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
52 (of 66)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Art & Architecture of the temple:- The temple of Beleśvara consists of three structures such as vimāna, jagamohana and nāṭamaṇḍapa (Pl.No-27). Both the vimāna and the jagamohana seem to have been constructed in the same period. But the nāṭamaṇḍapa is constructed in 1980's by the local people. The temple is built in laterite, bricks and stones. It faces to the west i.e.towards the Jagannatha temple. Vimāna- The vimana of the Baleśvara temple is a pidhā deuḷa and its height is about 40 feet from the ground of the temple. 128 The base of the baḍa is square of 15 feet. The baḍa of the vimana consists of five components such as pābhāga, taḷa jangha, bandhanä, upper jāngha and baranda. The components of baḍa are devoid of embellishments. The outer walls of the baḍa are thickly plastered with lime mortar. Pārsavadevatās:- The central niches of the three sides of the bäḍa of vimāna are housed with pārsvadevatä images of Ganeśa, Kārtikeya and Pārvatī in the southern, eastern and northern sides of it respectively. The four handed Ganeśa image has been installed on the double pettalled lotus pedestal. Out of the four hands, the right upper hand is completely broken, the right lower hand holds rosary, the upper left hand displays a pot of sweet balls and the lower left hand possesses a hatchet or kuthāra. Mouse, the mount of Ganesa has been carved on the pedestal of the deity. The surface of the pedestal is relieved with scroll works. Two female figures are flanked on either side of the deity. The background slab of the deity is decorated with trefoil arch; makara head at the base and kirtimukha motif at the apex. Flying apsara figures have been decorated on the top corners of the slab. They are holding garlands of flowers, conch, lotus etc. in their hands. The image of Kārtikeya is the pārsvadevatā of the eastern side of the bāḍa. The four handed Kartikeya image has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal (Pl.No-39). Out of the four hands, the upper right hand is broken from the elbow portion, the lower right hand displays varada mudra, the upper left hand holds rooster cock (whose head is broken) and the lower left hand displays abhaya mudrā. The backside head of the deity is decorated with trefoil arch crowned by kirtimukha motif. Vidyādhara figures are beautifully carved on i 224
