Manibhadresvara Siva Temple

Manibhadresvara Siva Temple – I.
Manibhadresvara Siva Temple – I. Location in Orissa
Coordinates:	20°14′27″N 85°50′12″E / 20.24083°N 85.83667°E / 20.24083; 85.83667Coordinates: 20°14′27″N 85°50′12″E / 20.24083°N 85.83667°E / 20.24083; 85.83667
Location
Country:	India
State:	Orissa
Location:	Bhubaneswar
Architecture and culture
Primary deity:	lord Vishnu
Architectural styles:	Kalingan Style (Kalinga Architecture)
History
Date built: (Current structure)	14th century A.D.

Manibhadresvara Siva temple is located in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India.

It was built around 14th century A.D. and is located at Latitude of 20 degree 14’ 45” N., Longitude of 85 degree 50’ 14” E.,and Elevation of 55 ft and is situated in the eastern embankment of Bindusagar tank. It is on the right side of the road branching from Kedara-Gouri to Lingaraja temple. The enshrined deity is a Siva-lingam within a circular yoni pitha at the centre of sanctum. The temple is facing towards north.

Significance

Historic significance

Local people ascribe the temple to the Kesaris (Samavamsis), that architecture does not conform to local legend.

Cultural significance

Rituals like Sankranti are celebrated in the temple.

Social significance

Sradha, pindadana, mundanakriya are also performed in the temple .

Physical description

Surrounding

The temple is surrounded by Bindusagar tank in the west and Dalmiya Dharmasala in south-east at a distance of 20.00 mtrs across the road.

Architectural features

On plan, the temple has a pidha Vimana measuring 1.70 square mtrs and stands on a low pista with a height of 0.38 mtrs. On elevation, the vimana has bada,gandi and mastaka measuring 2.42 mtrs in height from bottom to the top. With threefold division of the bada the temple has a trianga bada measuring 1.26 meters height. The pabhaga,jangha and baranda measures 0.38 mtrs, 0.71 mtrs and 0.17 mtrs in height respectively. The gandi measures 1.00 mtrs and mastaka 0.16 mtrs in height.

Building techniques

It is built with Laterite by Dry masonry Construction techniques and kalingan style.

References

• Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts: Archaeological sites of Orissa
• www.eodissa.com
• Book: Lesser Known Monuments of Bhubaneswar by Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan (ISBN 81-7375-164-1)