Temple Tours

Temple Tour

A study on Odia temples :

Orissa/odisha is widely known for its largest repositiory of Monuments dated from 6th Century AD TO 14TH Century AD. It is said that there were 700 temples out of which only 199 is remaining which are now in  various stages of Preservation. In India temple architecture has been broadly divided into Nagara ,Dravida ,Besera but in Amritesvera inscriptiton at Holal for the first time Kalingan form of Architectture was recognized as an separate form of Architecture with the above one .These Kalingan form of Architecture has little bit resemblance with Nagara style .In Bhubaneswar itself one can chronological study the development of temple architecture from 6th Century AD TO 13TH Century AD.Odia temples have various indigenous canonical texts Like Bhuvan pradipa ,Silpa shastra etc which indicates standard achieved by our ancestors .

 

In Orissa/odisha temple architecture has been divided into 3 order; Rekha Order ,Pidha order , Khakara order .Rekha & Pidha order form one architectural scheme & Khakara order for Sakta temples ( Like Chausath yogini temple at Varahi , Ranipur Jharial . Rekha & Pidha temple we generally find in Vaishnavite temple &Saivite temples.

 

In Orissa/odisha temple architecture the sanctum of the temple is of Rekha order which has a curvilinear superstructure. But the Jagamohana standing before the main structure is of Pidha order. The Pidhas form several tiers sitting one upon the other rising to a pinnacle.With the march of time the Oriya architects began to invent new forms of structure. Thus in big temples we find four structures -Vimana or Bada DeulaJagamohana or Mukhasala or Hall of Audiences. Nata Mandira or Festive Hall.Bhoga Mandapa or the Hall of Offerings.

 

The constructive peculiarities of Odia temple is marked by uniqueness. The architects perceived the temple in the form of a human male figure or Purusha. Like human physical divisions of leg, thigh, waist, chest, neck and head, the temple had similar shapes and structures.

 

In Bhubaneswar: Initiative stages of Temple : Lakhmeneswara temple ,Bharateswara group.

 

Early Phase: Pasurameswar temple

 

Transition phase: Mukteswar temple

 

Mature phase Temple Lingaraj temple ,Raja rani temple ,Bhrameswar temple ,Bhaskaresvara temple ,Anant vasudev temple .

 

Other Prominent temples: Lord Jagannath temple Sun temple at Konark Cuttack chandi temple Madhav temple in Niali Samaleswari temple Huma temple Kapilas temple. Kantila nilamadhav temple . Kichekeswari temple at Mayurbhanj.

Go to itinerary