Visited Bhubaneswar/Konarak/Puri in December 2013. U see Muktesvara Mandir against the rising sun. Pond that you see in front is considered holy where devotees have a dip. This
pic gives you a good overview of the temple. ''Outer wall of temples built in 966 a.d. The spire is covered with intricate geometrical and floral designs with strange iconography''.
Minutes away from the Muktesvara Mandir is Kedar Gouri temple. It is considered very auspicious to bath here. Saw lots of men and women bath. Women stand in one corner, change
clothes there after bathing. They feel very secure and comfortable changing in the open. Saw a similar thing on the banks of the Holy Ganga in Kashi. To see pics of People of Kashi Click here
Muktesvara is considered as the Gem of Odishan Architecture hence devoted 40 pics to it. It has a low height wall surrounding, is known for a mangalatorana in front,
Early morning view of the temple. Note the mangalatorana in centre of pic before temple entrance. Present close ups later. Temple attributed to 10th century a.d.
Side view of temple. Torana in front, then is jagamohana and sikhara. The temple is situated within a quadrangular court enclosed by a low wall with panelled sides.
We show you pics of temple clock wise. Right of pic is temple, below ie has space for image ie not there. ''The corner rathas are relieved with female figures, remarkable for their expressive faces, with hair styles and jewellery shown in exquisite detail.''
Vertical piece right in front is Nag Kanya (snake with lady face) with a hood over the ladies head.
A view of the Jagamohana or entrance porch. ''The jagamohana of this late 10th century temple is now a pidha deul with decorated ceiling, carved into a lotus with eight petals''. A pidha
deul styled temple is made of pidhas (horizontal platforms) and is characterstised by a stepped pyramidal roof. In centre are lattuced windows on either side. On left and right are sculptured relief.
Sculptured reliefs on right side of jagamohana. Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Sculptured reliefs on jagamohana. Finishing is with great care and taste. Every scrap of carving is clean-cut and distinctive.
In pic 6 showed temple below which is space for image. Close up of that space for you to see the intricate decorative design.
Sculptured relief on left of jagamohana. Left of pic shows women with musical instrument in hand.
The diamond shaped latticed window in the centre of jagamohana. All around frame are humorous scenes from monkey life that are imbibed from the Panchatantra tales.
Sikhara or tower on eastern side. Image on top centre is that of six armed Nataraja. Temple is barely 35 feet tall and sanctum of only 7 feet 6 inches square inside. But parts are beautifully
adjusted to one another that the disposition of the whole is elegant and effective. Thus inspite of modest size this temple may be regarded as the most brilliant of its class.
Eastern side view of the temple against the rising sun. Temple at end of pic is Siddhesvara Mandir, other are smaller temples.
Vertical view of eastern side sikhara, top to ground level. Temple spire rises up to 35 feet. The corners of the sanctum tower or sikhara are carefully rounded off, and the edges of the
ratha-paga projections are bevelled to a certain extent, with the result we see a really graceful and softened outline of the sikhara. Exterior surface of the temple is richly carved with a
luxuriance of ornamental detail sculptured and finished with the greatest care and detail.
A close up of the eastern side sikhara. ''The chaitya-windows carved on the sanctuary tower show an arresting ornamental design, bho, a motif-the grinning face of a lion with beaded tassels emerging from its mouth, flanked by two dwarves, the pattern resembling a coat of arms''.
What you see is superb and masterful in treatment and animation. Floral bands, scroll works etc display excellence in design and a perfect delicacy in execution. Lion is called Kirttimukha (to ward away evil spirits). Top centre shows dancing Nataraja.
A side view of the temple from base level against the rising sun. All along the temple is wall which has images of Yoginis.
Sculptured reliefs on wall of temple, south eastern side.
View of lower level of sikhara with wall in front that has images of 64 yoginis.
A close up of the yoginis ka work. In many of them images are no longer there.
Close up of sikhara on southern side of temple.
Reflection of Muktesvara Mandir in holy tank. ''Well is locally known as Marichi Kund, lies immediately beyond the sinister of the enclosure, the water of which is believed to cure infertility of women.''
Jagamohana on eastern side in centre of pic. In front is wall ie around the temple.
A view of the sculptured reliefs on southern side of temple. Might look similar to the northern side one but closer examination shows they are different.
Animal looks like a combination of a horse and lion. Lady on animal with elephant below.
Vertical view of latticed window on southern side of temple. On frame left and right side are examples of monkey life.
Mithuna images.
Animal has got trunk means elephant, centre part is horse and feet look like that of a lion. Queen on animal. Soldier with shield below could mean negative force which needs to be crushed.
South side. Next to temple in centre of pic are Nagas (snake) with human bust.
Carvings on west side of temple.
Front view of mandir with mangalatorana in front. ''It is a detached portal consisting of two pillars supporting an arch within a semicircular shaped pediment. The decoration of the arch, with languorously reclining females and bands of delicate scroll-work, is the most striking feature.''
Lower level of mangalatorana. This masterpiece is from about 900 A.D. Columns consist of a square base and a capital consisting of an amalaka with spread out cruciform vedika as a support for the arch. The last is semi-circular in shape but built in
transverse section with over sailing courses. To see pic of torana in Sun Temple Gujarat pic no 10 Click here
Ornamentation in pillar of mangalatorana above that is face with two eyes ie Kirti Mukha (to ward away evil spirits) found in temples across India. To see similar huge size pillars visit
Kiradu Temples Barmer Click here
Close up of top part of mangalatorana. One piece of stone with carvings remained as is for over thousand years. ''The exquisitely carved ''Torana'' (arched doorway) captures the main attraction with its rich decorations that suggest the influence of Buddhism in Orissa.''
End of arch are shaped as Makara Heads and both the faces are elegantly carved with floral patterns, miniature niches with human heads peeping out and a pair of female figures in
recumbent attitude occupying the entire segment of the arch.
Ceiling inside temple. It is carved into a lotus with eight pearls. Note that Pillars seldom have a place in the composition of Orissa temples. In case of any errors in captions do mail me.
Siddhesvara Mandir. ''Vishnu and other Gods came to Ekamra Kshetra to visit a Bhulinga and instructed Vishwakarma, the divine architect to create temples and ponds. Shiva was pleased
and agreed to reside a Linga there. Shiva said to Vishnu ''due to your worship, myself became Siddha and will remain here as Siddhidata. Thus this linga came to be known as
Siddhesvara.'' To see pics of Belur temple in Karnataka Click here
This is probably an image of Karthikeya in Siddhesvara Mandir. Some of captions borrowed from The History and Culture of Indian People Vol 5 published by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan and Orissa Tourism site.
To see pics of Vishwanatha Shiv temple Khajuraho Click here
A south side of Siddhesvara Mandir. 5 minutes away from here is the Parasuramesvara Temple, the oldest temple in Bhubhaneshwar. In case any error in caption please mail me. To
see pics of Osian Jain Mandir in Rajasthan Click here
A close up of one of the external walls of the Muktesvara Temple. To read about the temple on Orissa Tourism site Click here
Temples in front of Muktesvara Mandir with Siddhesvara Mandir on the right. The small shrines that you see comprise numerous lingams of Lord Shiva. To read
a super travelogue on temples of Bhubhaneshwar by Rangan Datta Click here