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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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Faces in the Crowd - Shell Seller

He Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore.. yes I know its only a modified version of the tongue twister, but I couldn't resist it!

We saw him outside the St. Francis Church in Kochi. Yes, there were women around too, selling their wares, but I clicked this chap and his stall, simply because I liked the way he had organised it! Besides, he let his display as well as his wares, speak for themselves, because he didn't hound us! Or maybe he just realized that I wasn't interested in buying anything, just clicking away!

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Location: St. Francis Church Road, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala 682001, India

Comments

  1. BikramJune 13, 2014 at 4:52 PM

    That is a good pic for sure .. and I am happy that he did not hound and let the stuff do the talking..


    Bikram

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    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJune 17, 2014 at 8:58 AM

      Thank you, Bikram! That was a big relief! but incidentally, we didnt get mobbed anywhere at Kochi.. quite a surprise, actually!

      Delete

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