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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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The Vultures of Orchha

I have already written about the monuments and art of Orchha. However, this series on Orchha will be incomplete without one post dedicated to the Vultures of Orchha!




We saw these Vultures nesting on the cenotaphs. It seemed sort of fitting, that birds which live off the dead, were nesting in monuments built for the dead. And, at least to us, they were far more interesting than the cenotaphs themselves!









From what I have been reading, it appears that there are 4 varieties of vultures here, but we only saw this one type, which seem to be Indian Vultures.




Also, apparently, their numbers had drastically reduced due to rampant use of diclofenac in cattle, but now the situation has improved, as we could see for ourselves.




It has often happened that Samhith and I go to see a monument, and get distracted by birds. This was no different, and yet, memorable, for we have never seen so many vultures in one place, ever! It was quite a satisfying end to our visit to Orchha.

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Location: Orachha, Madhya Pradesh 472246, India

Comments

  1. AartiSeptember 3, 2016 at 12:55 PM

    oh my, what cool captures... :) next time you plan a trip am definitely coming along.. promise to behave and be good..

    ReplyDelete
  2. NatalieGSeptember 4, 2016 at 5:53 AM

    They are very interesting birds! We have turkey vultures here in South Carolina. I often see them riding the air currents as I drive around town.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownSeptember 6, 2016 at 4:00 PM

    Orchha is an amazing place of tourist interest and you have covered this place amazingly. Good read!

    ReplyDelete
  4. sumit srivastavaSeptember 26, 2016 at 7:35 PM

    orchha is really a awesome place to visit such a wonderful place thanks for share

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 2, 2017 at 4:51 PM

    I am stunned with the monuments, vultures and art of Orchha, all are so interesting to see very nice trip you have shared thanks.
    same day agra tour

    ReplyDelete

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