▪ Odisha, the state of east coast of India had been the cradle

land of cultural activities since the dawn of human

civilisation.
▪ Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha province, of Indian
union since its formal inauguration on April 13, 1948
▪ The modern city was designed by the German architect Otto
Konigsberg in 1946.
▪ Like Jamshedpur, Chandigarh, it is one of the planned cities
of modern India. This is also one of the cleanest and greenest
cities of India.
▪ Bhubaneswar is also known as Ekamrakshetra in ancient
scripture and owing to large number of ancient temple this
city is known as temple city.
“Monument” means any structure,
erection, pillar or any tumulus or
place of interment, or any cave,
rock-sculpture, inscription or
monolith, which is of historical,
archeological or artistic interest and
which has been in existence for not
less than one hundred years.
• Sanskrit text like Ekamra Purana,
recorded the tradition that the Gauda
king sasanka, a stunch devotee of Siva,
conquered part of the then Odisha and
built the first Saiva temple at the site of
Tribhubaneswara.
• The sect which brought change in the
religion of the people of this city in
ancient time and gave an impetus to
temple building was the Pasupata sect,
organised by Lakulisa a Saiva teacher.
• The above sect established itself in Odisha in the
fifth century A.D. after overpowering the prevailing
Buddhist faith.

• Thus, since early time Odisha had been the famous

centre of Saivism.

• Saivism was patronized by ruling dynastuies like

the Sailodbhavas, the Bhaumakaras, the
Somavamsis and partly the Gangavamsis.
• Due to religious sanctity large
numbers of temples were
constructed in different cities of
Odisha by various ruling families.
• In fact, some cities owing to large
numbers of extant temples often
called as temple cities.
• Bhubaneswar is the centre of
Odishan Temple Building Tradition
or the Kalingan temple architecture.
• In Odisha temples were constructed
during a long period from 6th
Century to 15th Century A.D are
standing and gives us a picture of
Kalingan Temple Building Tradition
• Ancient treaties on Architecture or
the Silpasastras, gives us a vivid
account on the temple architecture
of Odisha.
The existing temple of Bhubaneswar shows an
evolutionary phase in the temple building tradition of
Odisha. i.e formative, mature and climax phase.
Besides Bhubaneswar in many other places early
extant temples are also found both in good and
dilapidated condition. Originally Odishan temples
belonged to Indo-Aryan group i.e Nagara style of
North Indian temple architecture, but due to regional
variations it was styled as Kalingan Temple
Architecture. Later on Architectural styles of Central
Province were brought to this land by the
Panduvamsis alias Somavamsis through South
Koshala to the Coastal Odisha. In south Odisha
• Architectonically, the temples resolve
themselves into three broad orders, known to
local terminology as rekha, pidha and khakhara.
➢ Rekha- characterized by a curvilinear spire
and meant for Sanctum Sanctorum where
the deities reside.
➢Pidha- characterized by receding tiers and
meant for both jagamohana or hall of
audience and vimana or sanctum
sanctorum.
➢Khakhara- Characterized by an oblong
ground plan with a semi cylindrical super
structure and meant for sanctum
The Odishan temples are remarkable for the
abundance of sculpture including:

• Religious: Images of divine and semi divine

personalities.
• Secular: Human figures, animal both real and
mythical, and erotic figures.
• Decorative patterns: like Kirtimukha, Chaitya
medallion and scrolls,
• Architectural motifs: like pidha and
khakharamundis, chaitya window, Vajramastaka
etc.
 Satrughaneswar Group of Temple

• Constructed
during 6th century
A.D. under
Sailodbhava rule.

• Inspite of being
earliest extant
temple, the
temple, is found
to be a mature
conception.
• It represented a rekha
temple.

• Along with this temple

another two temple namely
Bharateswara and
Laxmaneswara also standing
in the same compound dated
to same time.
• The sculptures of
the Satruganeswar
are marked by
vigour &
exuberance of the
designs recalling
the best
characteristics of
the Post-Gupta Art.
Parasurameswar
Temple
• Built in the 7th century,
the Parasurameswar
Temple is small but
lavishly decorated.

• Enclosed within a
compound wall, the deula,
facing the West is a square
towered.

• The jagamohana, is a
rectangular structure with
a terraced roof, sloping in
two stages.
• The deula about 13
mtr high is triratha
on plan.

