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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 7 - Miscellaneous Temples of Purushottama Kshetra

Page:

6 (of 36)


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. 6 has not been proofread.

The pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the baḍa of the jagamohana. The gandi consists of four flat-shaped piḍhās. The central portion of each piḍhā is projected with gaja-simha motif on all the four sides. The recesses or kānthis between the piḍhās are filled with different deities and decorative figures, which are made of lime mortar. They are such as the images of Garuḍa, Ganesa, Kṛṣṇa, Narasimha, Buddha, Hanumāna, female dancing figures, etc. Small dopichha lions are fixed in the four corners of the kanthis or recesses. Garuda figures are finely inserted in the four cardinal directions of the beki above rāhās. Dopichhā lions have also been fixed on the top of kanika pagas of the gandi. The mastaka of the jagamohana consists of usual components of Orissan piḍhā deuḷa such as beki, ghaṇṭā, above which there is another beki, amaḷaka śiḷ�, khapurī, kaḷasa and ayudha (cakra). The structure of the jagamohana is divided into a nave and two aisles by four square sized pillars. There is an image of Sani installed in the inner northern side of the jagamohana with a separate hall for him. There is an open doorway for approach towards it. A wooden barricade has been provided in front of the deities to regulate movement of devotees during the rush hours. The inner walls of the jagamohana are devoid of decorative ornamentations. The ceiling of the jagamohana is excellently depicted with paintings of ten incarnations of Lord Visṇu. The figure of Viṣnu is encircled by the figures of dasavatāras such as Matsya, Kurma, Varāha, Narasimha, Vāmana, Paraśurāma, Rāma, Baḷarāma, Buddha and Kalki. The figures of Brahmā and Śiva are depicted on the both sides of the dasavatāra panel of Lord Visṇu. The eastern side celiling is depicted with the paintings of Navagunjara (form of Lord Kṛṣṇa). Here Arjuna is in kneeling posture with devotion and he is keeping his bow on the earth. The Lord Navagunjara (Kṛṣṇa) is blessing Arjuna. This painting is very attractive to visitors. The jagamohana has five doorways; two on each side of north and south; one on eastern side of it respectively. The main doorway (eastern side) of the jagamohana is called Jaya-Vijaya dvāra. The doorjambs of the eastern side are painted with figures of nāgabandhas and flower medallions. The image of Gaja-Lakṣmi is carved on the centre of the doorway lintel. The figures of Madhu and Kaiṭabha are flanked on either side of the navagraha slab. The 296

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