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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

Page:

8 (of 66)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Copyright (license):

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)


Warning! Page nr. 8 has not been proofread.

: 180 is made of black chlorite. The inner walls of the natamandapa contain some crude
sculptures of Sarasvati, the head of Rāhu, Nandi, Bhṛngi etc. The nāṭamaṇḍapa of
the Lokanātha temple has doorways on all the four sides. The base of the
doorjambs of the eastern side contains figures of Nandi and Bhṛngi. They are
acting as the dvārapāḷas of the eastern side. The central portion of the doorway
lintel of eastern side contains an image of Gaja-Lakṣmi. The figures of navagrahas
are carved on the architrave above the doorway lintel. Other doorways of the
nāṭamaṇḍapa are completely plain.
Bhogamandapa
The bhogamanḍapa of the Lokanatha temple is a piḍhā deuḷa and its
height is about 22 feet from the ground of temple. It is a rectangular hall and
measures approximately 45 feet in length and 25 feet in width. The baḍa of the
structure is consisted of five elements such as pābhāga, taḷa jāṃgha, bandhanā,
upper jängha and baranda. All the elements of the bāḍa are devoid of decoration.
The pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the bāḍa of the bhogamandapa. It
consists of three piḍhãs. There is only kalasa found from the top of the upper
辱.
The inner western wall of the bhogamandapa contains some sculptures in
its niches. They are viz. Narasimha, Vairabhi, Śiva-Pārvatī, Śyāmākāḷ� and Svāmi
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The four handed image of Narasimha has been installed on the plain
pedestal. His upper two hands posses conch and cakra and lower two hands are
engaged to take out the entrails of Hiranya Kasyapu (demon). The aṣṭabhujā
Vairabhi image has also been installed in a niche of the western wall. Out of her
right four hands, three display dambaru, khadga, pānapātra and the rest one is
empty while the left two hands possess human head and flower. Other two hands
of the left side are completely broken. The other slab contains the images of Śiva
and Pārvatī. They are in seated posture with usual attributes in hands. Both lion
and bull have also been installed on either side of the pedestal. Two flying apsarā
figures are carved on either side top corner of the slab. Devī Pārvati is seated on
the left lap of Śiva. Another niche of the western wall contains the figure of Svāmī
Śankarācārya. He is seated in padmāsana. The western inner wall of the

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