Temples of Bhubaneswar - भुवनेश्वर के मंदिर
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Bhubaneswar is also called the 'City of Temples'. It boasted of more than 7000 temples located around Bindusagar tank in the old city. Only 500 of those temples survive today some of which are really magnificent. Orissa formed a part of the Kalinga Kingdom. In 260 BC, Emperor Ashoka defeated the King of Kalinga. But soon the bloody battle filled Ashoka with remorse and he renounced war and violence forever. He embraced Buddhism and followed the path of peace, pity, compassion and non-violence. Soon after Ashoks's death Buddhism in Orissa declined and Jainism had the sway under the mighty arm of Kharvela until Buddhism again became a popular faith in 2nd century B. C. Under Kharvela Orissa attained new heights in art, culture trade and commerce.
The coming of the Kesari and Ganga Kings marks the culmination of Orissa art and culture. These kings were very powerful and ambitious builders. They were followers of Shaiva and Vaishnava faith. The temples of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark were constructed during their reign (712-1200 AD). In 1568 AD, the last Hindus ruler of Orissa was over-thrown by a Muslim general and finally Orissa was annexed by Akbar in 1592 AD. The bigoted Muslim invaders destroyed hundreds of Hindu and Jain temples.
In 1803 AD Orissa came into the British possession. Orissa became a separate province in 1936 with Cuttack as its capital. The location for the capital was selected because of its central location, high altitude, good communication, vast plateau like high uplands sloping to the sides, eco-friendly climate and above all deep-rooted historical significance with left out landmarks of architectures and sculptures. The capital was shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar in 1948. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of the new city in when Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab was the Chief Minister of Orissa. Lingaraja Temple Lingaraja temple is the epitome of the Orissan temple architecture. It is one of the most beautiful temples in India. The main deity of the temple is Hari-Hara that is half Shiva and half Vishnu. The deity is also referred to as "Tirubhuvaneshwar" meaning "Lord of the Three worlds". Parts of this temple are over 1400 years old. But the present structure dates back from 1090 to 1104 A.D. the measurement of the temple is 520 ft by 465 ft. the original structure consisted only of mandap and garbhagriha. Nat Mandir and Bhog Mandir were added later. There are several votive shrines around the temple. The exterior of the temple is lavishly decorated with beautiful sculptures of birds, animals, floral motifs, human figures in erotic postures and gods and goddesses. The sanctum contains the lingam made of uncarved granite, which is plain without any embellishment. The lingam is 8 ft in diameter and is raised 8 inches above the ground. The deity is given a bath daily with water, milk and bhang.Mukteswar Temple Rajarani Temple The Rajarani Temple was built in the 11th century AD. It is proportionate in measurement. It stands majestically in a green field. it was constructed around the 11th century and dedicated to Lord Brahma. It has no presiding deity now and is longer used for worship. There is a beautiful 59 feet high tower in the temple. The temple is also noted for its excellent sculptural art of erotic postures of mithuna couple, nayikas, nymphs, gajasimha and other intricate stone carvings. The jagmohan of the temple is plain yet majestic while the sanctum is profusely decorated. The temple got its name because of the red-gold color of the local stone, Rajraniya, of which it is made of. Vaital Deul Temple Vaital Deul temple is situated near the Bindu Sarovar tank. It was build during 8th century AD. It is devoted to the Goddess Parvati-Chamunda or the Shakti. The goddess seated on a corpse, is placed in the main sanctum of the deity. The deity is adorned with garland of skulls around her neck, holding weapons in her arms and flanked by a jackal and an owl. The goddess is portrayed as the slayer of Mahisasura, the buffalo demon. The niches on the inner wall depict scenes of tantric rituals. It was the first temple to depict erotic sculptures on the walls of the temple. The unique feature of the temple is that the interiors are embellished but the outer walls are plain. Mukteswar temple The Mukteswar temple was built around the 10th century AD it belongs to later phase of Kalinga school of temple architecture. The temple is exquisitely decorated. It depicts tales from Panchatantra.the niches of outer wall of the compound show the images of Buddhist, Jaina and Hindu pantheon. The temple is dedicated to Shiva in the form of Mukteshwar, which means "The Lord who bestows freedom through yoga". The tower of the temple measures 10.5 m. The high point of the temple is the torana. The decorative gateway with two female figures is worth seeing. There are figure of ascetics in various poses of meditation depicted on the walls of the temple.
