Orissa, the land of temples... by sonali mishra

Orissa The Land of Temples

SONALI MSHRA

Orissa

Jagannath temple

Konark Temple Mukteshwar Temple

Jagannath Temple Lingaraj Temple

Vaital Temple Tara tarini Temple

Introduction Orissa, the lush green state, girdled by the Bay of Bengal, has seen some of the best fusion of traditional Indian art in its many temples and monuments, and has been able to preserve much of it, in an environment natural to its wonder and attractions. It was in Orissa, that Buddhism found some of its strongest exposure, and cult following. However, it was Hindu art that dominated the landscape, eventually, and resulted in the profusion of temple traditions, that have endured till now. Most of the state's attractions are close to each other, and convenient access is provided out of the state capital, Bhubaneswar. The capital itself is an intriguing amalgam of the old and the new, an emerging modern Indian city, that is steeped in the roots of the traditions of its glorious past, without being overwhelmed by it.

Contents Shri Jagannath Temple, Bhubaneshwar

1-2

Mukteshwar Temple, Bhubaneshwar

3-4

Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneshwar

5-6

Tara tarini Temple, Ghatagaon

7-8

Konark Temple, Bhubaneshwar

9 - 10

Vaital Deula, Bhubaneshwar

11 - 12

Shri

Jagannath temple

Proper Name: Shri Mandira Location: Puri, Orissa Architecture and culture: Primary deity: Lord Jaganath Important festivals: Ratha Yatra Architectural styles: Kalinga Architecture/ Hindu temple architecture Built : 1161 AD 1

Introduction The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath and located in the coastal town of Puri in the state of Orissa, India. The name Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat (Universe) and Nath (Lord of) and also, the word "Jagannatha" is evolved from "Jagati" (as an elevated platform or "Ratnabedi" on which the wooden form of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra are worshiped on or the temple or its precincts inside the "Narendra Pokhari" ) and "Natha" (means "Lord").The temple is an important pilgrimage destination for many Hindu traditions, particularly worshippers of Krishna and Vishnu, and part of the Char Dham pilgrimages that a Hindu is expected to make in one's lifetime. The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three main temple deities are hauled on huge temple cars.

History

Mahaprasada of Lord Jagannath

In all other temples in India, devotees may take "PRASAD"- the holy food that has been offered to the deities. But the food offered to Lord Jagannath that is distributed among the devotees is called "MAHAPRASAD''. The Mahaprasada at Jagannath temple consists of 88 different types of Bhog that are prepared in different phases daily. Daily Worship

Historical evidences avouch the construction of the present temple of Lord Jagannath to a period between the 11th & 12th Century A.D.The construction of the Jagannath Temple at Puri was initiated by the founder King of the Ganga Dynasty, King Chodaganga Deva in 1235 A.D. The construction was however finished by King Anangabhima Deva and the deities were installed in the temple in the same year. The management of the temple from then on had been undertaken by the ruling king of the state. It continued uninterrupted till 1558 when Orissa was conquered by the Afghan Nawab of Bengal. The Jagannath temple was ravaged by the Muslims during this period under their ruthless commander “Kalapahad”.

Evolution of Lord Jagannath Lord Jagannath, the ruling deity of Orissa is one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu and finds mention in the Skanda Purana,Brahma Purana and other Puranas. The lord adorns the Ratna Sinhasana along with his elder brother Balaram and sister Subhadra in the world famous Jagannath temple of Puri. It is owing to his glorious presence that Puri is also one of the four revered Piths of Hinduism. The luminous aura of the Lord keeps sparkling with various legends and myths associated with him and his temple.

Architecture of the Temple The architecture of the Jagannath temple is a fine expression of the Panchratha style of Kalinga style. The main entrance on the east is called Simhadwara or the Lion gate, which is the symbol of strength. The southern gate is the next important one where symbol of horse shows the military power of the king. The western gate of the temple at Puri Jagannath is called Byaghradwara or the tiger gate which signifies energy and the northern gate called Hastidwara indicates prosperity. The spiritual significance of these symbols are however linked to man’s eternal seeking. While the Simha dwara represent Dharma (lion),the Hastidwara(Elephant) symbolizes Artha .The Ashwadwar (Horse) represents Karma and the Byghradwar (Tiger) symbolizes Moksha .

