Lakhesvara Siva temple is in Bhubaneswar in the Indian state of Orissa. The temple dates from the 13th century AD. The temple faces the east. The enshrining deity is a Siva lingam within a circular yoni-pitha, which is 0.77 m below the chandrasila. The local people are indifferent towards the legends of the temple. It is looked after by the Ganga-Yamuna Sangathana.
Contents
Significance
jalabhisheka etc.
Plan
The temple stands over a low pista measuring 11.80 m in length x 5.70 m in width x 0.43 m in height. The temple is saptaratha with a square vimana and a renovated front porch. The viamana measures 5.40 square m and porch measuring 0.90 m extending towards east. The cella of the temple measures 2.45 square m. The deul is of rekha order with bada, gandi, mastaka measuring 13.05 m in height. The bada has fivefold divisions measuring 3.55 m in height. Pabhaga (0.93 metres) has five mouldings, tala jangha (0.83 m), bandhana with three mouldings (0.27 m), upara jangha (0.87 m) baranda with seven mouldings (0.65 m). The gandi of the temple measuring 6.00 m in height. The mastaka measures 3.50 m in height that consists of beki, amlaka, khapuri and kalasa.
The parsvadevata niches are located on the raha paga of the talajangha on three sides of north, south and west and measure 0.81 m in height x 0.57 metres in width x 0.23 m in depth. The base of the raha niche at the pabhaga portion is decorated with the talagarvika.
The raha niche is surmounted by a bho motif in which a stylized chitya motif is flanked by two women and a conch on either sides. Above it there is the Gajakranta. The beki recess houses Saivite deities above the raha and do-pichha simha above the kanika pagas. The conjunction between the anu ratha and kanika pagas are decorated with a small pagas of lotus design. The raha paga is decorated with series of chaitya design and anuratha paga is decorated with a series of miniature rekha deul as angasikharas. The temple rises ten stories with the kanika accommodating ten bhumi-amlas. The doorjamb is a recent addition and devoid of ornamentation. The graham architrave is also plain. The building material is fine-grained grey sandstone. The construction technique is dry masonry. viii)
The temple's style is Kalingan.
The base of the raha niche at pabhaga portion is decorated with a rekha deul flanked by two vertical pilasters and the conjunction of the pagas decorated with lotus design that renders the temple to be saptaratha.
State of preservation
There are signs of deterioration. Rainwater seepage is evident through cracks in the roof and walls of the superstructure. Cracks appear in the northern wall of the cella. The bada portion in south-west corner of the temple is partly chopped off.