There are several other temples to be visited in Orissa. They are Luxmaneswar, Satrughaneswar and Bharateswar temple, 16th century, Swarna Jaleswar temple, 7th century, Brahmeswar temple, 11th century AD, Bhaskereswar temple and Bharateswar temple etc.
The name Khiching is a corrupted version of Khijjinga or Khijjinga-kota, the capital of the early Bhanja rulers. The ruins of the ancient glorious town can be seen from the boundaries of the present village from the bank of the Khairabandhan River in the north to the Kantakhair River in the south. Due to its geographic location and political role, it experienced varied cultural influences and liaisons. Such influences and liaisons assisted in the development of the art of Khiching. The art of Khiching expressed the aesthetic and religious sensibilities along with an individuality of its own.
According to legends, Khiching had a group of eight temples dedicated to Lord Shiva once upon a time. The lingams of the seven temples can be seen even today. Today, Khiching have three ancient temples dedicated to Kutaitundi, Chandrasekhar and Kichakeswari. The ruins of the forts of Viratgarh and Kichakagarh, few stupas and several sculptures can also be seen at Khiching. The largest temple of the town is dedicated to Goddess Kichakeswari, the family goddess of the ruling chiefs of Mayurbhanj. The temple, made of chlorite, is architecturally brilliant and well carved from its outer surface. This temple is the most impressive temple in Khiching. The original temple was built somewhere in the 7th or the 8th century AD and was reconstructed in the 20th century from the ruins of an earlier temple. The shrine contains a large ten-armed skeletal image of Chamunda with striking veins, ribs and sunken belly, wearing a garland of skulls and seated over a dead body. The Parasvadevatas, the Chaitya arches, the amorous couples, the scroll works and the arabesques can still be seen in the original portions of the temple. The style of the temple is contemporary of the Brahmesvara and the Lingaraj temples of Bhubaneswar.
The plinth and the walls of the temple of Chandrasekhar stand intact in the compound. The sikhara is still in position while the mastaka portion had fallen off but has been restored. The ornamentations on the lintel, the doorjambs and the dwarpalas (figures of the doorkeepers), Chanda and Prachanda, are well executed.
The ruins of two fortified palaces of Khiching are worthy of visit. The largest fort is of Viratgarh on the river Khairabandhan. The Kichakagarh Fort is named after the well-known character in the Mahabharata. They were probably the royal residences of the Bhanja rulers. The excavated site of Viratgarh has unearthed the brick remains along with a number of antiquities such as pottery, terracotta figurines, stone images, beads, pieces of gold and seals. The discovery of a Kushana coin places the history of the region to the 2nd century AD.
Chaula Kunji has 14 pillars out of which 4 are large and 10 are small but all monoliths. This place is to the southwest of the present Khiching temple. These pillars were brought to this location somewhere in 1932. It is also known as the Natya-Mandir and is in a dilapidated condition. The extensive ruins of Kichakagarh lie to the southwest of this site.
A brick mound called Itamundia is situated to the southeast of the Kichakeswari temple complex. This place has a massive image of the Buddha. One of the doorjambs contains an image of Mahisha-Durga. Chandisal is an important place situated to the south of Itamundia. This place has been excavated and conserved. The most noteworthy discovery from this place is the carved bricks, which formed the wall of the main temple. An image of the Buddha enshrined in the lower part of the temple was found during the excavation.
Khiching Tour Two images of Uma-Maheswara have been found from the Bhaibohu Dedhasura on the banks of the river Kantakhair. The doorjambs and the lintel of a temple in a fairly good condition were excavated from here. The laterite stone was used in the construction of the temple except the jambs, lintel and kalasa.
