Parsurameshvara Temple
Parsurameshvara temple is Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and located in the east of Bhubaneshwar , capital city of Odisha. The time when the temple was built was around 650 CE. When it is about temples there are many styles of temples that have been found all over India, one of which is Nagara style.
Nagar style was that temple style that was found prevelant in Northern India. Parsurameshvara temple comes under Nagara style and covers several features of Kalinga architecture. Kalinga is a type of architecture that was practised in Kalinga which is the ancient name of Odisha.
The architecture of Parasurameshvara temple is wonderful in itself. There is vimana(called the sanctum) and a bada(a curvillinear spire over the roof). The interior and exterior measurements of the vimana are 9.88 by 9.75 ft and 19.75 by 21 ft respectively. There is a stone disk called Amlaka placed on the top of bada in Parsurameshvara temple.
Parsurameshvara temple is considered to be the first temple to have a jagamohan in it. The roof of Jagamohan has a row of windows. The measurement of jagamohan is 24.94 by 18.33 ft from inside and 29.33 by 28.58 ft from outside and is rectangular in shape. There is a junction that comes in between vimana and jagamohan which is not properly made. There are windows with small peices of glass found in the temple and when light enters the temple and passes through the doors and windows, the place gets spectacularly lighted.
There are some stone sculptures showing musicians and dancers. Apart from this there is an image of Mahishasurmardini in the temple. Here, Mahishasurmardini is shown with a headdress, karna kundala (an ornament), mala ( garland) and a konkana(anklet). She is shown with a sword in her left hand and is shown with a trident.
Different images showing forms of Shiva like Ardhanarishwar , image of Shiva and Parvati together, images of Ganga, Yamuna, Vishnu, Indra, Surya, Yama, have also been found in the temple so far. On southern wall of the temple, there is a sculpture work representing a picture of Kartikeya on a peacock. There are images of vetalas (ghosts) ,nagas, nagins found on jagamohan and vimana of Parsurameshvara temple.
The main topic on which most of the images are carved on the vimana focus on are moments of pilgrimage. Temples like Parsurameshvara and Rajarani temple are a clear representation of the history of Devdasi tradition that was prevalent during 7th and 8th centuries CE.
Devdasis were girls who gave their entire life to service and worshipping of deities of the temple. Every year between the time of June and July a festival called Parsurashtami is celebrated in Parsurameshvara tempple with great joy and splendour. At present, Parsurameshvara temple is under maintenance of Archeological Survey of India (ASI).