As the sun was almost setting, my next stop was Mukteswara Temple which is considered the ‘Gem of Orissan Architecture’… This was built around 970 CE built with an early Somavasi style. The Vimana (tower) is a 5 part rekha deul and the jagmohana’s roof is pyramid styled! This temple shares the compound with Siddheswara Temple and 6 other smaller temples.
The 2nd most important feature is the ceiling of the inner mandapa. This is in 5 layers - innermost is square, outermost is rectangular and rest 3 are octagonal. The inner square houses the circular dome which has an 8 petal lotus with Sapthamatrika in each petal with Veerabadhra. The octagons depict Ganesha, Karthikeya, dancers, musicians, meditating women, nagas etc.
My first stop was Raja Rani Temple. To begin with it has a beautiful garden in front out it with a pathway around which served as a joggers park! And at that very time, it was also serving as the perfect location for a couple for their pre-wedding photoshoot!!! I did feel bad for bombarding with my gang in their romantic location!!!
This was built in late 10th C - 11th C CE, by the Somavanshi Kings. The whole of the Deula is just a masterpiece!!! It has the Gods of the 8 directions, in the 8 directions incl Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuna, Kubera, Vayu etc. Between them are the sculptures of beautiful women shown holding child, beautifying herself, as Salabhanjika holding a tree and some in erotic poses as well! The Jagmohana is completely plain when compared to this.
As I was around the deula, I spotted a couple of Alexandrine parakeets as well and then I spotted a miniature sculpture on the deula, of a woman talking to her parakeet!!! That’s a Rs.1 coin beside her, so it’s easier to relate to the size of the sculpture!!!
The miniature sculptures all around is just impeccable. In many a places I did keep a Rs.1 coin beside it, to show you the size of the miniature (and ofcourse for my own reference in future)!!! The musical ‘Purusha Mirugam’ was rather intriguing. What totally took me aback was, just like the women holding kids, there were also depictions of some men holding their kids!!!
At one point, the exact segregation point between the Deula and Jagmohana, the point at which the sculptural detailing was abruptly stopped was very much visible. The lines for the grid pattern has been done, but it has not been completed and the reason unknown - may be war, epidemic, money issues, we don't know!!!
From here my next stop was Bhaskareswara Temple. This was a rather weird architecture compared to everything else! It was built in early 13th C CE. This is rather very plain when compared to anything seen so far. The whole temple is on a raised platform and it has a small deula.
Staircases lead to the entrance of the temple located atop the platform. There is a tall Siva linga inside. However it is believed by some historians that it is actually a broken Ashokan Pillar. This site, being in the vicinity of Buddhist Complexes, adds to the doubt. However any research on the Siva Linga / Ashokan Pillar has not been carried out, as it is in worship…
My final stop was just a look into the small temple complex of Lakshmaneshwara, Shatruganeshwara and Bharateshwara. Also located here are Labakeshwara and Kusakeswara… This is located just opposite to the larger temple of Rameshwara. These are tiny and still in worship. Mostly rebuilt out of ruins, and currently in worship. However some panels were very interesting and worth a look, incl the lintels, door jams, a mighty Karthikeya and this Lajja Gauri! ......and that wraps up the Bhubaneswar temples series!
Tips & To Stay: Refer to my earlier post
To Get There:
Nearest Railway Station: Bhubaneswar
Nearest Airport: Bhubaneswar
On Google Maps: Mukteswara Temple, Raja Rani Temple, Bhaskareswara Temple, Shatruganeshwara Temple