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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 6 - Shakta Temples of Purushottama Kshetra

Page:

7 (of 54)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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Copyright (license):

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


Warning! Page nr. 7 has not been proofread.

The bāḍa of the nāṭamaṇḍapa is surmounted by the pyramidal super structure and it consists of three flat-shaped piḍhās. There is only kaḷasa kept on the top the upper piḍhā. Bhogamaṇḍapa The bhogamandapa of the Vimalā temple is a piḍhā deuḷa and its height is about 20 feet from the surface of the temple complex. It stands on a high platform of 4 feet. The base of the bhogamaṇḍapa is square of 15 feet. The bāḍa of the bhogamandapa also consists of pābhāga, taḷa jāngha, bandhanā, upper jāngha and baranda. All the component parts of the bāḍa are also completely plain. Small dopichha lions have been fixed on the two front side corners of the taḷa jāngha. The bāḍa of the bhogamaṇḍapa is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure. Masonry steps of ascending order are provided for approach towards the bhogamaṇḍapa as well as the sanctum. Archaeological Survey of India; Puri Circle, has recently renovated the four structures of the Vimaḷ� temple. Sculptures: The temple of goddess Vimaḷ� is also adorned with some sculptures, which found from its walls. The pārsvadevatā images are housed in the central niches of the three sides of bāḍa. The eight armed Mahisamardini Durgā is the pārsvadevatā of the southern side of the baḍa. She has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. Out of the eight hands of the deity, only two upper hands display khadga and paraśu and the rest hands of the deity are completely broken. Two flying apsara figures are carved on the both sides top corners of the background slab and they are displaying garland of flowers in their hands. The background slab of the deity is decorated with the kirtimukha motif at the apex. The aṣṭabhujā Durgā is shown piercing Mahiṃsāsura (demon) by a trident. This gesture is not clearly visible, because it is severely damaged by nature. Lion, the conventional mount of devi firmly stands on the pedestal. Two conventional attendant female figures are also depicted at the base of the frame of pārsvadevatā niche. The image of goddess Camunḍ� is the pārsvadevtā of the western side of the main presiding deity. The six-armed devi image has been kept on the prostrate body of a corpse, which lies on the plain pedestal. Most parts of the image are broken. Out of the six hands of the deity, five are completely broken and only right upper hand displays khadga. Two female attendants are flanked on either side of 244

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