There is a museum at Khiching, which is housed in the temple compound. The museum has the life-size images of Durga, Ganesha, Parsvanatha, Tara, Parvati, Ardhanageswar, Vaishnavi, Nandi, Kartikeya, Avalokiteswar, Dhyani Buddha, Mahishasuramardini, Uma-Maheswara and female devotees on display. The museum has exhibits like the copper and iron implements, terracotta figurines, seals, ornaments, potteries, coins, stone tools and various fragments of the temples. The courtyard of the museum has several sculpted parts of ancient temples on display in open.
The monuments of Khiching represent one of the highest points of the Orissan sculpture tradition. It combined a highly original aesthetic sense with extraordinary craftsmanship. The temple and sculptures of the place are all found in blue fine-grained chlorite, which is more enduring in nature and conducive for receiving fine ornamentation. The iconographical evidences suggest that under the early Bhanja rulers, Khiching was a prosperous town where Brahmanism, Buddhism, and Jainism flourished side by side.
One of the earliest of Jain rock-cut shelters,the caves of Udayagiri command a unique position in eastern India in the fields of history,rock-cut architecture,art and religion.
The records,found incised on the walls of some of these caves,furnish the supreme evidence of the existence of a powerful dynasty,the 'Chetis' (Chedis). They reveal that some time in the 1st century B.C. or slightly earlier,the rulers of the Cheti dynasty,who called themselves 'Mahameghavahanas',came into power in Kalinga.
Of the rulers of the dynasty,only the names of 'Kharavela' and 'Kudepasiri' or 'Vakradeva',together with that of a prince,'Vadukha',are known from the inscriptions in the Udayagiri caves,though their mutual relationship is not known.
While Kudepasiri and Vadukha are known only as the donors of two of the cells of the lower storey of Cave-9 (Manchapuri) of Udayagiri,many details are available about Kharavela from his famous inscription engraved on the brow of the rock over Cave-14 (Hathi-gumpha) of the same hill. The inscription,in seventeen lines,is largely defaced and indistinct,with the result that its full text cannot be made out and its interpretation is not always above doubt. But the following facts seem to be well-established.
The third king of his dynasty,Kharavela was a powerful ruler. As a prince,he acquired great proficiency in games and received good education. He was installed as 'Yuvaraja' (crown prince) when he was sixteen and succeeded to the throne when he was twenty-five. Almost immediately thereafter he launched Kalinga on an ambitious career of conquest,leading expeditions far and wide. In the second year of his rule he led his troops to the west without caring for the Satavahana king 'Satakarni' and reached the river Krishna,where he threatened the city of Asika.
In his fourth year he captured the capital of a prince named 'Vidyadhara' and subdued the 'Rashtrikas' and 'Bhojakas' in the north Deccan. In his eleventh year he destroyed the city of 'Pithuda' (Masulipatam region) and next year threatened the rulers of 'Uttarapatha' (north India) and defeated King 'Bahasatimita' of Magadha (south Bihar). He brought back with him booty from Ariga (east Bihar) and Magadha,including a Jain-cult object (Kalinga-fina),which had been taken away long ago by 'Nanda',the ruler of Magadha. Next he snatched treasures from the 'Pandyan' king in the extreme south. Thus,the brunt of Kharavela's sword was felt throughout a large part of India.
Kharavela was as great in peace as in war. In the first year of his rule he rebuilt the gates and walls of 'Kalinganagara',his capital,which had been devastated by a cyclone. In the fifth year he enlarged a canal,said to have been excavated by a Nanda king three hundred years ago. In the 'Kumari-Parvata' (Udayagiri Khandagiri) he excavated,in the thirteenth year,caves for Jain ascetics and erected at an enormous cost,on the 'Pragbhara' in the neighbourhood of the monastic retreats,a certain structure with hundreds of stones collected from different quarries and pillars with core of cat's eye gem. No doubt Kharavela was a ruler of great accomplishments.
In spite of his claiming an eclectic attitude by honouring all sects and repairing temples of all gods,Kharavela was undoubtedly a Jain. He espoused with great zeal the cause of his faith,which appeared to have been the state religion of Kalinga. The Jain religion had received a set-back not only when the Nandas of Magadha (4th century B C) carried away the 'fina' of Kalinga,probably as a trophy,but also with Buddhism gaining foothold under the Mauryan king Asoka (circa 273-36 B C) when he annexed Kalinga to his empire.
