15/18 ☼ Exploring Temples, Caves, Ghats, and an Imambara: A 3000-Mile Adventure
Bhubaneswar: The Cradle of Kalingan Architecture
Bhubaneswar, renowned as "The Temple City of India" is a destination that attracts numerous trains travelling from Puri. I booked a seat on a superfast train that departed early in the morning and arrived at my destination around 8 AM. I had a 14-hour purposely planned layover before catching my train to Chennai, the Coromandel Express. During this time, I reserved a car for 8 hours to explore the city, admire the Kalinga architecture, try the local cuisine, and visit the renowned Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves. Enjoying my morning breakfast at the renowned Priya restaurant, I received a phone call from my taxi driver inquiring about my pickup location. Can you believe it? His name was none other than Neelamadhava! He has been practising meditation for nearly 8 years. Surprisingly, he is now the proud owner of multiple taxi businesses. During our conversation, he shared with me the various challenges he has successfully overcome through the guidance of his meditation practice.
Contents
Lingaraja & Kedar Gauri Temple
Mukteswar Temple
RajaRani Temple
Lingaraja & Kedar Gauri Temple
Discover the renowned Shiva Temples of India, including the magnificent Shree Lingaraj Temple. As the largest and oldest temple in Bhubaneswar, the Shree Lingaraj Temple captivates visitors with its grandeur. What sets this temple apart is the belief that the Shiva Lingam in the inner sanctum is self-originated, revered as both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The temple, renowned as the epicentre of Kalinga architecture, boasts a majestic main tower constructed from sandstone and laterite, standing 55 meters tall. 150 smaller temples surround this architectural marvel, each dedicated to a different god of the Hindu pantheon, illustrating the city's rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
In Lingaraj, Lord Shiva resided with Parvati and extended an invitation to his Father-in-Law Raja Dakhsa and Parvati's younger sister, Maa Gauri. They were accommodated at a distance from the Lingaraj temple, which came to be known as "Kedargauri". However, Lord Shiva decided not to name the place after his Father-in-Law, Raja Dakhsa. Instead, he honoured his name, Kedar, and Maa Gauri's relationship with Parvati. Thus, the place became renowned as Kedar Gauri. Each year, Lord Shiva and Parvati celebrate their marriage anniversary at a mandap where people believe they remarry on the auspicious day of Chaturdashi of Krishna paksha.
Mukteswar Temple
This temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and is built in the Pitha Deula style, characterized by a square base and a pyramid-shaped roof. It is considered a ‘Gem of Odisha’ due to its elaborate architecture, which includes intricate carvings, diamond-shaped windows with lattice designs, and sculptures of characters from the popular Panchatantra tales. Inside the temple premises, there is a tank called Marichi Kunda located on the eastern side, while a well can be found in the southwest corner. According to legends, a dip in Marichi Kunda can cure infertility in women.
Rajarani Temple
The temple's base is adorned with sculptures of eight Hindu deities, including Kubera, Yama, Vayu, Indra, Agni, Nirriti, Varuna, and Ishana, each representing different aspects of life. These sculptures are believed to be the guardians of the ancient temple, adding to its mystique and significance. The Rajarani Music Festival, organized by the Department of Tourism of the Government of Odisha, takes place annually in the temple grounds during the months of January and February.
While exploring the Parshuram temple, a place associated with immortality in Hindu mythology, I will dedicate a separate post to delve deeper into this intriguing topic. Stay tuned for my upcoming post where I will share my adventures at the cave and the renowned Nandankanan zoo.