Bhubaneswar Mohini Temple, Odisha

Address

Bhubaneswar Mohini Temple, 1567, Rath Rd, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002, India

Diety

Shiva Amman: Parvati

Introduction

Mohini Temple is situated a very short distance from Markandeshwar Temple on the southern bank of Bindu Sagar tank. The two temples are very similar in terms of plan, but here the exterior of the temple is extremely plain. The exterior of the temple has five niche images (known as Parsvadevta in Odisha), housing images of Ganesha, Kartikeya, Parvati, Duga (damaged), and another unidentified deity. The temple is thought to date to sometime in the 9th century A.D, with outlines of planned carvings suggesting that it was left unfinished. Similar evidence of this can be seen at the nearby Vaital (Baitala) Deula Temple, although there a considerable amount of the carvings had been completed before the project was abandoned. Locals insist that the temple was built by Mohini Devi, queen of Sivakara II of the Bhauma (Kara) dynasty, but it’s unlikely, earlier temple built by Queen Mohini didn’t once stand here. The presiding deity is a ten armed Chamunda in tantric form, standing on a corpse wearing a garland of skulls and with a sunken belly.