Kharavela's chief queen is known to have been the donor of the upper storey of Cave-9 ('Svargapuri'). It is also almost certain that the majority of the caves originated during this period. At the same time,an earlier origin of the Jain establishment on the hills is not entirely ruled out. It is also not unlikely that the Kalinga-fina removed by the Nanda king and recovered by Kharavela had its original enshrinement on the hills and was reinstalled here by Kharavela.
7 kms from Bhubaneshwar are the twin hills of Udaygiri and Khandagiri. Twin hills honey-combed with Jain caves that reveal the sculptural art of the 2nd century BC makes an interesting study of the life and times of Jain ascetics. Built by Kharavela for Jain monks,these are fine specimens of Jain Cave art. The coarse -grained sandstone which forms Khandagiri and Udayagiri rises nearly 40m above the surrounding lateritic and infertile plain. Khandagiri has 19 caves and Udaigiri has 44 caves.
The hills are literally filled with caves and over recent years the preservation of the rare carvings and general structure of the site has been the focus of a great deal of attention from the Archaeological Survey of India.
Khandagiri caves can be reached via the steps next to the entrance to the Udayagiri caves. The caves 1 and 2 are known as the Parrot Caves because of the birds carved over the doorways. The Ananta Cave (cave 3),with its carved figures of elephants,and women which are worth a visit. It has the best sculptures of the Khandagiri Caves.
A short but steep path leads to the top of the hill from where a panormic view of the city is obtainable. At the top also lies an 18th century temple that is dedicated to Mahavir,the 24th tirthankara (Jain teacher).
Such a large number of well-preserved temples, many with outstanding sculptural decoration, are a gold mine for researchers and visitors alike, allowing scholars to study the uninterrupted development of Hindu temple architecture in Orissa. Two outstanding examples, from before 1000, are presented above.
There isn't a statue of Nandi on the grounds, although the sanctuary contains a lingam. The principal temple entrance is through the west end of the jagamohan, and there is a secondary door (visible in this photo) in the middle of the south side of the hall.
This early architectural style is continued and elaborated in later Orissan temples. The tower becomes more refined in profile, with elaboration of its vertical piers. Additional courses are added to the jagamohan roof, producing a triangular profile, and the awkward join between jagamohan and deul is resolved into a more pleasing transition.
The temple faces west, and is dedicated to Shiva. There is a lingam inside the shrine, but no Nandi outside. A small, waist-high wall defines the perimeter of the temple, echoing the shape of its base. An outstanding feature of the temple is its attractive entrance gateway (torana); most temples in Orissa do not have one. Unfortunately the exterior niche sculptures, which must have been of exceptionally high quality, are no longer present.
The temple is assigned to the 11th century by Michell (p. 236), while Huntington (p. 443) dates it to "Ca. 10th century... Somavamsi or perhaps slightly earlier."
The coming of the Kesari and Ganga Kings marks the culmination of Orissa art and culture. These kings were very powerful and ambitious builders. They were followers of Shaiva and Vaishnava faith. The temples of Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark were constructed during their reign (712-1200 AD). In 1568 AD, the last Hindus ruler of Orissa was over-thrown by a Muslim general and finally Orissa was annexed by Akbar in 1592 AD. The bigoted Muslim invaders destroyed hundreds of Hindu and Jain temples.