• 05 A.M. : Dwara Pitha & Mangalal Alati

• 06 A.M. : Mailam • 09 A.M. : Gopala Ballava Puja • 11 A.M. : Madhynha Dhupa

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS How to reach By air to Bhubaneswar (Puri is 62 km from Bhubaneswar), road and rail.

Places around Puri Balighai (8km) The Casuarina fringed Balighai beach is a famous picnic spot. The Sun and fun at the mouth of the river Nuanai is unforgettable. Brahmagiri (25km) Brahmagiri is known for the living shrine of Alarnath. Streams of pilgrims visit Alarnath during Anabasara of Lord Jagannath. Nearby is the shrine of Baliharachandi on the solitary sand dunes. Satapara (52km) Satapara,a retreat in natureonChilika lake,has been thrown open to visitors. Its location near the confluence of the lake with the Bay of Bengal,and proximity to puri, makes it an ideal spot to enjoy Chilika. The thrilling sight of the Dolphins round the year and abundance of migratory and resident birds in winter make it a preferred place for a vacation with nature. 2

Mukteshwar temple

Proper Name: Mukteshwar mandira Location: Bhubaneshwar, Orissa Architecture and culture: Primary deity: Lord Kedareshwar Architectural styles: Kalinga Architecture Built: 970AD

Introduction Muktesvara deula is a 10th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva located in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India. The temple dates back to 970 A.D., is a monument of singular importance in the study of the development of Hindu temples in Orissa. In this stylistic development the Mukteswara plays a pivotal role; it marks the culmination of all earlier developments, and initiates a period of experiment which continues for an entire century, as seen in such temples as the Rajarani Temple and Lingaraj temple, both located in Bhubaneswar.

History The 10th century Mukteshwar Temple is an important transition point between the early and later phases of the Kalinga school of temple architecture. Many elements of the older order have been blended with new designs and conceptions. Various innovations made here became essential features of all the other temples. The temple is richly sculpted and offers pride of place to tales from the Panchatantra. The niches on the outer face of the compound wall include Buddhist, Jain and Hindu images, pointing to the synthesis which was a part of Orissan religious life. The temple gateway is an arched masterpiece and is excellently decorated with beautiful sculptures, elaborate scrolls and graceful female figures.

The Porch

The temples most striking feature is the torana, or the arched gateway, dating back to about 900 A.D. and showing the influence of Buddhist architecture. The Gateway to the Mukteswara Temple, modeled on the torana recovered from the field in Bhubaneswar, bears sculptures that range from elaborate scrolls to pleasant female forms and figures of monkeys and peacocks. The arched gateway has thick pillars that have strings of beads and other ornaments carved on statues of smiling women in languorous repose. The porch is a waller chanber with a low, massive roof, and internal pillars are wholly wanting. The combination of vertical and horizontal lines is skillfully arranged so as to give dignity of buildings of moderate height. This early astylar form of the temple is best illustrated in this temple.

Architecture of the Temple This distinctive 10th century temple is one of the smallest and most compact, decorated with intricate carvings and is the finest testimonial for the architectural cognizance of Vishwakarma Moharana sculptors. The temple is regarded as a gem of Nagara architecture of Kalinga architecture.Except for the rectangular plan of its jaganmohana, it is the earliest example of what may be termed proper Orissa temple type; a vimana with a curvelinear spire and a jaganmohana with a stepped pyramidal roof.This temple also reveals some notable features both in architectural and in the attributes of the cult images. In the cult images, we find here a rat used as a mount of Ganesha, a peacock associated with Karthikeya, babies carried in arms of Saptamatrikas and Ketu among the planets.There is a tank inside the compound that is still in use by devotees. Women toss coins into the tank, wishing to cure infertility. The local saint, Lakulisa is carved into the doorway. WZIt is a perfect blend of ancient and modern designing and this is what makes it simply outstanding. This architecture is one of the basic reasons why Mukteswar temple is also known as the Gem of Orissa architecture.

The Holy Well

The presiding deity is Lord Shiva, referred to locally by the name â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kedareshwarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Therefore lord kedareshwar had got a wish from lord vishnu that whoever takes a dip in the holy well will be cured from infertility. So,people from all over country come to this temple to get rid of their curse.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS How to reach Biju Patnaik airport at Bhubaneswar is nearly 5 km away from the heart of the city.

