Mitresvara Temple Complex

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    This temple complex has two temples belonging to the late Eastern Ganga period of 14th century CE. The temples of this period lack decoration and ornamentation resulting in a rather bald appearance in comparison of their counterparts from earlier periods. This gradual decline in artistic excellence may be linked to lack of funds due to withdrawal of royal support, political instability and cultural changes prevailing around that period. The Eastern Ganga dynasty was into their last years and fighting for their survivals. Constant threats from Delhi and Nayakas of South were making the dynasty weakened. During this political turmoil, deterioration in artistic activities was an expected outcome.

    Varunesvara Temple – This east facing temple is consisted of a deul and jagamohana. Deul is consisted of bada, gandi and mastaka. Bada is constructed in pancha-ratha plan and consisted of pabhaga, jangha and baranda. Pabhaga is made of five regular mouldings but bereft of any decoration. Jangha is divided into two equal storeys separated by a madhya-bandhana of three mouldings. Baranda is consisted of eight mouldings. Kanika-paga has dikpalas and their corresponding shaktis. Niches on the raha-paga are of unequal size, lower storey having larger niche. The niches are empty at present.

    Yama
    Varuna
    Gavaksha balusters

    Gandi follows the pancha-ratha plan of bada and consisted of ten bhumis (floors). Two vajra-mastakas are put on the raha-paga, smaller one is topped with a udyata lion and larger one is with gaja-kranta. Jagamohana follows the pancha-ratha plan of its deul. Its pabhaga is made of five mouldings devoid of any decoration. Jangha is divided into two equal storeys separated by a madhya-bandhana of three mouldings. Baranda is made of five mouldings. Kanika-paga has dikpalas and their corresponding shaktis. Raha-paga is decorated with a large gavaksha (window) on its lower storey and an empty niche on the upper storey. Gavaksha has four balusters decorated with maidens. Entrance to the jagamohana has Gaja-Lakhsmi on lalata-bimba and nava-grhas over its architrave.

    Mitresvara Temple – This east facing temple is consisted of a deul and jagamohana. Deul is consisted of bada, gandi and mastaka. Bada is constructed in saptha-ratha pattern and is consisted of pabhaga, jangha and baranda. Pabhaga is made of five conventional mouldings but bereft of any decoration. Jangha is divided into two equal storeys separated by a madhya-bandhana of three mouldings. Baranda is consisted of seven mouldings. The pagas, except raha-paga, are left plain without any images. The only images are those of alasa-kanyas and virala-motif present on anuraha recess. Niches on the raha-paga are empty except on north where damaged Parvati is left in situ. Gandi, only half portion of which has survived, follows the saptha-ratha plan of bada.

    Jagamohana follows the saptha-ratha plan of the deul. Its pabhaga is made of five mouldings devoid of any decoration. Jangha is divided into two equal storeys separated by a madhya-bandhana of three mouldings. Baranda is of five mouldings. Kanika-paga has dikpalas and their corresponding shaktis. Raha-paga is decorated with a large gavaksha (window) on lower storey and an empty niche on the upper storey. Gavaksha has five balusters decorated with maidens standing under a tree. The maiden in the center is shown holding a vina. Niche on the upper storey has shikshadana-motif however in a very bad state of preservation. Entrance to the jagamohana has Gaja-Lakhsmi on lalata-bimba and nava-grhas over its architrave.

    Next – Makareswar Temple