In 1803 AD Orissa came into the British possession. Orissa became a separate province in 1936 with Cuttack as its capital. The location for the capital was selected because of its central location, high altitude, good communication, vast plateau like high uplands sloping to the sides, eco-friendly climate and above all deep-rooted historical significance with left out landmarks of architectures and sculptures. The capital was shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar in 1948. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of the new city in when Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab was the Chief Minister of Orissa. Lingaraja Temple Lingaraja temple is the epitome of the Orissan temple architecture. It is one of the most beautiful temples in India. The main deity of the temple is Hari-Hara that is half Shiva and half Vishnu. The deity is also referred to as "Tirubhuvaneshwar" meaning "Lord of the Three worlds". Parts of this temple are over 1400 years old. But the present structure dates back from 1090 to 1104 A.D. the measurement of the temple is 520 ft by 465 ft. the original structure consisted only of mandap and garbhagriha. Nat Mandir and Bhog Mandir were added later. There are several votive shrines around the temple. The exterior of the temple is lavishly decorated with beautiful sculptures of birds, animals, floral motifs, human figures in erotic postures and gods and goddesses. The sanctum contains the lingam made of uncarved granite, which is plain without any embellishment. The lingam is 8 ft in diameter and is raised 8 inches above the ground. The deity is given a bath daily with water, milk and bhang.Mukteswar Temple Rajarani Temple The Rajarani Temple was built in the 11th century AD. It is proportionate in measurement. It stands majestically in a green field. it was constructed around the 11th century and dedicated to Lord Brahma. It has no presiding deity now and is longer used for worship. There is a beautiful 59 feet high tower in the temple. The temple is also noted for its excellent sculptural art of erotic postures of mithuna couple, nayikas, nymphs, gajasimha and other intricate stone carvings. The jagmohan of the temple is plain yet majestic while the sanctum is profusely decorated. The temple got its name because of the red-gold color of the local stone, Rajraniya, of which it is made of. Vaital Deul Temple Vaital Deul temple is situated near the Bindu Sarovar tank. It was build during 8th century AD. It is devoted to the Goddess Parvati-Chamunda or the Shakti. The goddess seated on a corpse, is placed in the main sanctum of the deity. The deity is adorned with garland of skulls around her neck, holding weapons in her arms and flanked by a jackal and an owl. The goddess is portrayed as the slayer of Mahisasura, the buffalo demon. The niches on the inner wall depict scenes of tantric rituals. It was the first temple to depict erotic sculptures on the walls of the temple. The unique feature of the temple is that the interiors are embellished but the outer walls are plain. Mukteswar temple The Mukteswar temple was built around the 10th century AD it belongs to later phase of Kalinga school of temple architecture. The temple is exquisitely decorated. It depicts tales from Panchatantra.the niches of outer wall of the compound show the images of Buddhist, Jaina and Hindu pantheon. The temple is dedicated to Shiva in the form of Mukteshwar, which means "The Lord who bestows freedom through yoga". The tower of the temple measures 10.5 m. The high point of the temple is the torana. The decorative gateway with two female figures is worth seeing. There are figure of ascetics in various poses of meditation depicted on the walls of the temple.
Parasurameswar Temple
Parasurameswar temple is one of the oldest Siva temples (late 7th century) in the State. It is made on the Kalinga School of temple architecture. It was built in 650 AD. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. But the images of Vishnu, Yama, Surya and Mother Goddess are also found here. The temple is exquisitely carved. The friezes of the temple depict the intricate carvings of elephant and horse processions, human figure, floral motifs and the bust of Shiva. The Shahastra lingam or the 1000 small lingams joined together at the corner of the courtyard can be seen. Brahmeswar Temple Brahmeswar temple belongs to the mature Orissan School of Temple Architecture. The deul and the jagmohan of the temple are beautifully carved. The temple depicts musicians and dancers on the outer wall of the temple for the first time. The iron beams are also used for the first time. Chamunda, Shiva and other deities are depicted in the western end of the temple. The temple has a living deity, which is shown through the saffron pennant flying from the top of the temple.There are several other temples to be visited in Orissa. They are Luxmaneswar, Satrughaneswar and Bharateswar temple, 16th century, Swarna Jaleswar temple, 7th century, Brahmeswar temple, 11th century AD, Bhaskereswar temple and Bharateswar temple etc.
