Parasuramesvara Temple

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Parasuramesvara Temple in Bhubaneswar

The Parasuramesvara Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva , is an early medieval temple in Bhubaneswar in the eastern Indian state of Odisha . Legend has it that Parashurama , the sixth avatar of Vishnu , who appeared as a combative brahmin , worshiped the god Shiva so much that he handed him his ax as a weapon.

location

Parasuramesvara Temple is located in the religious center of Bhubaneswar on Bindu-Sagar , a lake near Lingaraja Temple and Mukteswar Temple .

history

About the genesis of the temple, d. H. Despite several short building inscriptions, nothing is known about the construction time, client etc. In the scientific debate, dating to the middle or late 7th century has established itself, but earlier or later dating proposals have also been discussed for a long time. In any case, it is - besides the Vaital Deul - the oldest (preserved) temple in the city. The temple was carefully repaired during the British colonial period .

architecture

Kartikeya with his mount ( vahana ), the peacock

The Parasuramesvara temple consists of two parts - the cella ( garbhagriha ) with the tower ( rekha-deul ) rising above it and a vestibule ( mandapa or jagamohana ) - probably added a short time later . The temples of India, originally made of wood, only consisted of a fully enclosed and mostly square structure with a door, but without a window - this construction method was imitated in stone architecture (see Kunda or Naresar ); refinements such as tower structures or vestibules only developed in later times. The over 12 m high tower structure ( rekha-deul ) of the Parasuramesvara temple shows already developed and structured forms of construction that one would hardly expect in the 7th century, as well as a multitude of abstract and figurative decorative elements. The upper end is formed by an almost floating Amalaka ring stone with a Kalasha vase that used to sit on it.

The outer hall, about 8.90 × 8.70 m (inside about 7.50 × 5.60 m), was used for the stay of the believers during the puja ceremony of the Brahmins ; it has not yet developed a roof structure, but shows - similar to many temples in Aihole ( Karnataka ) - a stepped flat roof, the openings in the upper part, as well as the side Jali windows, provide a little light and air inside. The outer walls of the vestibule are covered with abstract vegetable and geometric decorations and figurative representations.

sculpture

In the two wall niches on the side of the entrance portal there are male musicians and dancers arranged on two levels. The lower left wall shows one of the earliest depictions of the 'Seven Mothers' ( sapta matrikas ). Next to it is a phallic -looking Lingam -Stein (but without Yoni ) to which earlier might animal sacrifices were offered. The wall niches of the tower show the sons of Shiva: Kartikeya , with his companion animal, the peacock and Ganesha . In the middle front band of the tower there are two figurative motifs - below the demon Ravana as he shakes Shiva's abode, Mount Kailash ; above that Shiva as an eight-armed cosmic dancer ( nataraja ).

literature

Web links

Commons : Parasuramesvara Temple  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

Coordinates: 20 ° 14 ′ 36 ″  N , 85 ° 50 ′ 14 ″  E