Bhringesvara Siva Temple
Encyclopedia
The Bhringesvara Siva temple is situated on the foothills
of Dhauli and the left bank of the river Daya, in the southeastern outskirts of Bhubaneswar in
the village Khatuapada. The temple is facing towards west and
the presiding deity is a circular yoni pitha with a hole at the
centre. The temple is made of light grey sand stone. The temple
is renovated one from bottom to the top by employing the earlier
materials. This temple is now under the protection of Orissa
State Archaeology.
ii) Cultural significance: Various rituals and festivals are observed like; Sivaratri,
Kartika-purnima, Raja Sankranti, Jalasaya ceremony.
iii) Social significance: Thread ceremony, mundana, marriage ceremony are
performed.
iv) Associational significance: Village public meetings are held in the premises.
eastern side. A road leading to the village on its western side in its front, and the extension of
Dhauli hill on both the southern and northern sides.
ii) Orientation: The temple is facing towards west.
iii) Architectural features (Plan & Elevation): The temple stands on a high platform
measuring 26.50 mtrs in length, 22.10 mtrs in width and 2 mtrs in height. On plan, the temple hasa square vimana and a frontal porch measuring
08.35mtrs in length (vimana measures 07.10 mtrs and frontal porch is 01.25mtrs). The vimana has a square sanctum measuring two square mtrs inside the cella. The vimana is pancharatha as distinguished by a central raha and a pair of anuratha pagas and kanika paga on either side of the raha. On elevation, the vimana is of rekha order that measures 11.14mtrs in height. The bada of the temple measuring 4.14mtrs has five mouldings without any sculptural embellishment. The pabhaga measures 1.08mtrs, tala jangha-0.95mtrs,bandhana-0.31mtrs, upara jangha-0.90mtrs, and baranda-0.95mtrs. The pabhaga has four base mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata and basanta.The gandi measuring 4.50 mtrs is devoid of any decoration except the Udyota simha in the raha pagas on three sides and gajakranta in the western wall. The mastaka bears beki, amlaka, khapuri, kalasa, ayudha measuring 2.50 mtrs. in height.
iv) Raha niche & parsva devatas:
The parsvadevata niches are located on the raha paga of the tala jangha on the three sides
of north, west and south, each measuring 1.06mtrs in height, 0.57 mtrs. in breadth and 0.39mtrs
in depth houses the images of Ganesa in south and the image of Mahisasuramardini in the
north .The niche in the south is empty. Ganesa standing in tribhanga pose over a lotus pedestal
is holding rosary in his lower right hand and mace in his lower left hand .The upper two hands
are broken. The image is also crowned by jatamukuta and wearing a sacred snake thread
(nagopabita). Behind the head, is a trefoil chaitya motif with two attendants offering jack
fruits and flying vidyadharas holding garlands in their both hands. Mahisasuramardini in the
northern niche is unusual. It has taken the place of Parvati. Hence, this may be a later installation
inside the niche. The demon has a buffalo head and a human body. The deity is a four armed
presses the head of the demon in her main left hand, and tramples the demon with her right
leg. The image has all archaic features of an early phase, which may be assigned to the 8th
century AD.
v) Decorative features
Door Jamb: The door jambs are partly renovated. It measures 2.38mtrs in height and 1.10mtrs
in width. It has three vertical bands with sakhas like puspa, nara, lata from exterior to interior,
each sakha measuring 0.14mtrs. There is a chandrasila between the doorjamb on the floor,
which is decorated with beautiful conches on both the sides. At the base of the doorjamb,
there are two dvarapala niches on either side measuring 0.55mtrs in height, 0.36mtrs in
width and 0.10 mtrs in depth. The niches are occupied by Saivite dvarapalas holding tridents
and river goddesses - Ganga is standing in tribhangi pose on her makara mount under a
parasol held by a diminutive female figure in the right niche and Yamuna in the similar fashion
standing on her tortoise mount in the left niche.
