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Odisha Part 8: The Parasurameshwara Temple, Bhubaneshwar

The Parasurameshwara temple is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneshwar, dating back to the early 8 th century CE. It is also one of the more intriguing temples, with a wide variety of very interesting sculptures. This temple has been attributed to the Shailodbhavas , who were Shaivites. The dynasty is named for their founder, Shailodbhava, who is said to have emerged from a rock, by the grace of Lord Shiva, in response to a prayer by a man from Kalinga, to create a man capable of ruling the earth. That this temple is dedicated to Shiva is clear, not only from the Shaiva dwarapalas who guard the entrance, but also from the numerous sculptures depicting Shiva in his many forms. However, what makes this temple very interesting is the presence of multiple images of the goddesses, especially the Saptamatrikas. The presence of different forms of the goddess, a panel depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, as well as an image of Ardhanareeshwara suggest a strong Shakta influence o...
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Ducks in the Lake

The Nakki Lake at Mount Abu has a small island at the centre where some ducks have been kept.






They have not been caged, thankfully, and seem free to come and go as they please. It seems quite evident that they do come back, because we saw many on the banks of the lake, as well in the enclosure itself.




They attracted quite a lot of attention from the tourists boating in the lake, but no one threw any food or tried to touch the birds, which was quite heartening to watch!



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Location: Nakki Lake, Mount Abu, Rajasthan

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