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
15 (of 66)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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The mastaka of the jagamohana consists of beki, ghaṇṭā (bell shaped member) above which there is another beki, amaḷaka śiḷ�, khapurī, kalasa, āyudha (trident) and dhvaja. Lime wash has been applied to the entire gandi and mastaka of the jagamohana. Nāṭamandapa:- The natamaṇḍapa of the Yameśvara temple is a piḍhã deula and its height is about 20 feet from the surface of the temple complex. This structure is erected on a low platform of 1 foot high. It seems that the nāṭamaṇḍapa was constructed in later period than the main shrine and jagamohana. The base of the bāḍa is rectangular and it measures approximately 25 feet in length and 20 feet in width respectively. The bäḍa of the natamanḍapa is pancānga type i.e. having fivefold divisions such as pābhāga, taḷa jāngha, bandhanā, upper jāngha, and baranda. All the elements of bāḍa are completely plain. The bāḍa of the nāṭamandapa is surmounted by the receding pidhā roof and it consists of three flat shapped pidhās. There is not any element of the mastaka found from the top of the upper pidhā. Two bulls are kept on a circular pedestal, which noticed at the centre of the nāṭamandapa floor. In the close vicinity of the pillar is seen an image of Garuda fashioned in the conventional pose. Bhogamandapa- The bhogamandapa of the Yameśvara temple is a piḍhã deuḷa and it is about 20 feet in height. This structure is also erected on a platform of 1 foot high. The base of the bäḍa is rectangular and it measures 35 feet in length and 28 feet in width. The bāḍa is also pancanga type i.e. having fivefold division, which are devoid of decorative ornamentations. The baḍa of the nāṭamandapa is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure. It consists of three flat shaped piḍhās. The recesses or känthis between the piḍhās are filled with small dopichha lions at the corners and dancing female figures with musical instruments on the other parts of it respectively. 187