Places around Mukteshwar temple Atri (42 km) Situated amidst greenery and famous for the hot sulphur water spring, Atri, 42 km. from Bhubaneswar and 14 km. from Khurda, is also a holy place with the shrine of Hatakeswar. A bath in the spring water is reputed to cure skin diseases apart from being a pleasant experience. Nandankanan (20 km) Picturesquely carved out of the Chandaka forest, Nandankanan which is famous for its White Tigers. is a Biological Park where animals are kept in their natural habitat. A centrally located lake divides the Zoo from the Botanical Gardens. Tigers, Lions, Clouded Leopards, Black Panthers, European Brown Bear, Himalayan Black Bear, Rosy Pelican, Grey Pelican, Indian Python, King Cobra, etc. are among the attractions of the zoo, The exotic Botanical Garden on the other side of the zoo preserves varieties of indigenous plants. Regular bus services are available to reach the place. 4

Lingaraj temple

Proper Name: Lingaraj Temple Location: Bhubaneshwar, Orissa Architecture and culture: Primary deity: Harihara Bhuvaneshvari(consort) Architectural styles: Kalingan Pancharatha Style Built: 11th century CE

Introduction Lingaraj Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Harihara, another name for Shiva and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar, a revered pilgrimage center and the capital of the state of Orissa, India.The temple of Lingaraja, the biggest of all at Bhubaneswar, is located within a spacious compound wall of lateritemeasuring 520 feet by 465 feet. The wall is 7 feet 6 inches thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping. Alongside the inner face of the boundary wall there runs a terrace probably meant to protect the compound wall against outside aggression.

History Lingaraaj means The king of Lingam, the symbol of Shaivism. Shiva is here woshipped as Tribhuvaneshwara (Master of three worlds, i.e. Heaven, Earth and Netherworld).[His consort is called Bhuvaneshvari.By the time the Lingaraj temple was constructed, the Jagannath (form of Vishnu) cult had been growing, which historians believe is evidenced by the co-existence of Vishnu and Shiva worship at the temple.The temple is traditionally believed, though without historical authentication, to be built by the Somavanshi king Jajati Keshari, in 11th century CE. Jajati Keshari had shifted his capital from Jajpur to Bhubaneswar which was referred to as Ekamra Kshetra in the Brahma Purana, an ancient scripture.

Lingaraj:Shiva Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the Destroyer or Transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. He is regarded as the most powerful god in Hinduism. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is the Supreme God and has five important works: creator, preserver, destroyer, concealer, and revealer. He is regarded as one of the five primary forms of God. He is also commonly known as Rudra.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS How to reach Biju Patnaik airport at Bhubaneswar is nearly 5 km away from the heart of the city. It costs about Rs 100 by taxi cab. The airport is connected to Delhi and Mumbai. International travelers need to get connections through Delhi.

Places around Lingaraj temple Sisupalgarh(2km) Just two km from the famed Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneswar lie the ruins of Sisupalgarh. Dating back to the third or fourth century BC, these ruins show that even at that early date there was a well fortified city here, and establish the fact that the Orissan civilization has very ancient roots.

Architecture of the Temple

The outer walls of the temple exhibit unparalled carvings. The beautifully carved and sculpted images of various God and Goddess are unrivalled. The temple complex has three compartments and each one has a temple each. Towards south of the entrance to main temple is image of Lord Ganesha, at the back is the image of Goddess Parvati and to north is Lord Kartikya.The Lingaraja temple has got various pillars and halls which add to its beauty. At the main gate is the temple of Lord Ganesha followed by Nandi pillar. Its towering spire-like beauty dominates the Bhubaneswar skyline.It represents the the peak of Kalinga style of architecture spanning over 25 centuries of progressive history.The temple is dedicated to "Tri Bhubaneshwar", or Lord of the three worlds also known as Bhubaneshwar. The granite block representing "Tri Bhubaneshwar is bathed daily with water, milk and Bhang.It is enclosed and has four features - a sanctuary, a dancing hall, an assembly hall and a hall of offerings.

Dhauli (8 km) Surrounded by paddy fields, the Dhauli hill brings back memories of the historic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kalinga warâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which was fought around here. It is here that Ashoka, the terrible, was transformed into Ashoka, the compassionate and championed the cause of Buddhism. On the foot of the hill one can see the Rock Edicts of Ashoka and the forepart of a skillfully sculpted elephant hewn out of a huge rock. Hirapur (15 km) Hirapur has the 11th century Hypaethral temple of sixty four Yoginis. It is second of its kind in Orissa and one of four such unique temples in 6 India.

