Lakhesvara Siva Temple
Encyclopedia
Present Name- Lakhesvara Siva temple.(13th century AD.)
Location: Lat 20° 14’ 33”N, Long 85° 50’ 17” E, Elev 60 ft.
Approach- Lakhesvara Siva temple is located in the right side of the Ganga-Yamuna road,
behind the Lingaraja market complex, Old town, Bhubaneswar
. It is situated at a distance
of 70 metres north east of Lingaraj temple and at a distance of 10 metres south of Gangesvara
and Yamunesvara Siva temple across the road. The temple is facing towards the east.The
enshrining deity is a Siva lingam within a circular yoni-pitha, which is 0.77 metres below
the chandrasila.
after by the members of the Ganga-Yamuna Sangathana.
Address: Ganga-Yamuna Road, Old town, Bhubaneswar.
i) Historic significance: The local tradition attribute the temple to the Gangas
ii) Cultural significance: Sivaratri, Sankranti, Chandana utsav, Kartika-purnima,
jalabhisheka etc. are celebrated in its premise.
iii) Social significance: The temple precinct is used for public meetings.
is surrounded by the GangaYamuna
road in north, and private
residential buildings in the rest three sides.The temple is facing towards east.
ii) Architectural features: At present, the temple stands over a low pista measuring 11.80
metres in length x 5.70 metres in width x 0.43 metres in height. On plan, the temple is saptaratha
with a square vimana and a renovated frontal porch. The viamana measures 5.40 square metres and
porchmeasuring 0.90 metres exending towards east. The cella of the temple measures 2.45 square
metres. On elvation, the deul is of rekha order with bada, gandi, mastaka measuring 13.05 metres in
height. The bada has fivefold divisions measuring 3.55 metres in height. Pabhaga(0.93 metres) has
five moulding, tala
jangha (0.83 metres), bandhana with three mouldings (0.27 metres), upara jangha (0.87 metres)
baranda with seven mouldings(0.65 metres). The gandi of the temple measuring 6.00 metres in
height. The mastaka measures 3.50 metres in height that consists of beki, amlaka, khapuri
and kalasa.
iii) Raha niche & parsva devatas: The parsvadevata niches located on the raha paga
of the talajangha on three sides of north, south and west measure 0.81 metres in height x 0.57
metres in width x 0.23 metres in depth. All are empty.
decorated with the talagarvika. The raha niche is surmounted by a bho motif in which a
stylized chitya motif is flanked by two women and a conch on either sides. Above it there is
the Gajakranta. The beki recess houses Saivite deities above the raha and do-pichha simha
above the kanika pagas. The conjunction between the anu ratha and kanika pagas are
decorated with a small pagas of lotus design. The raha paga is decorated with series of
chaitya design and anuratha paga is decorated with a series of miniature rekha deul as
angasikharas. The temple is ten-storeyed with the kanika accommodating ten bhumi-amlas.
Door Jamb: The doorjamb is a recent addition and devoid of any ornamentation.
Lintel: The graham architrave is also plain.
two vertical pilasters and the conjunction of the pagas decorated with lotus design that
renders the temple to be saptaratha.
superstructure. Cracks are noticed in the northern wall of the cella. The bada
portions in south-west corner of the temple is partly chopped off.
Location: Lat 20° 14’ 33”N, Long 85° 50’ 17” E, Elev 60 ft.
Approach- Lakhesvara Siva temple is located in the right side of the Ganga-Yamuna road,
behind the Lingaraja market complex, Old town, Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
. It is situated at a distance
of 70 metres north east of Lingaraj temple and at a distance of 10 metres south of Gangesvara
and Yamunesvara Siva temple across the road. The temple is facing towards the east.The
enshrining deity is a Siva lingam within a circular yoni-pitha, which is 0.77 metres below
the chandrasila.
Tradition & legends
The local peoples are indifferent towards the historical legends of the temple. It is lookedafter by the members of the Ganga-Yamuna Sangathana.
Address: Ganga-Yamuna Road, Old town, Bhubaneswar.
Source of Information
Saptaratha plan and anuratha paga is decorated with lotus design.i) Historic significance: The local tradition attribute the temple to the Gangas
ii) Cultural significance: Sivaratri, Sankranti, Chandana utsav, Kartika-purnima,
jalabhisheka etc. are celebrated in its premise.
iii) Social significance: The temple precinct is used for public meetings.
Physical description
i) Surrounding: The templeTemple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
is surrounded by the GangaYamuna
Yamuna
The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
road in north, and private
residential buildings in the rest three sides.The temple is facing towards east.
ii) Architectural features: At present, the temple stands over a low pista measuring 11.80
metres in length x 5.70 metres in width x 0.43 metres in height. On plan, the temple is saptaratha
with a square vimana and a renovated frontal porch. The viamana measures 5.40 square metres and
porchmeasuring 0.90 metres exending towards east. The cella of the temple measures 2.45 square
metres. On elvation, the deul is of rekha order with bada, gandi, mastaka measuring 13.05 metres in
height. The bada has fivefold divisions measuring 3.55 metres in height. Pabhaga(0.93 metres) has
five moulding, tala
jangha (0.83 metres), bandhana with three mouldings (0.27 metres), upara jangha (0.87 metres)
baranda with seven mouldings(0.65 metres). The gandi of the temple measuring 6.00 metres in
height. The mastaka measures 3.50 metres in height that consists of beki, amlaka, khapuri
and kalasa.
iii) Raha niche & parsva devatas: The parsvadevata niches located on the raha paga
of the talajangha on three sides of north, south and west measure 0.81 metres in height x 0.57
metres in width x 0.23 metres in depth. All are empty.
Decorative features
The base of the raha niche at the pabhaga portion isdecorated with the talagarvika. The raha niche is surmounted by a bho motif in which a
stylized chitya motif is flanked by two women and a conch on either sides. Above it there is
the Gajakranta. The beki recess houses Saivite deities above the raha and do-pichha simha
above the kanika pagas. The conjunction between the anu ratha and kanika pagas are
decorated with a small pagas of lotus design. The raha paga is decorated with series of
chaitya design and anuratha paga is decorated with a series of miniature rekha deul as
angasikharas. The temple is ten-storeyed with the kanika accommodating ten bhumi-amlas.
Door Jamb: The doorjamb is a recent addition and devoid of any ornamentation.
Lintel: The graham architrave is also plain.
Special features
The base of the raha niche at pabhaga portion is decorated with a rekha deul flanked bytwo vertical pilasters and the conjunction of the pagas decorated with lotus design that
renders the temple to be saptaratha.
State of preservation
Seepage of rain water is occurring due through the cracks in the roof and walls of thesuperstructure. Cracks are noticed in the northern wall of the cella. The bada
portions in south-west corner of the temple is partly chopped off.
Reference notes
- Lesser Known Monuments of Bhubaneswar by Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan (ISBN 81-7375-164-1).
- http://www.ignca.nic.in/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hindu_temples_in_India#Orissa