Khiching Tour
Khiching was the ancient capital of the Bhanja rulers, located about 205 km from Balasore and 150 km from Baripada in the Mayurbhanj district of north Orissa. It was the center of art and architecture as the area has several exquisite temples and monuments. The architectural and sculptural ruins recovered from this site indicate that it must have been a major center of civilization around the 8th to 12th centuries AD. This place is the most important historical and tourist site in Mayurbhanj district.The name Khiching is a corrupted version of Khijjinga or Khijjinga-kota, the capital of the early Bhanja rulers. The ruins of the ancient glorious town can be seen from the boundaries of the present village from the bank of the Khairabandhan River in the north to the Kantakhair River in the south. Due to its geographic location and political role, it experienced varied cultural influences and liaisons. Such influences and liaisons assisted in the development of the art of Khiching. The art of Khiching expressed the aesthetic and religious sensibilities along with an individuality of its own.
According to legends, Khiching had a group of eight temples dedicated to Lord Shiva once upon a time. The lingams of the seven temples can be seen even today. Today, Khiching have three ancient temples dedicated to Kutaitundi, Chandrasekhar and Kichakeswari. The ruins of the forts of Viratgarh and Kichakagarh, few stupas and several sculptures can also be seen at Khiching. The largest temple of the town is dedicated to Goddess Kichakeswari, the family goddess of the ruling chiefs of Mayurbhanj. The temple, made of chlorite, is architecturally brilliant and well carved from its outer surface. This temple is the most impressive temple in Khiching. The original temple was built somewhere in the 7th or the 8th century AD and was reconstructed in the 20th century from the ruins of an earlier temple. The shrine contains a large ten-armed skeletal image of Chamunda with striking veins, ribs and sunken belly, wearing a garland of skulls and seated over a dead body. The Parasvadevatas, the Chaitya arches, the amorous couples, the scroll works and the arabesques can still be seen in the original portions of the temple. The style of the temple is contemporary of the Brahmesvara and the Lingaraj temples of Bhubaneswar.
The plinth and the walls of the temple of Chandrasekhar stand intact in the compound. The sikhara is still in position while the mastaka portion had fallen off but has been restored. The ornamentations on the lintel, the doorjambs and the dwarpalas (figures of the doorkeepers), Chanda and Prachanda, are well executed.
The ruins of two fortified palaces of Khiching are worthy of visit. The largest fort is of Viratgarh on the river Khairabandhan. The Kichakagarh Fort is named after the well-known character in the Mahabharata. They were probably the royal residences of the Bhanja rulers. The excavated site of Viratgarh has unearthed the brick remains along with a number of antiquities such as pottery, terracotta figurines, stone images, beads, pieces of gold and seals. The discovery of a Kushana coin places the history of the region to the 2nd century AD.
Chaula Kunji has 14 pillars out of which 4 are large and 10 are small but all monoliths. This place is to the southwest of the present Khiching temple. These pillars were brought to this location somewhere in 1932. It is also known as the Natya-Mandir and is in a dilapidated condition. The extensive ruins of Kichakagarh lie to the southwest of this site.
A brick mound called Itamundia is situated to the southeast of the Kichakeswari temple complex. This place has a massive image of the Buddha. One of the doorjambs contains an image of Mahisha-Durga. Chandisal is an important place situated to the south of Itamundia. This place has been excavated and conserved. The most noteworthy discovery from this place is the carved bricks, which formed the wall of the main temple. An image of the Buddha enshrined in the lower part of the temple was found during the excavation.
Khiching Tour Two images of Uma-Maheswara have been found from the Bhaibohu Dedhasura on the banks of the river Kantakhair. The doorjambs and the lintel of a temple in a fairly good condition were excavated from here. The laterite stone was used in the construction of the temple except the jambs, lintel and kalasa.
There is a museum at Khiching, which is housed in the temple compound. The museum has the life-size images of Durga, Ganesha, Parsvanatha, Tara, Parvati, Ardhanageswar, Vaishnavi, Nandi, Kartikeya, Avalokiteswar, Dhyani Buddha, Mahishasuramardini, Uma-Maheswara and female devotees on display. The museum has exhibits like the copper and iron implements, terracotta figurines, seals, ornaments, potteries, coins, stone tools and various fragments of the temples. The courtyard of the museum has several sculpted parts of ancient temples on display in open.