Tara tarini temple

Proper Name: Tara Tarini Mandira Location: Ghatagaon, Orissa Architecture and culture: Primary deity: Maa Tarini Architectural styles: Kalinga Architecture Built: 1475 AD

Introduction Maa Tarini is one of the embodiments of Shakti and is one of the chief presiding Goddesses in Oriya culture. Her chief shrine is in Ghatagaon, Keonjhar District, Orissa. The Twin Goddesses Tara and Tarini are worshiped at the temple as manifestations of Adi Shakti. The Taratarini Hill Shrine is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of the Mother Goddess and is one of four major ancient Shakti Peethas in India.

History

Conceptualisation of Maa Tarini In the Ramayana, after Sita was abducted by Ravana, Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana started searching for her. When they reached the forest, near which later Vijayanagar was founded, Rama worshipped Devi Durga and sought her help. The Goddess instructed Rama while he was meditating that he must not see her when she appears or she will turn to stone. Rama could not control himself and saw her and the Goddess was embodied as a stone idol. She told Rama not to worry and call her later when she would definitely aid him.This second puja was performed by Ravana himself near Rameswaram before the Vanara Sena could cross over to Lanka. Ravana was deemed fit because this ceremony was performed in order to achieve victory in the war to follow. In order to defeat a warrior like Ravana, the performer had to be a Brahmin who performed the ritual ofTrisandhya everyday without fail. At that time, Ravana was the only such Brahmin in all of Creation.After Lord Rama left, the stone idol was worshiped by the local tribes. Thus the ancient tribal Goddess was described as a Hindu Goddes,maa tarini.

Architecture of the Temple

Taratarini Temple Orissa is known for its splendid architecture. Taratarini Temple is located in the southern region of Orissa. Taratarini temple is adorned with two deities who are known to be sisters. The two goddesses are Tara and Tarini. Taratarini temple is almost 40 kms away from the city of Behrampur. All kinds of local transport are available in order to reach the temple of Taratarini. Underneath the temple built on a hill-top flows the river Rushikulya. The hill upon, which this temple is situated is popularly known as the Taratarini hill. The cult of Taratarini has been metamorphosed into the cult of shakti. They symbolize power and prosperity. This cult came into existence from the religion of Buddhism.

MAA

The Mother, is the icon of all pervading energy that is prevalent in the nature in form of living and non-living, good and evil, day and night. Ensconced in her temple at the thickets of Ghatagaon, Maa Tarini is unarguably the most worshipped deity of Orissa after Lord Jagannath. Another unique aspect of Maa Tarini is her association with coconuts. The deity, it is believed can be appeased by offerings of Coconut. A visit to her temple and you would be amazed at the piles of coconut that wait to be offered to her. This unique tradition of offering coconuts to the Mother, has generated the world’s largest courier system that involves devotees of the mother spread across the length and breadth of Orissa and the heavy vehicles that ply through the well maintained highways of Orissa.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS How to reach Biju Patnaik airport at Bhubaneswar is nearly 5 km away from the heart of the city.

Places around Tarini temple Vedavyas (9 km): Situated on the confluence of the rivers Sankha and Koel, Vedavyas is not only a place of natural beauty but also considered a ‘Tirtha’,a place of religious sanctity. A vedic Ashram and a school on the lines of Gurukula Ashram are the added attractions of the place. An ideal picnic spot, it is 5 km from Panposh. Pitamahal Dam (16 km): Famous for a small Dam project and ideal for outing. Mandira Dam (28 km): Known for the Dam across the river Sankha, constructed for supply of water to Rourkela and other places in the vicinity. Boating facility is available in the lake . 8

Konark Tara tarini temple

Introduction The Magnificent Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination of Odishan temple architecture, and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. The poet Rabindranath Tagore said of Konark that “Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man', and it is true that the experience of Konark is impossible to translate into words. Konark Sun Temple is a 13th century Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), at Konark, in Orissa. It was constructed from oxidized and weathered ferruginous sandstone by King Narasimhadev (1238-1250 CE) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. The temple is an example of Orissan architecture of Ganga dynasty . The Temple is one of the most renowned temples in India and is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the Seven Wonders of India.

