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
9 (of 66)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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bhogamaṇḍapa contains an image of Syāmākāḷ�. The four handed image of devi Śyāmākāḷ� is standing on the prostrate body of Śiva who is lying on the pedestal. Her four hands display khadga, human head, abhaya mudrā and varada mudrā. The inner walls of the bhogamandapa are also depicted with paintings of Mārkaṇḍeśvara, Kaiḷāsa Mountain and the ten-armed Bānāmbara (Siva). The local artists of Puri have executed these paintings. Other Minor Shrines Besides these four structures, there are some other minor shrines also noticed in the premises of the Lokanatha temple. A miniature shrine to the left of the inner courtyard preserves images of Surya-Nārāyaṇa and Candra-Nārāyaṇa. It is piḍhā deuḷa and its height is about 10 feet from the surface of the temple complex. There is a small shrine of rekha order deuḷa found from the southern side of the main deuḷa. It is the replica of the main temple (vimāna) of Lokanatha. Another small shrine dedicated to god Narasimha, is closely attached to the eastern side nisä-shrine of the main deuḷa. Foot prints under worship on a masonry pedestal is also noticed in the temple premises. The Satya-Nārāyaṇa shrine within the premises preserves images of Viṣṇu, Lakṣmi and several brass idols. The mandapa in front of the main shrine contains several broken figures of Umā Maheśvara, Cāmunḍ�, Bhairava, navagrahas, bull and brass idols. The panca-devatā shrine is located on the northeast corner of the temple complex. These deities are viz. Ganeśa, Narasimha, Rudra (Śiva), Mahisamardini Durgā (Ambikā) and Bhāskara (Surya-devatā). At the very entrance to the premises one can notice a series of female divinities worshipped in the name of Camuṇḍā, Hāḍaphuṭ� and Sitaḷ�. They have been very badly mutilated and the available parts are thickly coated with cosmetics. Their proper identity is very difficult to be arrived at. The walls around the entrance to the inner courtyard preserve within their niches figures of Hanumāna in different poses, Pārvati and a scene representing Śiva's marriage with Pārvati. Hanumāna figures are holding the branches of a tree and a piece of rock in both hands. The figure of Pārvatī is seated by crossing the leg with lion as her mount carved to the left. Her three hands 181
