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Orissa
has Konark as the Surya Kshetra,
Puri as the Vishnu kshetra, Bhubaneshwar
as the Hara Kshetra and Jaipur
as the Parvati Kshetra
Puri
is an ancient shrine, enshrining
Krishna - Jagannath in the form
of a wooden image. Also enshrined
are wooden images of Balabhadra
(Balarama) and Subhadra brother
and sister of Krishna respectively.
Interestingly, the Rig Veda refers
to Purushottama in the form of
a wooden image, prepared from
a log of wood floating on the
ocean. Puri is also referred to
in the Bhrama purana.The Jagannath
Temple of Puri is one of the four
most famous holy pilgrimages of
the Hindus. The festival of Rath
Yatra celebrated here on the second
day of the bright fortnight of
Ashada (June-July), is world famous
for the enormous crowd of devotees
that gathers to witness Lord Jagannath
s yearly journey in his huge chariot.
Lord Jagannath, with his brother
Balabhadra and sister Subhadra,
goes to his garden house Gundecha
Ghar for five days, visiting his
aunt on the way. At the end of
the five days, the three siblings
are brought back to the Jagannath
temple in a procession called
the Ultarath. Legend has it that
the original image of Jagannath
was found at the foot of a fig
tree, in the form of an Indranila
or the Blue Jewel. Its blinding
brightness, prompted Dharma to
request it to be hidden in the
earth. King Indradyumna, of Malwa
intending to discover this image,
performed severe penances, and
was instructed by Vishnu to go
to the Puri seashore, and look
for a floating log, and fashion
an image from its trunk.
Bhubaneswar
is the capital city of Orissa,
there were once 7000 temples in
the city which earned it the name
'Temple City of India'. There
are still more than 600 temples
which makes it an important Hindu
Pilgrimage.Bhubaneshwar is also
a revered pilgrimage center, referred
to in the Bhrama Purana. The Bhrama
Purana refers to Bhubaneshwar
as the Ekamra Kshetra enshrining
a crore Shiva Lingas.
Lingaraj
Temple :This magnificent temple
is a testimony to Indian architecture
at its most mature and fully developed
state. The Lingaraja temple overlooks
the city and dominates the landscape.Legend
has it that Shiva revealed to
Parvati that Bhubaneshwar - or
Ekamra thirtha was a resort favoured
by him over Benares. Parvati in
the guise of a cowherd woman,
decided to look at the city herself.
Two demons Kritti and Vasa desired
to marry her. She requested them
to carry her upon their shoulders,
and crushed them under her weight.
Shiva, then created the Bindu
Saras lake to quench her thirt,
and took abode here as Krittivasas
or Lingaraja.
Parashurameshwara
Temple is one of the most well
preserved temples in Orissa. Built
in 7 century, the temple is dedicated
to Lord Shiva. The temple is a
cluster of 20 other smaller temples.
Though the temple is dedicated
to Lord Shiva, but you will find
images of Lord Vishnu, Goddesses,
Lord Yama and Lord Surya. The
temple is quite extensively carved
and is a perfect example of ancient
temple architecture.
Vaital
Deul :The temple is dedicated
to Chamunda (incarnation of Goddess
Kali). The temple build in 8th
century is more based on Khakhara
Order rather than Kalinga style.
Khakhara Order is a sub division
of Kalinga School. The tower (deul)
of the temple is rectangular in
shape and has the more common
deul on all four sides. The architecture
seems a lot more complicated and
stunning.
Mukteshwar
Temple :It is one of the most
beautiful temples in Orissa. Build
in 10th century; the temple is
dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its architecture
is more in Kalinga Temple style.
The outer walls show figures of
ascetics in various positions
of meditations. You will be amazed
to see carvings related to Buddhism,
Jainism and Hinduism all together.
Often referred to as 'gem of Orissa',
temple's main attraction is the
magnificent torana-the decorated
arch gateway.
Dhauli
:Situated at a distance of 8 Km
from Bhubaneswar is Dhauli Hills
which was witness to one of the
most significant wars in Indian
History, the Kalinga War. The
war saw the transformation of
a monstrous king into one of the
most revered figures of mercy
and compassion. King Ashoka mastered
the principles of Buddhism and
spread it to places far and wide.
The place is famous for the Buddhist
Peace Pagoda which was built here
in the seventies by Japan Buddha
Sangha and Kalinga Nippon Buddha
Sangha. It is popularly known
as Shanti Stupa.
Konark
Temple :ThThe magnificent Sun
Temple at Konark is the culmination
of Orissan temple architecture,
and one of the most stunning monuments
of religious architecture in the
world.Built by the King Narasimhadeva
in the thirteenth century, the
entire temple was designed in
the shape of a colossal chariot
with seven horses and twentyfour
wheels , carrying the sun god,
Surya, across the heavens. Surya
has been a popular deity in India
since the Vedic period . e magnificent
Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination
of Orissan temple architecture,
and one of the most stunning monuments
of religious architecture in the
world.Built by the King Narasimhadeva
in the thirteenth century, the
entire temple was designed in
the shape of a colossal chariot
with seven horses and twentyfour
wheels , carrying the sun god,
Surya, across the heavens. Surya
has been a popular deity in India
since the Vedic period
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