Lintel: The architrave above the doorjamb measuring 1.50 mtrs. is carved with the Navagrahas
seated in Padmasana within a niche. Ravi is holding lotus in his both hands, Rahu has a big
head crowned by a jatamukuta, holding half moon and Ketu with a serpent tail has uplifted
hands and three-headed serpent canopy over the head.
of Dhauli and the left bank of the river Daya, in the southeastern outskirts of Bhubaneswar in
the village Khatuapada. The temple is facing towards west and
the presiding deity is a circular yoni pitha with a hole at the
centre. The temple is made of light grey sand stone. The temple
is renovated one from bottom to the top by employing the earlier
materials. This temple is now under the protection of Orissa
State Archaeology.
Significance
i) Historic significance: —ii) Cultural significance: Various rituals and festivals are observed like; Sivaratri,
Kartika-purnima, Raja Sankranti, Jalasaya ceremony.
iii) Social significance: Thread ceremony, mundana, marriage ceremony are
performed.
iv) Associational significance: Village public meetings are held in the premises.
Physical description
i) Surrounding: The temple is surrounded by the hillock of Dhauli on itseastern side. A road leading to the village on its western side in its front, and the extension of
Dhauli hill on both the southern and northern sides.
ii) Orientation: The temple is facing towards west.
iii) Architectural features (Plan & Elevation): The temple stands on a high platform
measuring 26.50 mtrs in length, 22.10 mtrs in width and 2 mtrs in height. On plan, the temple hasa square vimana and a frontal porch measuring
08.35mtrs in length (vimana measures 07.10 mtrs and frontal porch is 01.25mtrs). The vimana has a square sanctum measuring two square mtrs inside the cella. The vimana is pancharatha as distinguished by a central raha and a pair of anuratha pagas and kanika paga on either side of the raha. On elevation, the vimana is of rekha order that measures 11.14mtrs in height. The bada of the temple measuring 4.14mtrs has five mouldings without any sculptural embellishment. The pabhaga measures 1.08mtrs, tala jangha-0.95mtrs,bandhana-0.31mtrs, upara jangha-0.90mtrs, and baranda-0.95mtrs. The pabhaga has four base mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata and basanta.The gandi measuring 4.50 mtrs is devoid of any decoration except the Udyota simha in the raha pagas on three sides and gajakranta in the western wall. The mastaka bears beki, amlaka, khapuri, kalasa, ayudha measuring 2.50 mtrs. in height.
iv) Raha niche & parsva devatas:
The parsvadevata niches are located on the raha paga of the tala jangha on the three sides
of north, west and south, each measuring 1.06mtrs in height, 0.57 mtrs. in breadth and 0.39mtrs
in depth houses the images of Ganesa in south and the image of Mahisasuramardini in the
north .The niche in the south is empty. Ganesa standing in tribhanga pose over a lotus pedestal
is holding rosary in his lower right hand and mace in his lower left hand .The upper two hands
are broken. The image is also crowned by jatamukuta and wearing a sacred snake thread
(nagopabita). Behind the head, is a trefoil chaitya motif with two attendants offering jack
fruits and flying vidyadharas holding garlands in their both hands. Mahisasuramardini in the
northern niche is unusual. It has taken the place of Parvati. Hence, this may be a later installation
inside the niche. The demon has a buffalo head and a human body. The deity is a four armed
presses the head of the demon in her main left hand, and tramples the demon with her right
leg. The image has all archaic features of an early phase, which may be assigned to the 8th
century AD.
v) Decorative features
Door Jamb: The door jambs are partly renovated. It measures 2.38mtrs in height and 1.10mtrs
in width. It has three vertical bands with sakhas like puspa, nara, lata from exterior to interior,
each sakha measuring 0.14mtrs. There is a chandrasila between the doorjamb on the floor,
which is decorated with beautiful conches on both the sides. At the base of the doorjamb,
there are two dvarapala niches on either side measuring 0.55mtrs in height, 0.36mtrs in
width and 0.10 mtrs in depth. The niches are occupied by Saivite dvarapalas holding tridents
and river goddesses - Ganga is standing in tribhangi pose on her makara mount under a
parasol held by a diminutive female figure in the right niche and Yamuna in the similar fashion
standing on her tortoise mount in the left niche.
Lintel: The architrave above the doorjamb measuring 1.50 mtrs. is carved with the Navagrahas
seated in Padmasana within a niche. Ravi is holding lotus in his both hands, Rahu has a big
head crowned by a jatamukuta, holding half moon and Ketu with a serpent tail has uplifted
hands and three-headed serpent canopy over the head.