-lions are decorated on the four corner walls of the jangha. The bandhana of the bada consists of three decorated 251

horizontal mouldings. The pagas and the intervening recesses of the upper jangha are also relieved with erotic scenes, amorous couples and dancing female figures. The baranda of the bada consists of six horizontal mouldings, the upper three are decorated and the lower three are devoid of decorative elements. The bada of the bhogamandapa is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure and it consists of three pidhas. There is only kalasa found from the top of the upper pidha. Two jhapa simhas have been placed on the northern and sourthern sides of the kalasa. The bhogamandapa is an open structure because it has ten openings. Out of these, two on each side of the north and south and three on each side of the eastern and western sides of the bhogamandapa respectively. All the open doorways are completely undecorated. The present bhogamandapa hall is being used as the place of religious discources, recitation of the Puranas and Bhajanas. Here also bhogas or offerings of goddess Lakshmi are sold by the priests of the temple. E. Additional Mandapa:Besides above these four structures of the temple, there is an additional open mandapa erected in front of the bhogamandapa. It is a pidha deula and its height is about 18 feet from the surface of the temple complex. This structure also stands on a pista of 3 feet high. The base of the structure is square of 15 feet on each side. The bada of the mandapa consists of five fold vertical divisions namely pabhaga, tala jamgha, bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. The pabhaga is consisted of the conventional mouldings of khura, kumbha, patta, kani and basanta. The intervening recesses of the tala jangha are relieved with simha vidalas and gaja vidalas. The bandhana of the bada consists of three horizontal mouldings. The intervening recesses of the upper jangha are also filled with erotic scenes, amorous couples and dancing female figures. The baranda of the bada consists of six horizontal mouldings; the upper three are finely decorated while the lower three are devoid of ornamentation. The bada of the additional mandapa is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure. It consists of three flat shaped pidhas. There is only kalasa placed on the top of the upper pidha. The entire structure is supported by four pillars, which attached with the corner walls of the mandapa. This structure is built in later period. 252

Structures of the natamandapa, bhogamandapa and additional open mandapa are not exactly the pidha type deula. It may be taken as a variation of pidha style. Sculptures of the temple:The images of Gaja-Laksmi have been installed on the central niches of the three sides of the bada of vimana as parsvadevatas of the main presiding deity. Gaja-Laksmi image of the northen niche has four hands. Devi Lakshmi is carved in seated posture on the single petalled lotus pedestal. The upper right hand holds a lotus with stalk whereas the lower right hand displays varada mudra. The upper left hand possesses a lotus with stalk. The lower left hand probably holds the astanidhi in the form of beads. The background slab of the deity is finely decorated with trefoil arch.Two top corners of the slab are carved with two elephants and they are pouring water with pitchers by their raised trunks on the head of Laksmi. Another Gaja Laksmi image is the parsvadevata of the western side. The four armed Lakshmi has been installed on the ornamental pedestal, which is divided into three sections. Her upper right hand holds lotus flower, right lower hand displays varada mudra, upper left hand holds flower and the left lower hand displays abhaya mudra. The background slab of the deity is decorated with trefoil arch. Two elephants flanked on either side top corner of the slab and they are pouring water with jars by their raised proboscis on the head of Laksmi. Two attendants are standing on the both sides of the deity. The southern central niche is also housed with Gaja Laksmi image as the parsvadevata of the presiding deity. The four armed devi Gaja-Laksmi is found seated on the single petalled lotus pedestal. Out of the four hands, three are completely broken and only the left lower hand displays a ladu. Two apsara figures are finely carved on the top corner of the slab. Two elephants are also portrayed with usual attributes like other sides. All these parsvadevatas are housed in the niches of the khakhara mundis. The frames of the parsvadevata niches are decorated with scroll works, creepers and flower devices. In the khakhara mundi niches of the janghas of both the vimana and jagamohana are housed with eight seated dikpalas with their respective mounts and directions. The balustraded windows of the northern and southern sides of the jagamohana are elegantly carved with dancing female figures holding musical instruments in their hands. The upper part of the balustraded window or gavaksa na 253

