Räjaräëi Temple, Bhubaneswar
The
Räjaräëi Temple is one of the latest
of the Bhubaneswar temples datable to 11th century. It is perhaps
the most beautiful temple in Bhubaneswar, decorated with some of the most
impressive Oòia temple sculptures.
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Temple architecture/style
The
Temple stands on a raised platform and has a deula/ vimäna, and a jagamohana.
The ornate deula is famous for its ornate deula/vimäna. The 18m (55 ft) deula/vimäna - tower
is clustered by miniature towers with double crowning elements and appears
round, like the towers central Indian temples , especially seen in Khajuraho Temples. The flat ribbed crowning amalaka and kalaça on the tower are surrounded by four
squatting figures.
The jagamohana (viewing porch) is pyramidal in
structure – piòhä style. The entrance
to jagamohana is flanked by round
thick columns entwined by nägas.
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Around the compass points are statues of the
eight dikpälas (guardians of
directions), who protect the temple, two for each side. Between them, nymphs,
embracing couples, elephants on the lions (believed to be symbolic of
re-emergence of Hinduism over Buddhism) fill the niches and decorate the
pillars.
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The sculpture of Varuëa has been much
photographed and used by art historians. So also the sculpture of Agni.
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The slender sophisticated näyikäs on the deula wall remind me of Çälabhaïjikä.
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The Name
The
name of the Temple has been the subject of much debate, as the presiding deity
in the Temple is Lord Çiva. The most likely explanation is that the name is
related to the dull red and turbid yellow sandstone locally called
"Rajarani". The temple was constructed of The debate is complicated by the fact that
the names of all the Hindu temples in Bhubaneswar dedicated to Lord Siva end in
suffix - Éçwara (for e.g. Paraçurämeçwara, Mukteçwara, Siddheçwara etc.), while
those of the non-Çaivite temples are derived from their presiding deities (e.g.
Pärvaté temple). One major scholar has argued that the name Räjaräëi was
applied to the Temple later (because of the sandstone), and that originally
this Çiva shrine was referred to as Indreçwara.
This
interesting temple is surrounded by well-maintained gardens by ASI.
There is no deity,
and one can freely go inside.
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Work in Progress
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