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The temple of Bedhakali is situated in the north-west corner inner enclosure of the Jagannatha temple complex of Puri. This temple is built in sand stones. The temple consists of two structures such as vimana and mukhasala. It faces to east. Vimana.The vimana of the Bedhakali temple is a navaratha rekha deula and its height is about 32 feet from the surface of the temple complex. The structure of the vimana is erected on the platform of 4 feet high. The base of the bada is square of 18 feet. The bada of the vimana has three fold divisions such as pabhaga, jangha and baranda. All the elements of the bada are devoid of decorative ornamentations. The three side central niches of the bada are remained vacant. The bada of the vimana is surmounted by the curvilinear superstructure and it displays nine pagas. All the pagas of gandi are thickly plastered with lime mortar. So the decorative ornamentations of the gandi are not prominent. 265

Dopichha lions are fixed on the top of kanika pagas of the gandi. Deula Carini figures are inserted in the four cardinal directions of the beki above rahas. The mastaka of the vimana consists of beki, amalaka sila, khapuri, kalasa, ayudha (cakra) and dhvaja. The sanctum preserves the image of goddess Kali as the presiding deity of the temple. The two armed devi Kali is carved in seated posture on the pedestal. She displays khadga in right hand and a pana patra in left hand respectively. The background slab of deity is decorated with the trefoil makara headed arch. The image of goddess Kali is made of black chlorite. Inner walls of the sanctum are completely undecorated. The sanctum has one doorway towards the jagamohana. The jambs of the doorway are decorated with creepers, lotus petalled designs and flower devices. The figures of Gaja-Laksmi and navagrahas are completely absent in their respective places. A symbol of cakra is finely carved on the centre of the architrave above the doorway lintel. Mukhasala:The mukhasala of the temple is a pidha deula and its height is about 25 feet from the surface of the temple complex. It is also erected on the platform of 4 feet high. The base of the bada is rectangular and it measures approximately 15 feet in length and 9 feet in width. The bada of the mukhasala is pacanga type i.e. having fivefold divisions such as pabhaga, tala jamgha, bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. All the component parts of the bada are also devoid of decorative ornamentations. The bada of the mukhasala is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure. It consists of two potalas, the lower and upper potalas, which contain 3 and 2 pidhas respectively. The centre of the recess between the two potalas in eastern side is filled with jhapa simha as the decorative element of the gandi. Dopichha lions are fixed 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. They are acting as the supporting elements of the amlaka sila of the mastaka. The mastaka of the mukhasala consists of beki, ghanta above which there is another beki, amalaka sila, khapuri and kalasa. Here the ayudha and dhvaja are completely missing. 266

Inner walls of the mukhasala are devoid of decorative ornamentations. The doorway of the mukhasala is also completely plain. Jaya and Vijay figures are standing on the both sides of the doorway. They are acting as the dvarapalas of the temple. Both the vimana and mukhasala are thickly plastered with lime mortar. At the time of survey, the temple was being renovated by the Archaeological Suvey of India; Puri Circle. On the basis of the architectural features, the construction period of the temple can be tentatively assigned to the 16th century AD.