Somesvara Siva Temple


The Somesvara Siva temple is located in the Kharakhia Baidyanath temple precinct in Kharakhia Vaidyanath Sahi, Old Town, of Bhubaneswar. It is located approximately 300 metres south of Lingaraja temple. Visitors may approach the site on the left side of Baidyanath Road leading from Lingaraja temple to Kapilesvar. It is a living temple and faces towards the west. The enshrined deity of this temple is a Siva lingam within a circular yonipitha at the center of the sanctuary located 0.93 metres below the chandrasila. The temple is under the care and maintenance of Babulal Makaddam Badu Mohapatra, the chief priest of the temple, on whose private land the temple stands.

Ownership

Single/ Multiple

Single.

Public/ Private

Private.

Name

Babulal Makaddam Badu Mohapatra

Address

Kharakhia Baidyanath Sahi, Old Town, Bhubaneswar

Age

Approximate date

10th/11th century A.D.

Property Type

Precinct/ Building/ Structure/Landscape/Site/Tank

Precinct

Subtype

Temple.

Typology

Vimana is in rekha deul whereas jagamohana is of pidha
deul.

Property use

Abandoned/ in use

In use.

Present use

Living temple.

Past use

Worshipped.

Significance

Cultural significance

Rituals like Sivaratri, Sankranti and Mahavishuva-
Sankranti are celebrated.

Physical description

Surrounding

Within the precinct the temple is surrounded by
Markandesvara temple in the east at a distance of 1.60 metres, Nilakantha Siva temple in north
within a distance of 15 metres and the compound wall in the western and southern sides.

Orientation

The temple is facing towards west.

Architectural features (Plan & Elevation)

On plan, the temple has a vimana and a
jagamohana. The vimana is pancharatha having a central raha distinguished by pairs of
253
anuratha and kanika paga on either side of the raha. The vimana measures 4.40 square
metres and jagamohana measures 6.20 square metres. On elevation, the vimana is of rekha
order and jagamohana is in pidha order as usual in Orissan temples, having bada, gandi
and mastaka. With threefold division of the bada of the vimana has a trianga bada measuring
3.18 metres in height. At the bottom, the pabhaga has four base mouldings of khura, kumbha,
pata and basanta that measures 0.84 metres in height, Jangha measures 1.57 metres in height
and baranda measuring 0.77 metres with a thick of has three mouldings. The gandi and mastaka
measures 4.00 metres and 2.00 metres in height respectively. The bada of Jagamohana measures
2.30 metres having trianga bada. Pabhaga, jangha and baranda measures 0.71 metres, 1.09
metres, and 0.50 metres in height respectively. The gandi and mastaka of the jagamohana
measures 2.50 metres and 1.20 metres.

Raha niche and parsva devatas

Parsvadevata niches located on the raha paga of the jangha on the three sides of north,
south and east measuring 0.94 metres in height, 0.66 metres in width and 0.31 metres in depth are
empty except the northern niche that enshrines a beautiful standing image of Parvati with
broken hands.

Decorative features

Beneath the raha niche has tala garbhika decoration and in the western rahapaga there is a gajakranta at the center of the gandi. Besides this the bada and gandi of the temple are devoid of decorations. Doorjamb: The doorjambs of vimana and
jagamohana are decorated with three plain
vertical bands. That measures 1.83 metres in height
and 1.32 metres in width. At the base of the
doorjambs, there are a dvarapala niches
surmounted by chaitya motifs. The niches
measuring 0.36 metres in height, 0.18 metres in width
and a depth of 0.07 metres houses Saivite
dvarapalas holding tridents in their right hands
and their left hand is in varada mudra.

Lintel

In the lalatabimba, Gajalaxmi is seated
in lalitasana over a lotus pedestal. The deity is
holding lotus in her left hand and her right hand
is in varadamudra. The architrave above the
doorjamb is carved with the navagrahas but due
to the renovation work the grahas like Ravi,
Rahu and Ketu are concealed.

Building material

The temple is
made of laterite stone.

Construction techniques

Dry masonry.

Style

Kalingan.

Special features, if any

Though the Yonipitha is usually circular here it is square,
made of laterite.

State of preservation

Good/Fair/ Showing Signs of Deterioration/Advanced

Good because of the
renovation work done by the Orissa State Archaeology under X and XI Finance Commission
Award.

Condition description

Signs of distress

Growth of vegetation.

Repairs and Maintenance

The owner of the temple clears the surrounding vegetation
after the rainy season.

Grade (A/B/C)

i) Architecture: B
ii) Historic: C
iii) Associational: C
iv) Social/Cultural: B
v) Others: —

Well

There is a well in the center of the Kharakhia Baidyanath
temple precinct, it is made of laterite blocks and it is located at a distance of 9.40 metres north
of the temple.

Threats to the property

Conservation Problem and Remedies

Growth of Vegetation: Creepers in the beki of jagamohana and a pipal tree on the amlaka
stone. The whole temple is covered with lichens.
There is a compound wall made of laterite blocks measuring 53 square metres and 2.25 metres
in height with the thickness of 0.84 metres.
Detached and loose sculptures: In the northern side of the vimana, there is an image of
Siva.