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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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White Browed Fantail Flycatcher

This is one of the birds I usually spot from my window, but this particular one I saw at Hindu Cemetery at Banganga. I love seeing the bird spreads out its feathers, and shows us why it is called the White Browed Fantail Flycatcher!

This is a test post. I am trying to publish posts from my tab, so i can post on the go. Please bear with me, and let me know your feedback on the appearance of these posts so i can improve.

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  1. NatalieGOctober 14, 2014 at 6:08 AM

    This post looks just fine, Anurandha! What a interesting little bird! The colors remind me of the chickadee's we have here, as well as the attitude - they're very feisty and will make very pointed remarks to each other and the other birds around them.

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    1. Anuradha ShankarOctober 14, 2014 at 2:35 PM

      Thanks Natalie!these birds are feisty too... its amusing to see a pair cavorting near our house. looks like these birds might be related too!!

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  2. Meghana HassanOctober 14, 2014 at 8:17 PM

    Beautiful, I come across a similar bird from my balcony, with feathers spread out. The bird is always in full swing, it sometimes even troubles crows, wonder if its a flycatcher too..

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  3. UnknownOctober 21, 2014 at 12:26 PM

    Anuradha! It is an interesting post for all nature lovers. The little bird is looking so cute and pretty. I would like to see it daily from my window. Actually I am one of natura lovers and I love to explore these types of places. Recently I came from India after my new york to niagara falls bus tours. During this country trip I saw its many hill stations like Manali, Kufri, Shimla and Darjeeling and furthermore I spent some time in Delhi. It was a great time that I spend in this country. I would like to go there again.

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  4. Preeti DatarNovember 2, 2014 at 10:32 PM

    What a lovely moment captured through your lens! *thumbs up*

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