Study on Kalinga Style Architecture of Four Shakta Temples of Eastern Odisha in India

Abstract

The eastern part of Odisha is well-known for Shaktism as evidenced by the presence of a good number of Shakta temples of the Hindu pantheon. The extant Shakta temples of Eastern Odisha represent the Kalinga style architecture of Eastern India. Most of the minor Shakta temples of Odisha have not been dealt by the art historians in detail. Here, four Shakta temples of Eastern Odisha have been taken by the author for scholarly discussion. They are such as 1. Rama- Chandi temple of Narisho, 2. Durga temple of Narisho, 3. Durga temple of Adaspur and 4. Jagesvari temple of Srirampur respectively. These Shakta temples have been renovated by the local villagers. The architectural features of all the above four Shakta temples are of the modern period. These four Shakta temples represent the Kalinga style architecture of Odisha. The Kalinga style temple architecture of Odisha is divided into four types such as rekha, pidha (bhadra), khakhara and Gauriya. Here, the Rama-Chandi temple of Narisho, Durga temple of Narisho, Durga temple of Adaspur and Jagesvari temple of Srirampur represent the pidha type of the Kalinga style temple architecture of Odisha. Although these Shakta temples belong to the modern period, still theses shrines preserve some masterpiece sculptures of the medieval period, which are very interesting for scholarly works. The aim of this article is to highlight the detailed art and architecture along with the religious significance of the above four Shakta temples of Eastern Odisha in India. Methodologically, both the primary and secondary sources have been used for the writing of this article.