| Rajarani Temple | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: | |
| Location | |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Orissa |
| Location: | Bhubaneshwar |
| Architecture and culture | |
| Primary deity: | Siva |
| Architectural styles: | Kalingan Pancharatha Style (Kalinga Architecture) |
| History | |
| Date built: (Current structure) |
11th century C.E. |
Rajarani Temple is an 11th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, India. Originally it was known as Indreswara, and serves as a shrine to Shiva. It is known as 'love temple',[1] covered with coyly erotic carvings of women and couples. The temple is aesthetically endearing with its graceful sculptures.[2]
Contents |
Rajarani Temple stands on a raised platform. Its spire is decorated with clusters of turrets (replication of the spire itself) emerging form the rib of the spire. The sculptures on the Rajarani Temple have a depth that was lacking in the Mukteswara Temple sculptures. The Jagamohana (porch) though demonstrating a pyramidal structure is yet to take on as a complete structure of its own. It bears signs of repair in 1903 when it collapsed into ruins.Guardians of the Eight Directions'projecting from the base of the temple in the eight directions, starting from the gateway in a clockwise direction around the porch and the deul to end back at the torana(entrance).
The temple was constructed of dull red and turbid yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani". The slightly projected entrance to the temple is flanked by round thick columns entwined by naga on the left. The 18m(55 ft) vimana(tower) is clustered by miniature towers with double crowning elements and appears round, like the towers of Khajuraho temples. The flat ribbed crowning amalaka and kalasa on the tower are surrounded by four squitting figures.[3]
The name of all Siva temples in Bhubaneswar ends with 'Isvara' like Parasurameswara, Brahmesvara, Mitresvara. But Rajarani temple bears a peculiar name and it contains no deity inside the temple. There are certain features of the temple which proves its Saivite(Lord Siva oriented) origin like the presence of Saiva door keepers namely Prachanda and Chanda, Dvarapla with jatamukha and a garland of skulls reaching up to the things and a snake[4]