Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The study of the Vishnavite temples of the undivided Puri district is an important aspect of the temple building activities of Odisha in Eastern India.The district of Puri is well-known in Odisha for its historic antiquities and religious sanctuaries.The Vaishnavite temples noticed in the different parts of the undivided Puri district represent the Kalinga style of temple architecture of Odisha.Among the extant Vaishnavite temples, two have been taken here for the scholarly discussion.The names and sites of these two temples are viz; Sakhi-Gopala temple of Kantolbai and Jagannatha temple of Rupadeipur.The Sakhi-Gopala temple at Kantolbai is a significant Vaishnavite shrine reflecting the religious, architectural, and artistic traditions of the late medieval period.The vimana of the Sakhi-Gopala temple houses deity Sakhi Gopala, along with subsidiary icons of Patitapabana and Radha-Krishna.The sculptural program of the temple features rich iconography from Krishna-lila narratives, including depictions of Trivikrama, Narasimha, and Varaha.The jagamohana and natamandapa are decorated with narrative reliefs that celebrate the life and exploits of Lord Krishna, alongside erotic and devotional motifs.Now, the temple is being managed under the administrative control of the Satyabadi Sakhi-Gopala Trust Board.The Jagannatha temple of Rupadeipur is a significant shrine and it plays an essential role in the religious and cultural life of the region.Architecturally, the temple follows the traditional Odishan temple design, comprising a vimana (sanctum tower) and a jagamohana (assembly hall), both aligned eastward.Iconographically, the temple preserves notable images of Vishnu's incarnations as Trivikrama, Narasimha, and Varaha in its exterior niches, each richly detailed and reflecting distinct Vaishnavite symbolism.Inside the sanctum, the wooden deities of Jagannatha, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarsana are enshrined on a simhasana, flanked by brass icons of Lakshmi, Radha-Krishna, and other figures, representing a syncretic devotional surroundings.The presence of both Shaivite and Shakta images within the Vaishnavite framework underscores Odisha's inclusive religious landscape.Overall, the temple exemplifies the continuity of sacred architectural and iconographic traditions in Odisha, serving as a vital node of rural devotion and cultural memory.The aim of this article is to focus on art and architecture along with religious significance of the above two Vaishnavite temples of the undivided Puri district of Odisha.Methodologically, both the primary as well as secondary sources have been used in this article.
Author: Ratnakar Mohapatra
Institution: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences
Language: English
Topic: Indian and Buddhist Studies
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4413065773