Bhubaneswar Nilakanthesvara Temple – Odisha

Address

Bhubaneswar Nilakanthesvara Temple – Odisha

Bindu Sagar Rd, Old Town,

Bhubaneswar,

Odisha 751002

Moolavar

Nilakanthesvara

Introduction

The Nilakanthesvara Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a place of religious and historical significance. The Nilakanthesvara Temple is situated on the western embankment of the Bindusagar tank, which is a significant water body in Bhubaneswar. It is located to the left side of the lane branching from the road leading from Kedar Gouri chowk to the Vaitala Deula.

Puranic Significance

Construction History: The present temple is a recent construction built over the remains of an earlier temple. The original temple is believed to have been constructed in the 10th century CE during the reign of the Somavanshi Kings. The architectural features and iconography of the Parsvadevatas (deities in niches on the temple’s exterior) are indicative of its historical context.
Orientation: The Nilakanthesvara Temple faces east, which is a common orientation for Hindu temples, allowing worshippers to offer their prayers facing the rising sun.
Architecture: The temple is primarily made of sandstone, a common building material for many ancient temples in Odisha. It follows a pidha Deula style of architecture, characterized by the superstructure rising in multiple stories with a pyramid-like shape. The vimana (main sanctuary) has a square plan and a triratha (three projections) on plan and triangabada (pyramidal roof) in elevation.
Presiding Deity: Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of the temple, and he is worshipped in the form of a Shiva Lingam, a sacred symbol representing Lord Shiva’s divine energy. Devotees offer their prayers to seek blessings from Lord Nilakanthesvara.
Parsvadevatas: The temple features niches on its exterior walls that house images of deities. In the southern raha niche, there is a four-armed Ganesha standing on a lotus pedestal. In the western raha niche, there is a four-armed Kartikeya, also standing on a lotus pedestal. These deities are important figures in Hindu mythology and are often associated with Lord Shiva’s family.
Gajalakshmi Panel: Above the entrance lintel, there is a Gajalakshmi panel depicting the goddess seated in lalitasana (a relaxed posture). She is four-armed, holding a lotus in her left hand and making Varadamudra (a gesture of granting boons) with her right hand.

Festivals

Sankranti and Shivarathri are the festivals celebrated here with much fanfare. Rituals of Sradha, Rudrabhiseka, mangula, marriage and thread ceremonies are observed here.