Siddheswara temple
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Bhubaneshwar_ei027.jpg/310px-Bhubaneshwar_ei027.jpg)
The Siddheswara Temple or Sidhesvar Temple is one of the many medieval Hindu temple buildings of Bhubaneswar , the capital of the east Indian state of Odisha . The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his aspect as 'Lord of the Siddhis '.
location
The Siddheswara temple is located - together with six small temples - in the immediate vicinity of the Mukteswar temple about 1 km northeast of the Lingaraja temple .
history
The founder and exact construction time of the temple are unknown. However, due to its developed architectural forms, which are similar to those of the nearby Rajarani Temple , it is likely to date back to the late 11th century.
architecture
The entrance to the temple is formed by an approximately meter high platform ( jagati ), which, however, does not - as in some earlier and many simultaneous buildings in Central India (e.g. Lakshmana Temple , Khajuraho ) - wrap around the entire temple. A ritual walk ( pradakshina ) of the building was therefore only possible on the ground level paved with stone slabs. The pyramidal stepped roof of the vestibule ( jagamohana ) and the slightly curved tower ( rekha deul ) are richly structured; However, figurative and ornamental decorations are rather rare - only in the niches of the five-way subdivided ( pancha ratha ) tower are statues of Ganesha and Karttikeya , the two sons of Shiva, as well as several lion figures on raised pedestals. The tower ends in a huge ribbed amalaka ring stone with a jug ( kalasha ) on it. The method of allowing light to enter the vestibule, which is achieved by juxtaposed columns or pillars, is unusual.
literature
- Debala Mitra: Bhubaneswar. Archaeological Survey of India , New Delhi 1984, p. 49ff.
- Robert Strasser: Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal. Regional studies and guides to art sites. Indoculture, Stuttgart 1991, ISBN 3-921948-10-X , pp. 92f.
- TE Donaldson: Hindu Temple Art of Orissa. Volume 1, Leiden 1985
Web links
- Siddheswara Temple - Photos + Info (English)
- Siddheswara Temple - Ganesh Photo
- Siddheswara Temple Photos
Coordinates: 20 ° 14 ′ 33.4 " N , 85 ° 50 ′ 25.7" E