| Markandesvara Siva Temple | |
| Map Type: | India Odisha |
| Coordinates: | 20.235°N 85.8333°W |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Odisha |
| Locale: | Bhubaneswar |
| Elevation M: | 26 |
| Deity: | Mahishamardini |
| Architecture: | Kalinga Architecture |
| Year Completed: | 10th/11th century A.D. |
Markandesvara Siva Templewas constructed by Kesaris to commemorate the visit ofsage Markandeya, same as the Samesvara Siva temple. It is an abandoned temple and is facingtowards the east. However at the center of the sanctum there is a Siva-lingam with thecircular Yoni pitha. The temple is totally covered with wild vegetations.
Lat 200 14’06"N, Long 850 50’ 00"E, Elev 85 ft
Same as the Samesvara Siva temple. It is an abandoned temple and is facingtowards the east. However at the center of the sanctum there is a Siva-lingam with thecircular Yoni pitha. The temple is totally covered with wild vegetations.
The temple is under Babulal Makaddam Badu Mohapatra on whose private land thetemple stands and he stays in the northwest corner of the compound wall of theKharakhia Vaidyanath temple precinct.
Babulal Makaddam Badu Mohapatra.
K h a r a k h i a Baidyanath Sahi, Old Town, Bhubaneswar
10th/11th century A.D.
Architectural features like trianga bada and pabhaga with four mouldings, kani is absent.
Building
Temple
Vimana is in rekha deul whereas jagamohana is pidha deul.
Abandoned
Worshipped.
The locals assigned the temple to the Kesaris (otherwise known as Somavamsis).
The temple is located within the precinct of KharakhiaVaidyanath, behind the Somesvara temple at a distance of 1.60 metres, 16 metres south ofNilakantha temple, 7.12 metres from the eastern compound wall.
The temple is facing towards east.
On plan, the temple is pancharatha with a square vimana measures 3.80 metres. And jagamohana measures 3.70 metres in length and 4.60 metres in width. The ganthiala measures 1.00 metres in length. On elevation, the vimana is in rekha order with usual bada, gandi and mastaka that measures 5.20 metres in height. While the jagamohana is of pidha order measuring 3.80 metres in height The bada of the vimana measures 2.20 metres in height with three vertical divisions namely pabhaga, jangha and baranda. At the base, the pabhaga has four mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata and basanta that measures 0.40 metres which is partially buried. Jangha andbaranda measures 1.37 metres and 0.43 metres in height respectively. The baranda has two mouldings. The superstructure of vimana has collapsed since long. However the remaining part of gandi of the vimana measures 3.00 metres in height is distinguished by a central raha and a pair of anuratha and kanika pagas on either side of raha paga. On elevation, the bada of jagamohana measures 1.86 metres in height. The pabhaga has four base mouldings which is partly buried only 0.26 metres is visible. The plain jangha measures 1.05 metres in height and the baranda has two mouldings that measure 0.55 metres. The gandi of the jagamohana measures 2.00 metres in height. The mastaka has collapsed.
The parsvadevata niches located in the rahapaga of the jangha on the three sides of north, west and south measuring 0.72 metres in height, 0.43 metres in width and in depth of 0.23 metres enshrined a four armed Kartikeya in the western niche who is holding a peacock in the upper left and the lower right hand is in varadamudra. Other two hands are broken. The northern raha niche enshrines broken image of Parvati who is standing over a lotus pedestal. The southern raha niche is empty.
The temple is architecturally and sculpturally plain because of the inferiour type of building materials i.e. the laterite. However, there are two miniature rekha anghasikharas at the base of the gandi in the raha paga of the eastern wall of the vimana.
The doorjamb of the vimana measures 1.85 metres in height and 1.15 metres in width. It is decoratedwith three vertical bands with khakharamundis at the base which is a renovated one. Thedoorjamb of Jagamohana measures 1.55 metres in height and 1.02 metres in width is plain.
In the lalatabimba at the centre of the lintel of the vimana is a pidhamundi.
Dressed laterite
Dry masonry.
Kalingan
The temple is in a dilapidated condition and would collapse at any moment.
In a rapid process of decay.
Growth of vegetation on the structure and cracks are found in every wall of vimana and jagamohana.
Cracks all over the structure.
Only the doorjamb of the vimana was renovated by the Orissa State Archaeology under the X and XI Finance Commission Award.
i) Architecture: Bii) Historic: Ciii) Associational: Civ) Social/Cultural: Cv) Others: —
Due to the absence of roof so far as jagamohana is concerned, rain water directly enters intothe sanctum, which needs to be immediately checked by sealing the roof.1. Growth of Vegetation: Growth of vegetation all over the monument conceals thestructure, which needs to be cleared regularly.2. The pabhaga is partially buried that may be cleared.
09.09.2006
Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan and team.