Talesavara Siva Temple – II
Encyclopedia
Talesavara Siva Temple – II is a Hindu
temple located in Bhubaneswar
, Orissa, India. It is located at Latitude: 20◦,14’ 43” N, Longitude:85◦, 49’ 33” E, Elev- 86 feet.
Tradition & legends: The deity is named Talesavara because originally the deity was worshiped under the palm(tala is the Oriya name of palm) groove.
It is believed that it was established in 13th century A.D.
Physical description
panchanga bada measuring 2.60 meters in height, pabhaga which is partially buried has five base mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata, kani, and basanta that measures 0.70 meters in height, talajangha measures 0.48 meters, bandhana measuring 0.25 meters in height has a single moulding and baranda measuring 0.70 meters in height has five moldings. The gandi measures 4.10 meters and the mastaka measuring 2.00 meters has usual components like beki, amalaka, khapuri and kalasa.
Decorative features:
Other features:
Condition description:
Present State of Preservation:
The detached and loose sculptures like amalaka, fragments of unidentifiable figures and temple fragments are there in the eastern and northern side of the temple.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temple located in 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...
, Orissa, India. It is located at Latitude: 20◦,14’ 43” N, Longitude:85◦, 49’ 33” E, Elev- 86 feet.
Location
Talesvara Siva temple is located in the Bharati Matha precinct in Badhaibanka chowk, Old town, Bhubaneswar. The enshrined deity is a Siva lingam and a circular yonipitha. The upper part of the gandi of the temple was renovated by the Matha authorities with the financial support of a devotee, Sura Nayak, in the recent past. The temple is facing towards west.Tradition & legends: The deity is named Talesavara because originally the deity was worshiped under the palm(tala is the Oriya name of palm) groove.
History
It is owned by Bharti Matha. Now Pranava Kishore Bharati Goswami is the Matha Mahanta. He lives in Badheibanka Chowk, Bharati matha, Old town, Bhubaneswar.It is believed that it was established in 13th century A.D.
Architecture
It is a REKHADEULA type of temple building. It is used as a living temple, which means people used it as worshiping purpose.Physical description
- Surroundings: This temple is situated within the precinct of Bharati matha. It is surrounded by the burials of the Matha Mahantas in the east and Matha entrance in the north.
- Orientation: The temple is facing west.
- Architectural features (Plan & Elevation): On plan, the temple has a square vimana measuring 4.00 square meters with a renovated frontal porch of 0.50 meters. It is pancharatha in plan. On elevation, the vimana is of rekha order with usual bada, gandi, and mastaka that measures 8.70 meters in height. With fivefold divisions of bada; the temple has a
panchanga bada measuring 2.60 meters in height, pabhaga which is partially buried has five base mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata, kani, and basanta that measures 0.70 meters in height, talajangha measures 0.48 meters, bandhana measuring 0.25 meters in height has a single moulding and baranda measuring 0.70 meters in height has five moldings. The gandi measures 4.10 meters and the mastaka measuring 2.00 meters has usual components like beki, amalaka, khapuri and kalasa.
- Raha niche & parsva devatas: The raha niche measuring 0.72 meters.x 0.35 meters provided with tala garbhika in the pabhaga which is flanked by two khakahara mundipilasters. The parsvadevata niches are enshrining Parvati to the north, Karttikeya to the east, Ganesain to the south, which were installed recently.
Decorative features:
- The talajangha and upara jangha are carved with khakhara mundi and pidhamundis respectively in the anuratha paga and kanika pagas and the recess between the pagas. The mundi niches house Dikapalas in the tala-jangha and their female counterparts in the upara jangha. The anuratha paga of the gandi is decorated with a series of ghata-pallava in succession. Kanika pagas are decorated with bhumi amlas.
- Door Jamb: The doorjambs of the temple measuring 1.70 meters. X 1.17 meters is decorated with three vertical bands of scroll works like puspa, nara and lata sakhas from exterior to the interior. At the lalatabimba, there is a Gaja-lakxhmi seating in lalitasana over a lotus pedestal. Dvarapala niches measuring 0.40 meters x 0.25 meters. At the base of the door jambs have khakahara mundis. The Saivite dvarapalas hold trident in their left hands.
- Lintel: The architrave above the doorjamb measuring 1.77 meters is carved with nine planets within a rectangular niche. The grahas are seated in padmasana.
Other features:
- Building material: It is made up off Coarse grained sand stone.
- Construction techniques: Dry masonry.
- Style: Kalingan
- Special features, if any- The anuratha paga of the temple is decorated with a series of ghata-pallava, which is a new feature.
Conservation
Because of the recent renovation work, the temple is in a good preservation state, however the temple is partially buried up to the pabhaga portion.Condition description:
- Signs of distress: Talajangha of the western side is partly damaged.
- Structural problems: The carvings in the temple walls are largely eroded because of the inferior quality of the stone.
- Repairs and Maintenance: Repaired by Bharati Matha after the super cyclone when the temple suffered severe damage.
Present State of Preservation:
The detached and loose sculptures like amalaka, fragments of unidentifiable figures and temple fragments are there in the eastern and northern side of the temple.