Bharati Matha, Talesvara Shiva Temple, Odisha

Address

Bharati Matha, Talesvara Shiva Temple near Bindu Sagar Temple, Khurda Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002, India

Diety

Talesvara Amman: Bharati Matha

Introduction

Located in Badheibanka Chowk in Bhubaneswar old city just 400m north-west of Lingaraj Temple, Bharati Matha is a three storeyed Hindi monastery built in the 11th century A.D. and is one of the oldest temple in the city. One can approach the Matha on the left side of Ratha road leading from Lingaraja to Ramesvara Goswami is the present Mahanta of the Matha. It is one of the oldest Hindu temple of Bhubaneswar. Jamesvara Patna road in south, private buildings in north and Bhrukutesvara temple in west. The Matha is facing towards the west. Pipal trees and Asoka trees are found on the outer wall of the Matha& Talesvara temple on the northern and southern sides. In the southern side of the entrance there is a cluster of nine small temples and a few detached sculptures and temple fragments kept within a small compound, behind the Matha shrine of Talesvara Siva temple. The most interesting set of structures in the complex could be easily missed, hiding behind the Talesvara Temple immediately south of the Matha. These shrines have been erected upon the burial of the deceased Mahantas, which was an interesting and important Matha tradition in the past.