• The temple
represent the stage
of Saiva Pasupata
Sect, illustrated by
the frequent
representation of
Lakulisa.
 Mukteswara temple
• Mukteswara temple
(c. AD 950) is often
referred to as the “
gem of Orissan
architecture". Due to
its delicate carvings
on this refined little
structure.

• The Temple was

probably constructed
by Somavamsi ruler
Jajati Kesari- I after
conquest of Utkala.
•The Mukteswara
is important as a
transition point
between the
early and later
phases of the
Kalinga school of
temple
architecture.
• The builder has
successfully combined
many elements of the
old with new designs
and conceptions.

• Many of the
innovations took root,
here and became
essential features of
all later temples.

• Scholars described the

Mukteswara as
"harbinger of the new
culture".
• The 'torana‘ of the
Mukteswara deserves
special attention.

• Its extraordinarily
beautiful sculpture
includes elaborate
scrolls, graceful female
figures, monkeys,
peacocks, and a wealth
of delicate and lovely
decorative detail.
 Rajarani Temple

•The Rajarani Temple, was

built in the 11th century.

• The peculiar reddish

sandstone known as
Rajarani was used after
which temple is named as
Rajarani.

•It is also belived that the

temple was initially known
as Indralingeswara after
Indraratha, a somavamsi
king, who built this.
• Rajarani Temple stands on
a raised platform.

• Its spire is decorated

with clusters of turrets called
aangasikhara. It is a influence
of Central Indian style.

• The Jagamohana though

demonstrating a pyramidal
structure is yet to take on as a
complete structure of its own.
• The sculptures adorning
the walls of the deula
are alive and energetic.

• Especially attractive are

the sculptures of
coquettish women,
women carrying
children, looking at
their reflection in the
mirror or playing
becomingly with birds
and nature.
Brahmeswar Temple

•The Brahmesvara
temple was
constructed by
Kolavati devi, mother
of Udyotakeasari and
wife of Jajati Kesari II
during first part of
11th Century A.D.
Brahmeswar, shows
mature workmanship
and advanced
architectural features.
Here the canons of
Orissan architecture is
found to have been
fully applied.

•It is a pancha-ratha
temple which give the
structure almost a
rounded appearance.
Among the dated temples it is the earliest one where iron beams have
been used, and where porch or the Jagamohana consists of the full-
fledged Pidha-Deula with the usual crowning members.
 Lingaraj Temple

• Dedicated to Harihara
cult, made Bhubaneswar,
a revered pilgrimage
center.
•Presiding deity of this
temple is lord Kirtibasa.

•The temple is
traditionally believed,
though without historical
authentication, to be
built by the Somavamshi
king Jajati Kesari-II, in
11thcentury A.D.
•The temple of
Lingaraja, is located
within a spacious
compound wall of
laterite measuring 520
feet by 465 feet.

•The wall is 7 feet

6 inches thick and
surmounted by a plain
slant coping.
• The temple of Lingaraja
is one of the biggest
monuments of Odisha
rising to a height of
about one hundred and
eighty feet and
dominating the entire
landscape.
• it represents the
quintessence of the
Kalinga type of
architecture and the
culminating result of the
architectural tradition in
Odisha.
 Anant Vasudeva Temple
•Ananta Vasudeva
Temple is
dedicated to lord
Krishna, is the
only Vaisnavite
Monument at
Bhubaneswar.

•The temple was

constructed in the
13th Century, by
Chandrika Devi,
the daughter
of Anangavimadev
a III, during the
reign of the king
Bhanudeva.
The temple consisting
of four structure i.e
vimana, jagamohana,
natamandapa,
bhogamandapa..
KONARK TEMPLE, MUKHASALA - PIDHA ORDER
WHEEL OF KONARK TEMPLE
64 YOGINI TEMPLE, RANIPUR JHARIAL – CIRCULAR
HYPAITHRAL ORDER
64 YOGINI TEMPLE, RANIPUR JHARIAL – MANDAPA
64 YOGINI TEMPLE, HIRAPUR – INSIDE VIEW
REFRENCES
•W.R. Lethaby, Architecture, An Introduction to the History and
Theory of the Art of Building, London, 1929, p. 7.

•Percy Brown, Indian Architecture, (Buddhist and Hindu Periods),

Bombay, 1976, p. 1.

•Ibid.

•Ibid.

•Ibid.

•S. Kramarisch, The Art of India, London, 1954, p. 10.

•A. Goswami, Indian Temple Sculptures, Calcutta, 1959, p. 4.

•T.V. Sairam, Indian Temple Forms and Foundation, New
Delhi, 1982, p. 18.