History

King Narasimha Deva-I of the Ganga Dynasty had ordered this temple to be built as a royal proclamation of the political supremacy of his dynasty. A workforce of 12 hundred artisans architects invested their creative talent, Proper and Name: Tara Tarienergy and artistic commitment for an exhausting ni Mandira period of 12 years. The king had already spent an Location: Ghatagaon, Orissa amount equivalent to the state's revenue receipts of 12 years. However, the completion of the construction was nowhere near sight. Then the king issued a final command that the work be completed by a stipulated date. The team of architects headed by Bisu Maharana was at its wit's end. It was then that Dharmapada the 12 year old son of the chief architect Bisu Maharana arrived there as a visiting

on looker. He became aware of the anxiety looming large among the architects. Although he did not have any practical experience of temple construction, he was thorough in his study of the theories of temple architecture. He offered to solve the confounding problem of fixing the last copping stone at the top of the temple. He surprised everyone by doing that himself. But soon after this achievement the dead body of this adolescent prodigy was found on the sea beach at the foot of the temple.

Magnets and Floating idols

The Uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that between every two stone pieces there lies an iron plate .This fantastic effort in human perseverance took 1200 workers about 12 years to complete and that the ’’Dadhinauti’’ (Peak) of the main temple had to be installed by the 12 year old son Dharmapada Moharana of the Chief Architect Bishu Moharana. The said peak being a 52 ton magnet. This magnet was the reason the entire edifice endured the harsh conditions for centuries without being affected. The main idol was believed to be floating in the air because of the unique arrangements of the main magnets and other series of magnets. The placement of the temple had been aligned in a way that the first rays of the Sun falling on the coast would pass through the Nata Mandir and would reflect from the diamond placed at the center of this idol in the Main Sanctum. This phenomena would last for a couple of minutes during the early morning. These magnets were later removed by the Britishers for acquiring the magnet.

Introduction

Where the Language of Stone Defeats the Language of man

Maa Tarini is one of the embodiments of Shakti and is one of the chief presiding Goddesses in Oriya culture. Her chief shrine is in Ghatagaon, Keonjhar District, Orissa. The Twin Goddesses Tara and Tarini are worshiped at the temple as manifestations of Adi Shakti. The Taratarini Hill Shrine is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of the Mother Goddess and is one of four major ancient Shakti Peethas in India.

History

Near about 1475 A.D. King Purusottam Dev ruled Kalinga. Once on a trip to South India he chanced upon Princess Padmavati of Kanchi and proposed marriage. The proposal was accepted and the minister of the king of Kanchi traveled to Puri to finalise the arrangements. The Rath Yatra was in full swing and he saw the king sweeping the chariots of the deities. Marriage to a sweeper was unacceptable and hence the marriage was called off. Insulted, the King of Puri declared war on Sun Worship Kanchi. He was defeated in the first war. He prayed Jagannath In ancient times worshipto of Lord Sun god was in and it is believed that he was directed to appoint one Govinda Bhanja aswith his vogue and the people were accustomed Senapati or General of his army. Bhanja was in fact the son of the king the worship of two Supreme deities - one of Keonjhar and was staying in mother Puri because ofDharitri differences Earth as Mata with and his the father. other the Sun, the Dharam devata. Sun god is regarded Conceptualisation of Maa Tarini as the supreme lord of the universe, being the In the Sita was abducted by healer of Ramayana, dieases andafter bestower of desires. Ravana, LordaRama anddeity his brother Surya has been popular in India Lakshsince mana started searching forfive her.supreme When they Vedic period. In later ages the reached the forest, near which later VijayGods worshipped by Hindu were Ganesh anagar was founded, Rama worshipped (destroyer of obstacles and fulfiller of desires),Devi Durga and sought her help. Thephenomena Goddess Vishnu (the cosmic sustainer of the instructed while he was meditating universe), SivaRama (the cosmic destroyer of the unithat he must(the notmother see her when she verse), Durga goddess andappears source or she will turn to stone. Ramaofcould not control her and all energies), andhimself the Sunand (the saw life giving the Goddess was embodied as a stone idol. She toldPancha-Devata. Rama not to worry and energy). They are called call her later when she would definitely aid him.This second puja was performed by Ravana himself near Rameswaram before the Vanara Sena could cross over to Lanka. Ravana was deemed fit because this ceremony was performed in order to achieve victory in the war to follow. In order to defeat a warrior like Ravana, the performer had to be a Brahmin who performed the ritual ofTrisandhya everyday without fail. At that time, Ravana was the only such Brahmin in all of Creation.After Lord Rama left, the stone idol was worshiped by the local tribes. Thus the ancient tribal Goddess was described as a Hindu Goddes,maa tarini.