mandana in the northern side is relieved with war tour scene of royal family. Images of Ganesa, Vamana and Buddha are carved on the southern bada wall of the vimana. The inner wall niches of the eastern side of the natamandapa contain two images of Lakshmi-Narasimha and Varaha. The four handed image of Narasimha has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal in the left sidewall. His upper two hands hold cakra and conch while the lower two hands rest on the knees. The image of Lakshmi is seated on the left lap of Narasimha. Here the deity Narasimha looks calm and contended. There is a Garuda figure carved on the left of the pedestal. Below the pedestal is also carved with a figure of devotee, which is identified with Sankaracarya by Jagabandhu Padhi¹8. It is said in a local tradition that Codaganga Deva had installed this Laksmi-Narashimha image with a figure Sankaracarya carved in its pedestal. 19 It is a debatable question among the scholars with regards to the identification of the devotee with Sankaracarya. The back ground slab of the image is decorated with trefoil makara headed arch crowned by the kirtimukha motif. Two flying apasara figures are depicted on either side of the top corner of the slab. The image of Varaha has been installed on the right side niche of the eastern wall of the natamandapa. His four hands display cakra, conch, arm of a female figure and an image of seated Prthivi on the uplifted right arm. There is a standing female figure installed near the right leg of Varaha image. The niche of the inner western wall of the natamandapa contains an image of Garuda, which is carrying Visnu on his shoulder. On the right side of the western wall contains a figure of mounted elephant. The interior of the western wall of the natamandapa contains the images of Narasimha and Satya-Narayana in its niches. The inner wall niche of the western side of the additional mandapa is housed with the image of Surya- Narayana while the inner side western wall of the additional mandapa is depicted with the bas-relief of the images of Narasimha and Kalki avatara of Lord Visnu. Portal Decoration:The sanctum has one doorway towards the jagamohana. The doorjambs of the sanctum are ornately decorated with flower devices and creepers with the frolicking boys. The middle portion of the doorway lintel is finely carved with an image of Gaja-Lakshmi. Flying apasaras are also depicted on the doorway lintel of 254

the sanctum. The figures of navagrahas are carved on the architrave above the doorway lintel. They are all in seated postures with usual attributes in their hands. Two standing figures of Ganga and Yamuna with their respective mounts are depicted at the base of the doorjambs. The jagamohana has one doorway towards the natamandapa. The doorjambs of the jagamohana are also decorated with scroll works, flower designs and creepers with the frolicking boys. The middle portion of the doorway lintel is also carved with an image of Gaja-Laksmi. Flying apasaras are also depicted on the doorway lintel of the mukhasala. Two standing Parasurama figures have been depicted at the base of doorjambs. Doorways of the both natamandapa and bhogamandapa are absolutely plain. The additional mandapa has four doorways, which are devoid of decorative elements. The standing figures of Ganga and Yamuna with their respective mounts are depicted on either side of the eastern doorway of the additional mandapa. They are acting as the traditional dvarapalas of the devi temple.The figure of Yamuna is damaged by nature. Masonry steps of ascending order are provided for approach towards the mandapa. Paintings:The inner walls of the bhogamandapa (present natamandapa) are excellently depicted with paintings of Hanumana (Mahavira), Varaha, Laksmi, Narasimha, Ananta sayee Visnu, Narada, scene of Krsna with the gopis, Garuda figure, Visnu, Jagannatha 'Trinity', abhiseka scene of Rama and Sita, panca muikhii Ganesa and Krsna with Radha devi. These pictures are depicted in traditional Patta style paintings of Orissa. One of the scholars suggests that these paintings belong to the Ramanuja School. 20 So the paintings include the pictures of different gods and goddesses worshipped by the Ramanuja sect and different alvars. Most of these scenes are related to the Vaisnavite deities. The inner side walls of the additional mandapa are also nicely depicted with the paintings derived from the episodes of the life story of Lord Krsna. They are such as Krsna with the gopis, Krsna under the Kadamba tree, Krsna playing on flute, Bakasura badha, Krsna with Balarama etc. The entrance hall of the temple is a gallery of paintings known for its unique style. "The ceilings of both the bhogamandapa and the natamandapa are depicted with the paintings of lotus petalled motifs, flower medallions, creeper with flowers etc. 255

Date of the temple:The temple of Laksmi is supposed to have been constructed by Codaganga Deva, the founder of the Ganga dynasty in Utkala territory and hence it is contemporaneous with the main temple of Lord Jagannatha.22 The Ganga copper plates mentioning the construction of the Jagannatha temple, add "that ocean being the birth place of Laksmi, Lord Purusottama had to stay in his fatherin-law's house, which has very shameful to him. So He became glad to get the new temple of His own and Lakshmi also preferred to living in her husband's new abode to staying in her father's home" 23 K.S.Behera surmises that Ananta Varmana Codaganga Deva constructed the temple of Lord Jagannatha as well as that of Lakshmi. 24 Madalapanji, the temple chronicle of Lord Jagannatha records that the temple of Laksmi also built by Yayati Kesari along with the temple of Lord Jagannatha.25 In Madalapanji it is also held that King Ananga Bhima Deva built around sixty subsidiary shrines at Puri, and present temple of Laksmi may be ascribed to him. 26 Jagabandhu Padhi mentions that the temple of Lakshmi was constructed by some ruler of the Ganga dynasty in the 12th -13th century AD. "On the basis of the architectural style and sculptural features, the temple of Laksmi may be tentatively assigned to the first-half of the twelvth century AD.