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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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Vendors at Chamundi Hills

Every temple has vendors outside, selling flowers and coconuts....





Outside the temple on Chamundi Hills, there were a few more, selling items made of stone and wood...



The wooden articles were common ones, but these stone figures were beautiful!



And yes, for once, I did succumb to the temptation, and bought some too!

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Location: Chamundi Temple, Mysore, Vijay Nagar, Karnataka 570010, India

Comments

  1. IndraniSeptember 19, 2013 at 11:33 AM

    I always end up buying something or other even if I don't need them . :)
    Great shots!

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    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarSeptember 19, 2013 at 12:03 PM

      Much as I am tempted, Indrani, I usually hold myself back from buying stuff thanks to lack of space, but this time i just couldnt resist those cute little elephants and the beautiful lamp!

      Delete
  2. MridulaSeptember 19, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    I usually don't buy stuff but it is good to indulge sometimes I guess?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarSeptember 22, 2013 at 9:27 AM

      Yes, Mridula. I dont usually buy much, but these were just too beautiful! plus,we are always on the lookout for stuff from across the country to keep for our annual navaratri golu. these were perfect!

      Delete

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