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Odisha Part 9 : The Vaital Temple, Bhubaneshwar

The Vaital temple is of the many intriguing temples in Bhubaneshwar. To begin with, the structure itself resembles a South-Indian temple more than the typical Kalingan style that we see everywhere else in Odisha. The temple has been dated to the last quarter of the 8 th century CE. Further , unlike most of the temples in Bhubaneshwar, this temple is not dedicated to Lord Shiva. Inside the sanctum is one of the deities who is very rarely seen in a sanctum – Chamunda, along with the Saptamatrikas. This is evidently a Shakta shrine. However, the presence of Lakulisha on the vimana indicates the connection with the Pasupata sect, which is most prevalent in this region during this time period. Further, the name of the temple – ‘Vaital’, comes from the word ‘ vetala’ , referring to spirits, which were invoked by tantrics to attain siddhis. Thus, this temple is an amalgamation of Pasupata and Shakta philosophy, with a strong emphasis on tantric rituals, and this is reflected in the iconogra...
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Hello from Coorg!

Good morning from Coorg! We arrived here yesterday, expecting the sharp summer heat, but were welcomed by rains instead!





We are staying at the Club Mahindra Virajpet property...




I was woken this morning by the chirping of Birds, and have spent the morning armchair birdwatching.... ThisRed Whiskered Bulbul is a common sight, even at home, but seeing them in peace without having to think of the morning chores, is a pleasure !



And this White Browed wagtail posed so beautifully for me!


That's all for now.... Hope to show you more of Coorg, and the rest of my trip if the internet co-operates!

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  1. ArtiMay 2, 2014 at 1:00 PM

    Looks pristine! Have a great trip, Anu!

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  2. HaddockMay 4, 2014 at 1:45 PM

    If there are birds then I must make a visit. Nice peaceful place.

    ReplyDelete

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