Architecture of the Temple Architecture of the Temple

It Taratarini takes the Temple form ofOrissa the chariot is known of Surya for its(Arka), splendid thearchitecture. Sun God, and Taratarini is heavily Temdecorated ple is located withinstone the southern carving. The region entire of Orissa. complex Taratarini was designed templein is the adorned form of with a huge two deities chariotwho drawn are by known seven tospirited be sisters. horses Theon two twelve goddesses pairs ofare exquiTara sitely and Tarini. decorated Taratarini wheels. temple The is entrance almost 40 is guarded kms away byfrom two lions, the city which of Behramare each pur. All shown kindscrushing of local transport a war elephant. are available Each elephant in order in to turn reach lies the ontemple top of a of human Taratarini. body. Underneath The temple thesymbolises temple built theonmajestic a hill-top stride flowsofthe theriver Sun Rushikulya. god. At the Theentrance hill upon,ofwhich the temple this temple is a Nata is situated Mandiris(Dancing popularly Hall). known Thisasisthe where Taratathe rini hill. temple Thedancers cult of Taratarini used to perform has been dances metamorphosed in homage to into thethe Sun cult god. of shakti. All around They symbolize the temple, power there and areprosperity. various floral Thisand cultgeometric came intopatterns. existence There from the are also human, divine and semi-divine figures in sensuous poses.

MAA

The Mother, is the icon of all Erotic Images pervading energy prevalent The higher layer ofthat theisKonark in the nature in form of living Temple contains a number of and non-living, good and evil,Not daywithand sculptures,mostly erotic. night. Ensconced in her temple standing the vulgarity presentedat the of Ghatagaon, Tarini inthickets the erotic scenes,the Maa sculpture is unarguably the most worshipped reveals the thorough knowledege of deity ofanatomy Orissa after Jagannath. human thatLord the artists had. Another unique aspect of Maa In one scene a man is lifting a Tarini womis with her association with coconuts. The an of his hands and the woman deity, it is believed can be appeased clings to his neck. In this case the by offerings Coconut. A visit to sculptor haveofwonderfully shown her temple and you would be amazed the expansion and contraction of the at the pilesisofproof coconut that wait to be muscles.it of their technical offered to her. This unique tradition experience from centuries. of offering coconuts to the Mother, has generated the world’s largest courier system that involves devotees of TOUR HIGHLIGHTS the mother spread across the length and breadth of Orissa and the heavy How to reach vehicles that ply through the well Biju Patnaik airport at Bhumaintained highways of Orissa. baneswar is nearly 5 km away from the heart of the city.

Places around Konark temple

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Kuruma (8 km) Kuruma a small village where How to is reach Recent excavations have Biju Patnaik airporthere at Bhubrought to light the reminiscence of baneswar is nearly 5 km away from some ancient Buddhist antiquities the heart of the city. like the image of Buddha seated in Bhumisparsa Mudra along with the Places around Tarini temple image of Heruka, and a 17 metres long brick wall. The place is apVedavyas (9 km): proachable by jeep. Situated on the confluence of the rivers Sankha and Koel, Vedavyas Chaurasi km) of natural beauty is not only(14 a place One can visit the shrines of Amabut also considered a ‘Tirtha’,a reswar, and ABarahi place ofLaxminarayan religious sanctity. vedic atAshram Chaurasi.Barahi is on thethe Mother and a school lines Goddess withAshram the faceare of the a boar. of Gurukula added Pot-bellied, she a fish in one attractions of theholds place. An ideal hand a cup the from other.Panposh. The picnicand spot, it isin 5 km deity belongs to 9th century A.D. Pitamahal Dam (16 km): Ramachandi km) Dam project Famous for a(7small On confluence of the river andthe ideal for outing. Kushabhadra and the Bay of Bengal, Ramachandi, the presidMandira Dam (28 km): ing deityfor of the Konark region Known Dam across theisriver worshipped here with for reverence. Sankha, constructed supply of On the to Marine Drive, place is water Rourkela andthe other places ideal week-end picnic. in thefor vicinity. Boating facility is available in the lake . 10 8

