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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...

Memories of 2012 - Mumbai

October and November saw us exploring places in Mumbai we had been planning to visit for a long time..... First on the list was the Bhau Daji Lad Museum...



Our next destination was the newly opened Snow World at Phoenix Market City, Kurla West.



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Comments

  1. Wow, that museum is amazing! Looks a bit like an historic European cathedral.

    Snow World? Seriously? LOL - everyone I know in North America who is getting snow is complaining about it, while in some parts of the world people go to great lengths and expense to try and have it. Just goes to show... we are strange creatures, always wanting what we don't have and not appreciating what we do!

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    1. Yes, Laloofah! It does look like a cathedral! and you are so right!!! we always want what we can not have. It is so hot here, and winter just means a slight chill in the air early in the morning, and that too in the outskirts of the city. In the city itself, we never feel a nip in the air, and most of us try to head out to cooler climes whenever we can! no wonder we have such a fascination for snow!! snow worlds have come up in other cities in India too, and are proving to be a big hit with the kids! Its after cheaper than actually going to any place we get snow!

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