Essay name: Temples of Purushottama Kshetra Puri
Author:
Ratnakar Mohapatra
Affiliation: Sambalpur University / Department of History
This essay studies the Temples of Purushottama Kshetra (Puri) which is renowned for its historic and religious significance, situated in Orissa (Odisha) by the Bay of Bengal. Purusottama-ksetra is famous for the Lord Jagannatha temple and numerous smaller temples, it showcases the distinctive Kalinga architectural style.
Chapter 5 - Shaiva Temples of Purushottama Kshetra
14 (of 66)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Baidyanath Gochhikara, who has also spoken that the pedestal of the slab of deity is carved with figures of hamsa, Garuḍa and bull, which are the conventional mounts of Brahmã, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara respectively.33 The image of Harihara is also being worshipped in its sanctum. It seems that the shrine of Yameśvara is a coordinating place of all the sects of Hinduism. The shrine of Yameśvara Mahadeva is also an ancient meeting place of Hari-Hara, which is indicated from some rituals of Śrīmandira. Recently, the inner walls of the sanctum are fully covered with China plates. Jagamohana> The jagamohana of the Yameśvara temple is a piḍhā deuḷa and its height is about 22 feet from the surface of the temple complex. The base of the bāḍa is square and it measures approximately 18 feet. The bāḍa has fivefold divisions such as pābhāga, taḷa jāngha, bandhanā, upper jāngha and baraṇḍa. The pābhāga portion is completely buried under the earth. The tala jangha is decorated with piḍhā mundis. The intervening recesses between the pagas of taḷa jāngha are decorated with simha vidaḷas and gaja-vidaḷas. The bandhanā of the bāḍa consists of three decorated horizontal mouldings. The upper jāngha of the bāḍa is also decorated with pidhā mundis. The intervening recesses of the upper jāngha are filled with erotic scenes, amorous couples, aḷasakanyās with different postures, śāḷa bhanjikā figures and female figures carrying with baby on their waists. Most of the decorative elements of the bāḍa are covered with plaster. The central niches of the both eastern and western side's bāḍa walls of the jagamohana are fixed with balustraded windows. The lintel of the balustraded window is surmounted by a projecting eave on each side. The gavākṣa mandanas of both sides are completely undecorated. The baranda of the bāḍa is devoid of ornate devices. The pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the baḍa of the jagamohana. It consists of two potalas, the lower and upper potalas, each contains three and two piḍhās respectively. Tänkus are fixed on all sides of piḍhās. Deuḷa Cāriṇīs and dopichha lions are completely absent in their respective places. 186
