Isanesvara Siva Temple is a 13th-century ad temple in

Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Odisha. The region, especially the old town, was historically often depicted as ''Ekamra Kshetra'' (area (''kshetra'') adorned with mango trees (''ekamra'')). Bhubaneswar is ...

in the state of

Orissa, India Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

. The time period of its construction is estimated from its architectural features and it is suggests the temple to ganga period. Isanesvara Siva temple is in the Goasagaresvartemple precinct, on the left side of Ratha road (leading from Mausima Chowk to Badheibanka Chowk) old Town, Bhubaneswar. It is west of Lingaraja Temple and one km south of Ananta Vasudev, southwest of Ramesvara temple and northwest of Baitala Deula. The temple is facing towards east. The presiding deity is only a circular yon pitha. The

lingam A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary '' murti'' or devotional ...

is missing. This temple is used for worship. Its cultural, social and historical significances are same as the Gosagaresvara temple. Its associational significance is its usage for public meeting.

Ownership

This temple has multiple ownership and It is taken care by private persons namely Mahendra Garabadu and Bhaga Garabadu. Their residence is at Gosagaresvar Chowk, Old Town, Bhubaneswar.

Physical description

Surrounding

The temple is surrounded by Paradaresvara temple in the west, Gosagaresvara temple in north-west and minor Siva temple in the south-west, Lingarajaa Mandapa in the northern side, and in the eastern side there is a modern compound and across wall there is a paddy field.

Orientation

The temple is facing towards east.

Plan and elevation

On plan, temple is

pancharatha A Hindu temple is a ''pancharatha'' when there are five '' ratha'' (on plan) or ''paga'' (on elevation) on the tower of the temple (generally a ''shikhara''). The rathas are vertical offset projection or facets. The name comes from the sanskri ...

having a square

vimana Vimāna are mythological flying palaces or chariots described in Hindu texts and Sanskrit epics. The "Pushpaka Vimana" of Ravana (who took it from Kubera; Rama returned it to Kubera) is the most quoted example of a vimana. Vimanas are also men ...

with a renovated frontal porch extending towards east. The vimana measures with the porch of . On elevation, the vimana is in rekha order with usual bada, gandi and mastaka measures in height from khura to kalasa. The bada of the vimana has five vertical divisions measuring in height pabhaga (), tala jangha (), bandhana (, upara jangha () and the baranda () in height. The gandi of the vimana above the baranda measuring is distinguished by central raha and a pair of anuratha and kanika pagas on either side of the raha. It is curvilinear spire. The mastaka has components like beki, amlaka. khapuri and kalasa that measures in height.

Raha niche & Parsvadevatas

The parsvadevata niches on three sides uniformly measuring in height, in width and in depth are all empty. Beneath the niches is the plain talagarvika while above the niches is in the urdhvagarvika.

Decorative feature

The base of the gandi above the baranda decorated with a series of miniature rekha deuls surmounted by udyota simha in each raha paga. Doorjamb: The doorjamb is of recent addition made out of the renovation work and beneath the door frame there are two khakhara-mundi niches are found. Lintel: The graha architrave is plain due to renovation.

Property type

The temple has the Rekha deul typology and it is a temple building. Building material: Coarse grained sandstone. Construction techniques: Dry masonry. Style

Kalinga architecture The Kaḷinga architectural style is a style of Hindu architecture which flourished in the ancient Kalinga previously known as Utkal and in present eastern Indian state of Odisha. The style consists of three distinct types of temples: Rekha D ...

Grade (A/B/C)

i) Architecture: B ii) Historic: C iii) Associational:' B iv) Social/Cultural: B

References

* Lesser Known Monuments of Bhubaneswar by Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan ({{ISBN, 81-7375-164-1) * http://ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orkhurda009.pdf Hindu temples in Bhubaneswar 13th-century Hindu temples