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 6 - Shakta Temples of Purushottama Kshetra
13 (of 54)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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jāngha and baraṇḍa. The pābhāga consists of the conventional mouldings of khurā, kumbha, pattā kāni and basanta. The pābhāga mouldings are finely decorated with scroll works, flower devices,, bhārabāhāka figures,a frieze of elephants, erotic scenes, jāli works and the figures of nayikās. The pagas of pābhāga are decorated with elongated khākharā muṇḍis. The jangha of the bāḍa is decorated with aḷasakanyās, khākharā muṇḍis, simha-vidaḷas, kirtimukha motifs, bhārabāhāka figures, scroll works, flower devices and Buddha images. The niches of the khākharā mundis contain asta-dikpāḷas with their respective mounts and directions. Gavākṣa:- The jagamohana walls have two balustrated windows, one on the north and another on the south. The balusters of the windows are richly carved with dancing female figures holding musical instruments in their hands. All the figures are partly eroded by nature. The lintel of the balustraded window of each side is carved with an image of Gaja Lakṣmī in its centre. Different parts of the windows are extensively decorated with scroll works, a frieze of elephants, flower medallions, creepers with the frolicking boys, deers and stylish geese. The northen side gavākṣa maṇḍana is decorated with a war tour scene of king. Behind them a series of men and women on the march with holding weapons in hands. This group is fronted by a royal personage sitting on a four-legged pedestal with a pillow at the back and a band of retinues carrying umbrellas and fly-whisks. The images of Lakṣmi and Sarasvati are also depicted on the northen side jāngha wall of the jagamohana. The southern side gavākṣa maṇḍana is relieved with erotic scenes, kirtimukha motifs, amorous couples, bhārabāhāka figures and caitya window motifs. The baranda of the bāḍa consists of four decorative horizontal mouldings, which are relieved with alasakanyās, bhārarakṣakas, stylish geese, caitya window motifs, flower medallions, simha vidaḷas (lion on elephant) rows of elephants and procession of warriors. The baḍa of the jagamohana is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure. It consists of two potalas, the lower and the upper poṭalas, which contain six and five pidhās respectively. The central rāhā paga of the upper piḍhã of each poṭāḷa is decorated with a piḍhā mastaka design. 250