The monuments of Khiching represent one of the highest points of the Orissan sculpture tradition. It combined a highly original aesthetic sense with extraordinary craftsmanship. The temple and sculptures of the place are all found in blue fine-grained chlorite, which is more enduring in nature and conducive for receiving fine ornamentation. The iconographical evidences suggest that under the early Bhanja rulers, Khiching was a prosperous town where Brahmanism, Buddhism, and Jainism flourished side by side.
One of the earliest of Jain rock-cut shelters,the caves of Udayagiri command a unique position in eastern India in the fields of history,rock-cut architecture,art and religion.
The records,found incised on the walls of some of these caves,furnish the supreme evidence of the existence of a powerful dynasty,the 'Chetis' (Chedis). They reveal that some time in the 1st century B.C. or slightly earlier,the rulers of the Cheti dynasty,who called themselves 'Mahameghavahanas',came into power in Kalinga.
Of the rulers of the dynasty,only the names of 'Kharavela' and 'Kudepasiri' or 'Vakradeva',together with that of a prince,'Vadukha',are known from the inscriptions in the Udayagiri caves,though their mutual relationship is not known.
While Kudepasiri and Vadukha are known only as the donors of two of the cells of the lower storey of Cave-9 (Manchapuri) of Udayagiri,many details are available about Kharavela from his famous inscription engraved on the brow of the rock over Cave-14 (Hathi-gumpha) of the same hill. The inscription,in seventeen lines,is largely defaced and indistinct,with the result that its full text cannot be made out and its interpretation is not always above doubt. But the following facts seem to be well-established.
The third king of his dynasty,Kharavela was a powerful ruler. As a prince,he acquired great proficiency in games and received good education. He was installed as 'Yuvaraja' (crown prince) when he was sixteen and succeeded to the throne when he was twenty-five. Almost immediately thereafter he launched Kalinga on an ambitious career of conquest,leading expeditions far and wide. In the second year of his rule he led his troops to the west without caring for the Satavahana king 'Satakarni' and reached the river Krishna,where he threatened the city of Asika.
In his fourth year he captured the capital of a prince named 'Vidyadhara' and subdued the 'Rashtrikas' and 'Bhojakas' in the north Deccan. In his eleventh year he destroyed the city of 'Pithuda' (Masulipatam region) and next year threatened the rulers of 'Uttarapatha' (north India) and defeated King 'Bahasatimita' of Magadha (south Bihar). He brought back with him booty from Ariga (east Bihar) and Magadha,including a Jain-cult object (Kalinga-fina),which had been taken away long ago by 'Nanda',the ruler of Magadha. Next he snatched treasures from the 'Pandyan' king in the extreme south. Thus,the brunt of Kharavela's sword was felt throughout a large part of India.
Kharavela was as great in peace as in war. In the first year of his rule he rebuilt the gates and walls of 'Kalinganagara',his capital,which had been devastated by a cyclone. In the fifth year he enlarged a canal,said to have been excavated by a Nanda king three hundred years ago. In the 'Kumari-Parvata' (Udayagiri Khandagiri) he excavated,in the thirteenth year,caves for Jain ascetics and erected at an enormous cost,on the 'Pragbhara' in the neighbourhood of the monastic retreats,a certain structure with hundreds of stones collected from different quarries and pillars with core of cat's eye gem. No doubt Kharavela was a ruler of great accomplishments.
In spite of his claiming an eclectic attitude by honouring all sects and repairing temples of all gods,Kharavela was undoubtedly a Jain. He espoused with great zeal the cause of his faith,which appeared to have been the state religion of Kalinga. The Jain religion had received a set-back not only when the Nandas of Magadha (4th century B C) carried away the 'fina' of Kalinga,probably as a trophy,but also with Buddhism gaining foothold under the Mauryan king Asoka (circa 273-36 B C) when he annexed Kalinga to his empire.
Kharavela's chief queen is known to have been the donor of the upper storey of Cave-9 ('Svargapuri'). It is also almost certain that the majority of the caves originated during this period. At the same time,an earlier origin of the Jain establishment on the hills is not entirely ruled out. It is also not unlikely that the Kalinga-fina removed by the Nanda king and recovered by Kharavela had its original enshrinement on the hills and was reinstalled here by Kharavela.
