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艢AIVA TEMPLES OF PURU峁�OTTAMA K峁�ETRA
艢aivism was a dominant as well as popular religion of Orissa. It had also
impact on the k峁�etra of Lord Purusottama. 艢aivism attained the zenith of its glory
in Orissa during the 10th and 11th centuries AD. In this period the Somava峁僺is had
dominated the political scene of Orissa. After Somava峁僺is, Saivism also continued
to flourish in the k峁�etra of Purusottama up to the early part of the Ganga rule. On
the basis of a good number of extant Saiva temples in this k峁�etra, some scholars
suggest that Puri was once a Saiva pitha. The k峁�etra boasts of many other temples
consecrated various deities and sects. These temples too enjoy considerable
sanctity. Among these, the most noted are the eight 艢iva Temples. They are
Lokan膩tha, Yame艣vara, Kap膩岣穉 Mocana, M膩rka峁囜笉e艣vara, Ni岣穉kanthe艣vara,
K峁�etrap膩岣穉, P膩t膩岣積艣vara and Bele艣vara. Besides these, some other small 艢aiva
shrines are also noticed in the k峁�etra,which are Baikunthe艣vara, K膩si-Vi艣van膩tha,
B膩n膩mbar, B膩峁璦- Lokan膩tha, Ni岣穉kanthe艣vara (near Atharana岣纺� bridge )etc. The
description of the most of the notable Saiva Temples of k峁�etra are mentioned
below.
1. Lokan膩tha Temple
The temple of Lokanatha is situated at a distance of about 2陆 kms to
the west of Jagannatha temple of Puri. The western boundary of the k峁�etra (Puri
town) is guarded by the temple of Lokanatha, which is traditionally said to have
been established by 艢r墨 R膩macandra, the Hero of R膩m膩ya峁嘺. There is nothing,
however, in it to indicate that remote antiquity.' This temple is one of the most
important 艢aiva shrines of Orissa.虏 The place of Lokanatha temple is surrounded
by a number of Mango trees and in the midst of the grove there is a group of
temples within a spacious compound and a big tank (P膩rvat墨s膩gara) in the close
neighbourhood. Many small temples are also found in the temple premises. From
the religious point of view, the Saiva shrine of Lokanatha occupies an important
position in the cultural history of Orissa. Because of its importance the real
tradition makes it mandatory for a devotee to pay a visit to Lord Lokan膩tha after
his visit to Lord Jagannatha of the k峁�etra.