ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review

The Hindu temple architecture reflects a synthesis is concentrated in the city of Bhubaneswar where
of arts, the ideals of religion, beliefs, values and there are over thirty of them.
the way of life cherished under Hinduism. The
temple is a place for pilgrimage. All the cosmic The main temples of this style consist of
elements that create and celebrate life in Hindu the Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar
pantheon are present in a Hindu temple from fire (11th century), the Jagannath temple at Puri
to water, from images of nature to deities, from (12th century) the Great Sun Temple at Konark
the feminine to the masculine, from karma to (13th century), Rajarani Temple (10th century),
artha. The form and meanings of architectural Mukteswar (10th Century), Parshuram Temple
elements in a Hindu temple are designed to (8th Century) etc.
function as the place where it is the link between
The Kanlingan style consists of three
man and the divine, to help his progress to spiritual
distinct types of temples Rekha Deula, Pidha
knowledge and truth, his liberation is called
Deula and Khakhara Deula. The former two are
Moksha.
associated with Vishnu, Surya and Shiva temples

The Temple Architecture in Odisha

Sujata Routray

The Indian temples are broadly divided while the third is mainly with Chamunda and Durga
into Nagara, Vesara, Dravida and Gadag styles temples. The Rekha Deula and Khakhara Deula
of architecture. However the temple architecture houses the sanctum sanctorum while the Pidha
of Odisha corresponds to altogether a different Deula constitutes outer dancing and offering halls.
category for their unique representations called
Kalinga style of temple architecture. This broadly In Kalinga, the ancient land of Sakta Cult,
comes under the Nagara style. This style divine iconography existed since the mythological
flourished in the ancient Kalinga region or present era. Present day research implies that idols
eastern Indian state of Odisha, West Bengal and (deities) were placed under auspicious Trees in
Northern Andhra Pradesh. The style provides the ancient days. The various aspects of a typical
some of the finest examples of the Indo-Aryan Kalinga Temple include Architectural stipulations,
style of temple architecture, which is totally iconography, historical connotations, customs and
different form others. The main group of temples associated legends.

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Some finest examples of Rekha Deula are believed that the original deity of the Lingaraja
Lingaraja Temple (Bhubaneswar) and Sri Temple was under a mango tree and that is why
Jagannath Temple(Puri). the location was called Ekamra Khestra. The
presiding deity was a Linga (an iconic form of
The Great Pidha Deula is the Great Sun Temple Shiva). The present temple was probably built
at Konark. by the rulers of the Somavamshi dynasty as a
Shaiva temple but with the arrival of the
The famous Khakara Deulas are Baitala
Vaishnavite Ganga dynasty the temple was
Deula (Bhubaneswar), Varahi Deula (Chaurasi
remodelled and elements of Vaishnavism were
Puri) and Durga Temple (Baideswar), Gouri
inculcated in it. Thus, the temple deity came to be
Temple (Bhubaneswar).
known as Harihara (Hari-Vishnu, Hara-Shiva) a
Rekha Deula is a tall building with a mixed element of Vishnu and Shiva. The temple
Sikhara. The most distinct example of Rekha has four components namely, Vimana (structure
Deula is the Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar. containing the sanctum), Jagamohana (assembly
The Rekha Deula means a shrine with different hall), Natamandira (Festival Hall) and Bhoga
parts in a line. The Lingaraja Temple has a Vimana Mandapa (Hall of offerings). The dance hall was
(Structure containing the Sanctum), Jagamohana associated with the raising prominence of the
(assembly hall) , Nata Mandir a (Festival hall) Devadasi system.
and Bhoga Mandapa (hall of offerings, each
The Sun Temple in Konark popularly
increasing in the height to its predecessor.
known as the Black Pagoda perhaps because of
Pidha Deula refers to the Square building the black stone used as unique in design. The name
with a Pyramid- shaped roof, like the Vimanas. derived from two words like Kona (angle) and
The assembly hall at the Konark Sun Temple is Arka (Surya) as it is dedicated to Sun god. It is a
an example. 13th century temple in Odisha, built by King
Narasmiha Deva of the eastern Ganga Dynasty.
The Khakhara Deula is altogether a It’s a world heritage site. The whole temple was
different style of architecture closely appearing designed as a chariot for God Surya. The belief
similar to the Dravidian Gopuram design. The is that Surya rides in his chariot driven by Aruna.
word is derived from Kaakharu (Pumpkin, gourd) The ratha has 24 large wheels, 12 on each side,
as the crown looks like a barrel-vaulted elongated representing the months of the year. It has seven
roof. It is a rectangular building with a truncated horses at the front to pull it forward as a spirited
pyramid-shaped roof, like the Gopuras. The gallop. The human and animal figures carried out
temples of the feminine deities as Shakti are temple in black stone are most lifelike. The poses of
of that type. dancing apsaras depicted in sculptures are
brought alive by them in their performances. The
The Lingaraja Temple of the 11th century theme of several of the sculptures is amorous.
is considered to be a high point in the tradition of
temple building in Odisha. It has a Deula that rises The Deula of the Konark temple originally
to a height of about 150 feet. The Temple faces stood over 200 feet (60 meters) tall, higher than
east and is built of sandstone and laterite. It is any other temple in India. The Jagamohan still

