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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:

7 (of 36)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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


Warning! Page nr. 7 has not been proofread.

figures of Jaya and Vijaya are excellently painted at the base of the doorjambs. They are acting as the dvārapāḷas of the eastern doorway. Garuḍa and Hanumana figures are finely painted above the dvārapāḷas. Doorways of the northern and southern sides are completely undecorated. The figures of Gangā and Yamunā are carved on either side southern doorway of the jagamohana. Nāṭamandapa:- The natamaṇḍapa of the Gundicā temple is a piḍhā deuḷa and its height is about 30 feet from the surface of the temple complex. The base of the nāṭamaṇḍapa is oblong having a size of 48 feet x 44 feet divided into a nave and two aisles like the porch or jagamohana." The baḍa of the nāṭamaṇḍapa is pancānga type i.e. having five fold divisions such as pābhāga, taḷa jāngha, bandhanā, upper jāngha and baraṇḍa. The pābhāga and the taḷa jāngha of the bāḍa are completely undecorated. The bandhana of the bāḍa consists of three horizontal mouldings, which are relieved with images of ten incarnations of Lord Visṇu. The upper jāngha of the nāṭamaṇḍapa is relieved with different images as well as other small figures, which are made of lime mortar. They are such as Kṛṣṇa and Baḷarāma, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa yugaḷa image, Viśvakarmā with a female figure, standing figure of Nārada, childhood figure of Kṛṣṇa and Baḷarāma seated on lap of Nandarājā, Rohiṇ� and Yasoda are flanked on either side of Nandarājā, warrior scene, Śiva, Indra, Brahmā and aṣṭhabhujā Kṛṣṇa( in the form of Madhava). A secular scene representing a vaidya or sādhu attending to a patient has very excellently been executed on the upper jangha of the nāṭamaṇḍapa. Artists have not only carved but also painted these sculptural reliefs. The baranda of the bāḍa is also decorated with figures of four handed Janärdana, Kṛṣṇa and Baḷarāma, amorous couples, sepoys and river goddesses Gangā and Yamunā. . The pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the baḍa of the nāṭamaṇḍapa. The gandi consists of three flat-shaped piḍhās. The recesses or kānthis between the piḍhās are also filled with different deities and decorative figures. They are dancing figures, amorous couples, Rādhā Kṛṣṇa yugaḷa image, Garuda figure, erotic scenes, Hanumāna, Viśvakarmā, Kṛṣṇa is playing on flute, female figures with musical instruments like drum, Narasimha image, Nārada, Durvāsā ṛsi, gaja-siṃha motifs and mounted elephants. All these figures are made of lime mortar and they are small in size. Small dopichha lions 297

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