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
46 (of 54)
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ornamentation. Inner side niches of the eastern wall contain two Mahāvira (Hanumāna) images. The jagamohana has five doorways; one on eastern, three on western and one on southern side respectively. The doorjambs of the eastern side are decorated with naga-bandhas. The centre of the doorway lintel is decorated with a khadga (sword). Navagrahas are carved on the architrave above the doorway lintel. They are all in yogāsana posture with usual attributes in hands. Gangā and Yamunā are acting as the dvārapāḷas of the eastern side doorway. Other doorways of the jagamohana are completely undecorated. Nāṭamaṇḍapa- The natamanḍapa of the temple is a flatroofed structure and its height is about 15 feet. It is built in 1950's by the cooperation of devotees. The outer walls of the nāṭamaṇḍapa are completely plain. Lion, the conventional mount of devi is installed on the plain square sized pedestal, which noticed in the centre of the floor of nāṭamaṇḍapa. Open windows are provided for ventilation of air and sunlight towards the interior of the nāṭamaṇḍapa. Inner wall niches of the nāṭamaṇḍapa are housed with sculptures of various deities and they are also finely painted with different colours. The niches of the western inner wall contain images of the Dasamahāvidyā s such as Mā Ādya-Kāḷ�, Ugra-Tārā, Tripura-Sundari, Bhubanśvarī, Chhinna Mastā, Bhairavī, Dhumābatī and Kamaḷ� etc. The western inner wall of the nāṭamaṇḍapa also contains other deities in its niches. They are viz: Mahākāḷi, Mahā Lakṣmī, Māyā, Chhāyā, Mahā Sarasvati and Mahā Gaurī. The northern side inner wall of the naṭamaṇḍapa contains some other deities in its niches. They are Mā Kāḷa rātrī, aṣṭabhujā Durgā, Bhagavatī, Kāḷīkā, Saila Putri, Lord Kṛṣṇa, Kuvera, Bhagabān etc. The inner side southern wall of the nāṭamaṇḍapa contains images of devi Vaiṣṇavī, Rudrāṇ�, Śiva, Kātyāyanī, Skanda Mātā, Indra Devatā, Siddha Dātrī and Mā Tāriṇi. The inner wall of the eastern side of the nāṭamaṇḍapa also contains some deities such as Mā Brāhmaṇ�, Dasabhujā Durgā, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Mã Candra- Ghanṭ� and Brahma Cāriṇ�. All the above deities are made of cement and they are executed in 1970's by the local aartists of Puri. 283