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stands over 130 feet (39 meters) tall. The temple Singhadwara is so named because two huge
is made of three types of stone – Chlorite, Laterite statues of lions exist on either side of the entrance.
and Khondalite. Due to the invasion of Kala The main gate faces east opening on to the Bada
pahada, a Hindu convert general of Sulaiman Danda or the Grand Road. The Baaishe Pahaacha
Khan Karrani, the ruler of Bengal in 1568, soaring or twenty two steps lead into the temple complex.
tower of the temple was lost. There are numerous smaller temples such as
Vimala temple, Mahalaxmi temple, Mukti
The Shree Jagannath temple of Puri is an Mandap and Kanchi Ganesh Temple etc.
important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord
Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, located on the Mukteswar is a 10th century Hindu
eastern coast of India in the state of Odisha. The Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in
temple was begun byAnanta Varman Chodaganga Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The temple dates back to
Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. 950-975 C.E. Due to excellent architectural
design, Mukteswar is known as the “Gem of
The famous Jagannath temple covers an Odisha architecture”. The temple faces west and
area of over 400,000 square feet and is is constructed in a lower basement amidst a group
surrounded by a high fortified wall (20 feet high) of temples. This temple is a smaller one compared
called as Meghanada Prachira. The temple has to the other larger temples in Bhubaneswar. The
four distinct sectional structures namely- temple is enclosed within an octagonal compound
wall and the temple has a porch, called torana,
1. Deula, Vimana or Gharba griha (Sanctum which acts as the gateway to the octagonal
Sanctorum) where three main deities Balabhadra, compound. The temple has two structures namely,
Jagannath and Devi Shubhadra are lodged on the the Vimana and Mukhasala the leading hall, both
Ratnavedi (Throne of pearls). This is a Rekha of which are built on a raised Platform. The
Deula style. sikhara has four Natarajas and Kirtimukhas on
the four faces. A new form of decoration called
2. Mukhasala (Frontal Porch)
bho possibly developed. Except for the
3. Nata Mandapa (which is also known as rectangular plan of its Jagamohana, a Vimana with
Jagamohan (Audience Hall/Dancing Hall) a curvilinear spire and a Jagamohana with a
stepped pyramidal roof.
4. Bhoga Mandapa (Offering Hall)
Rajarani temple is an 11th century Hindu
The main temple is curvilinear temple and temple located in Bhubaneswar. This temple is
crowning the top is the Nilachakra (an eight built in the Pancharatha style on a raised platform
spoked wheel) of the Lord Vishnu. Among the with vimana (Sanctum) with a bada (curvilinear
exiting temples in Odisha, the temple of Sri spire) and a viewing hall called Jagamohan with a
Jagannath is the highest. The temple tower was pyramidal roof. The temple was constructed of
built on a raised platform of stone and rising to dull red and yellow sand stone locally called
214ft. The Singhadwara which in Sanskrit means Rajarani. There are various sculptures on the
the Lion's Gate, is one of the four gates to the walls around the temple, and the vimana depicting
temple and forms the main entrance. The scenes of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. The

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temple has Panchanga bada, namely Pabhaga, superiority with Kalinga Pattern of architectures.
talajangha, bandhana, uparajangha and baranda. All the Odisha temples carry a distinctive
decorative details.
Baitala Deula is an 8th century Hindu
Temple of typical Khakara style dedicated to References :
Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar.
The three spires are believed to represent the 1. Panda, Durga Charana, Kalinga Mandira
three powers of the goddess Chamunda-Maha Sthapatya.
Saraswati, Mahalaxmi and Mahakali. 2. Behera, K.S- Studies in the cult of
Baitala Temple’s striking feature is the Jagannatha.
shape of its sanctuary tower. The semi cylindrical 3. Mahatab, Harekrushna- Odisha Itihasa.
shape of its roof is a leading example of Khakhar
order. Another striking feature is temple’s Tantric 4. Ray, Usha- Studies in History of Orissa.
associations, marked by eight armed Chamunda,
locally known as Kapalini is the terrifying form of
Goddess Durga.

These are famous temples of Odisha.

These temples are not only known for their Sujata Routray, Ph. D. Scholar, Ravenshaw University,
religious vitality but also due to their architectural Cuttack.

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