7 kms from Bhubaneshwar are the twin hills of Udaygiri and Khandagiri. Twin hills honey-combed with Jain caves that reveal the sculptural art of the 2nd century BC makes an interesting study of the life and times of Jain ascetics. Built by Kharavela for Jain monks,these are fine specimens of Jain Cave art. The coarse -grained sandstone which forms Khandagiri and Udayagiri rises nearly 40m above the surrounding lateritic and infertile plain. Khandagiri has 19 caves and Udaigiri has 44 caves.
The hills are literally filled with caves and over recent years the preservation of the rare carvings and general structure of the site has been the focus of a great deal of attention from the Archaeological Survey of India.
Khandagiri caves can be reached via the steps next to the entrance to the Udayagiri caves. The caves 1 and 2 are known as the Parrot Caves because of the birds carved over the doorways. The Ananta Cave (cave 3),with its carved figures of elephants,and women which are worth a visit. It has the best sculptures of the Khandagiri Caves.
A short but steep path leads to the top of the hill from where a panormic view of the city is obtainable. At the top also lies an 18th century temple that is dedicated to Mahavir,the 24th tirthankara (Jain teacher).
Bhubaneshwar Temples
Bhubaneshwar (also spelled "Bhubaneshvara") began as the Shailodbhava capital in the 7th century; major temple-building activity continued under the Bhauma Kara (8th century) and Somavamshi (9th-11th century) dynasties. There are also some later temples, from the Eastern Ganga (12th -14th century) and Gajapati (14th-15th century) periods.Such a large number of well-preserved temples, many with outstanding sculptural decoration, are a gold mine for researchers and visitors alike, allowing scholars to study the uninterrupted development of Hindu temple architecture in Orissa. Two outstanding examples, from before 1000, are presented above.
Parashurameshvara Temple
Dedicated to Shiva, this is the best-preserved of the early temples at Bhubaneshwar. It is viewed here from the southeast. The building includes a curving tower (rekha deul, subdivided into bhumis) over the sanctuary, and an adjoining mandapa (jagamohan) with two horizontal roof tiers (pidhas). For more information, see: Parts of an East Indian Temple.There isn't a statue of Nandi on the grounds, although the sanctuary contains a lingam. The principal temple entrance is through the west end of the jagamohan, and there is a secondary door (visible in this photo) in the middle of the south side of the hall.
This early architectural style is continued and elaborated in later Orissan temples. The tower becomes more refined in profile, with elaboration of its vertical piers. Additional courses are added to the jagamohan roof, producing a triangular profile, and the awkward join between jagamohan and deul is resolved into a more pleasing transition.
Mukteshvara Temple
This small but well-decorated temple was probably built, according to Huntington (p. 428), during the Somavamshi dynasty. Although still consisting of only jagamohan and deul, it has more interior decoration, and a (somewhat) slimmer spire, than its predecessors. The join between deul and jagamohan is more rational than in the Parashurameshvara temple. Most obviously, the pidha roof has by this time assumed its characteristic triangular form. (See: Parts of an East Indian Temple..The temple faces west, and is dedicated to Shiva. There is a lingam inside the shrine, but no Nandi outside. A small, waist-high wall defines the perimeter of the temple, echoing the shape of its base. An outstanding feature of the temple is its attractive entrance gateway (torana); most temples in Orissa do not have one. Unfortunately the exterior niche sculptures, which must have been of exceptionally high quality, are no longer present.
Chaunsath Yogini Temple
This temple is dedicated to the sixty-four ("chaunsath") yoginis (Tantric goddesses), whose sculptures are set into exterior and interior niches. The temple faces east; its circular form is typical of goddess temples, both inside and outside of India.The temple is assigned to the 11th century by Michell (p. 236), while Huntington (p. 443) dates it to "Ca. 10th century... Somavamsi or perhaps slightly earlier."
 Photo by : srinipat in webshots |
 Photo by : shootnow in webshots |
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 Photo by : srinipat in webshots |
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