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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha.kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com |
Built in Nagara style of architecture, native to odisha, the Mukteshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the capital city of Bhubaneswar is an awe-inspiring place of worship where one can come across a perfect harmony of sculptures and architecture. Bhubaneshwar is often called a "Temple Town" as it is home to many well decorated and sculpted temples temples located in close proximity to each other.
This 10th century old temple appears to represent a transitional period as it is revealed by its design marking the early and later stages of Kalinga architectural style. Kalinga rulers like the Chola and Hoysala and Vijayanagara rulers of the south were great builders of temples during their heyday. This temple was built between 960 - 975 AD by the Somavanshi Kings.
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| Mukteshwar temple odisha. kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com |
Above image: Mukteshwar temple, Bubaneshwar, Odisha. Eye-catching arched torana at the entrance On the other side is another temple complex called Siddheswara Temple.
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| Mukteshwar temple, Bubaneswar, Odisha. mandirmandir.com |
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| Mukteshwar temple, Bubaneswar, Odisha. mandirmandir.com |
Above image: Mukteshwara temple, Bubaneshwar, Odisha. you can see the pyramidal entrance porch called Jagamohana and a curvilinear spire called deul in Orissa and shikhara / vimana in other parts of India. The temple tower just 35 ft tall has impressive carvings. ......................
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| Torana , Mukteshwar temple, Bubaneswar, Odisha. flicker.com |
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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha. bibhudevmisra.com |
Above image: West facing temple has an ornate entrance. The temple faces west; it is said the best time to visit the temple is evening as one can enjoy view of the effects of the falling light on the red sandstone structure.
The Kalinga kings changed the shape of the shikara and preferred a perpendicular prismatic shape. The discernable difference in the temple architecture is with respect to tower. One can see the convergence of the tower vertically near the apex toward the circular kalasa. Mukteshwar temple, a classic example of this style was built as per plan and with no additions in the subsequent periods. The 5-story tower or shikhara has a pidha superstructure in the shape of a stepped pyramid and is bedecked with four Natarajas and four kirthi mukhas on four faces. The striking features of this temple are the correct proportion, exquisite torana or stone archway and ceiling with eight-petal lotus inside its porch.
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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha.bibhudevmisra.com |
Above image: The Yali or gaja-vyala image with a woman warrior riding it. Yali combines physical features of a lion and elephant. The Yali supposedly is the protector of the temple premises. The image of Yali is common in countless Hindu temples.
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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha 123rf.com |
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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha 123rf.com |
Above image: The ornate temple spire is called deul locally (shikhara or vimana elsewhere in India)..............................
The 35 ft tall tower (west facing) made of red sandstone is crusted with impressive carvings of ascetics in meditative posture and women bedecked with jewelry. These delicate features in the stone highlight the technical expertise and talents of the Vishwakarma Moharana sculptors of the past era. The tower over the sanctum sanctorum (garbagriha) is higher than the square Jaganmohana or porch with its pyramid-shaped roof .
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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com |
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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com |
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| Mukteshwar temple, Odisha kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com |
The artistic torana or arched gateway dominates the portal through which one can access the temple. The carvings on the archway both front and back are interesting and similar and they vary from elaborate scrolls to animal images. The archway stands apart from the main temple and is being supported by two pillars on either side within a semicircular pediment. The arch has beautiful sculptures on it, among which an image of the fabled lion-head with open jaws, flanked by attendants stands apart. In the temples of Odisha built later one can see this image. The Buddhist architectural influence is brought out by twin thick pillars with strings of beads and various ornaments carved on statues of women in lethargic pose.
The temple with the porch stands on a low plinth within a low octagonal compound wall and has a massive pyramidal shaped roof, Earlier the temples had a conventional 2 tier structure.
The walls of the porch are provided with diamond-shaped lattice windows with a view to making the interior well-lit. Hence, in the interior the nicely carved images are quite visible
https://www.bibhudevmisra.com/2019/07/mukteshvara-temple-bhubaneshwar.html