•J.K. Patnaik, Temples of South Kosala, (6th Century A.D. –

11th Century A.D.), A Case Study of Stellate Temples,
Sambalpur University, 1998, p. 7.

•T.V. Sairam, op. cit., pp. 31-32.

•Ibid, pp. 18-19.

•Stella Kramarisch, The Hindu Temple, Vol. I, New Delhi,

1976, p. VII,

•Vidya, Dehejia, Early Stone Temples of Orissa, New Delhi,

1979, pp. 20-1.
•T.P. Bhattacharya, The Canons of Indian Art, Calcutta, 1986,
p. 227; Alice Bonner and S. Ratha Sharma, (Tr), Śilpa
Prakāśa, Leiden, 1976, p. XXV.

•T.P. Bhattcharya, op. cit., pp 270-271.

•Ibid.

•Krishna Deva, Temples of India, Vol. I, New Delhi, 1995, p.

4.

•Ibid, p. 5.

•Ibid.
•Ibid, p. 6.

•Ibid.

•Ibid, pp. 4-5.

•Hermann Goetz, Art of the World, India 5000 Years of India,

London, Methewen, 1964, p. 87.

•Benjamin Rowland, The Art and Architecture of India

(Buddhist, Hindu, Jain) Baltimore, 1953, p. 121.

•D.M. Stodtner, Sirpur to Rajim, “The Art of South Kośala

During Seventh Century A.D.” (Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis),
California, 1976, p. 3, J.K. Patnaik, op. cit., p. 3; Personal
communication with Dr. J.K. Patnaik.
•Isānaśivagurudevapaddhati and Others.

•Kāmikāgāma, XLIX Vs 1-2.

•Hayasirsa Pañcarātra quoted in Haribhakta Vilāsa, Agni

Purāna, Ch. 61 Vs 19-27.

•Rigveda, X, 90 (Tr) by Griffith. Alice Borner, Sadasiva Ratha

Sharma, op. cit., P. XXVIII,

•S. Kramarisch, op. cit., p. 161 ff.

•V. Dehejia, op. cit., pp. 20-21.

•Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 2, p. 277.

•James Fergusson, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture,
London, 1910, pp. 415.

•R.D. Banerjee, “Annual Report of the Assistant

Superintendent for Epigraphy Southern Circle for 1915”, p. 49
ff; “The Western Chalukyan Inscription on Mukhamandapa of
Amritesvara Temple Mentions and the types of Temple namely
Nāgara, Drāvida, Vesara and Kalinga.

•Bhūbanapradīpa of 10th Century A.D. manuscript (author

unknown) was edited by N.K. Bose in his Cannos of Orissan
Architecture, Śilpaprakāśa by Rāmachandra Kulāchāra of 17th
Century A.D. Manuscript was edited by Alice Boner and
Sadasiva Ratha Sharma.
•Baudh Group of Temples and Brick Temple at Budhi Komna
have star-shaped layout.

•Sixty-four Yoginī temple at Hirapur and Rānīpur-Jhariāl are

Circular and Hypaethral in nature.

•Alice Boner and Sadasiva, Ratha Sarma, op. cit., P. XXXII.

•N.K. Bose, Canons of Orissan Architecture, Calcutta, 1982,

p. 5; D. Mitra, Bhubaneswar, ASI, 1984, pp 15-17. OHRJ, 1,
4, pp. 136-137.

•Alice Boner and Sadasiva Ratha Sarma, op. cit., P. XXXVI.

•D. Mitra, Ibid, pp 17-19.

•M.A. Dhaky, “The ‘Ākāśalinga’, Finial” Artibus Asiae,
XXXVI, 1974, pp. 307-15.

•N.K. Bose, op. cit., p. 154-170.

•D. Mitra, op. cit., p. 18.

•N.K. Bose, Orissan Temple Architecture (Vastusāstra), Delhi,

2001, pp. 119-20.

•Priyabala Shah, (Ed), Visnudharmottara Purāna; Borado,

1953, pp 231-232.
D. Mitra, JASB., 11, p. 23.
•Alice Boner and Sadasiva Ratha Sarma, op. cit., pp. XXXI-
XIII.

•Ibid.

•Ibid.

•N.K. Bose, op. cit., (2001), p. XIV.

•Ibid.

•D. Mitra, JASB, 11, pp. 1-3.

•Ibid, p. 2.

•N.K. Bose, op. cit., pp. 171-73.