Vaital Deula temple

Proper Name: Baitala Deula Location: Bhubaneshwar, Orissa Architecture and culture: Primary deity: Chanmundeshwari Devi Architectural styles: Kalinga Architecture Built: 9th century

Introduction Vaitala deula or Baitala deula is a 9th century Hindu temple typical Khakara temple dedicated to Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, India. Vaital Deul temple stands silent along the bustling streets of Bhubaneshwar, it is a contrast from the world we are in today and the world that once was. The landscape of the day has completely changed with buildings rising around this quaint ambiance but the image of this quiet locality must have been quite different during the old days. Vaital Deul, sharing its compound with Sisireshwar temple, would have been shrouded among dense forests with a possible pathway leading up to this shrine.

History Ancient Temple in India Vaital temple, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa Dated to the 8th century CE and is dedicated to the deity Chamunda Devi (Kali). It is believed to be the main centre of Tantric worship. The temple has double storey 'Wagon roof', an influence of Buddhist cave architecture. Tantrik cults have ruled this temple for long and their main deity of worship has been Chamunda devi. While the exteriors of this temple are covered with innocent looking kanyas luring the passerby to these temples, what lies inside looks far more fearsome.

The Truth Inside

Vaital Deul is one such potent example of a Shakti sthal converted to a hard core location for strict, deep rooted tantrik practices for the worship of the Mother, in one of her many forms. The temple itself has a silent aura of mysticism with a luring exterior of the most ravishing Kanyas. But when we step inside, the view changes everything. Shiva, the Durgas, Sapta Matrikas, Varaha, Ganesha form the pantheon that welcomes us, but with a difference. They appear far more scary than what we in "civilized society" are used to. The imagery is dangerously close involving sexuality and potential blood rituals, the rules and beliefs are completely different.

The Deity

Chamunda, also known as Chamundi, Chamundeshwari and Charchika, is a fearsome aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother and one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses). She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixtyfour or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga.The name is a combination of Chanda and Munda, two monsters whom Chamunda killed. She is closely associated with Kali, another fierce aspect of Devi. She is sometimes identified with goddesses Parvati, Chandi or Durga as well. The goddess is often portrayed as haunting cremation grounds or fig trees. The goddess is worshipped by ritual animal sacrifices.

Architecture of the Temple

Baitala Deula Temple’s striking feature is the shape of its sanctuary tower. The semi-cylindrical shape of its roof is a leading example of Khakhara order of temples— which bears an affinity to the Dravidian Gopuram of the South Indian temples. The outer walls are encrusted with panels of Hindu deities, mostly Shiva and his consort Parvati in her Shakti form, hunting processions, capturing of wild elephants and the occasional erotic couples. The medallion in the upper Chaitya window houses a 10-armed Nataraja or dancing Shiva. In front of the flat roofedJagamohana is a stone post relieved with two Buddha like figures seated in Dharma-Chakra. Another striking feature is temple’s Tantric associations, marked by eerie carvings in the sanctum and the image enshrined in the central niche, eight armed Chamunda, locally known as Kapalini, is the terrifying form of goddess Durga. Thus, Baitala Deula is a Shakti shrine.

Places around Vaital temple Khandagiri and Udaygiri : The twin hills of Kumargiri and Kumarigiri known as Khandagiri and Udaygiri contain varieties of rock-cut caves, built mainly for the jain monks around 1st - 2nd century B.C.The thirteen years lithic record of King Kharavela engraved in Hatigumpha is a magnificent specimen of Pali records so far in India. Atri(42 km) : Atri, is also a holy place with the shrine of Hatakeswar. A bath in the spring water is reputed to cure skin diseases apart. 12

My Book “Orissa, the land of temples” is a journey through the mystic stories of Hindu mythology, gods and goddesses .It is an eye opener for the readers about the architectural master pieces and stories behind the stone. The book is a fusion of the of traditional Indian art in its many temples. The temples are the ‘brightest flame of a dying lamp’ for the readers as it will relish and open up their mind towards the fantastic Kalinga architecture done by the sculptors at those times. Therefore, Experience the age old legacy of these temples and take a fulfilling journey to self-discovery.

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