Baitāḷa deuḷa or Vaitāḷa deuḷa () is an 8th-century
Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...
of the typical
Khakara style of the
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 ...
dedicated to Goddess
Chamunda
Chamunda (Sanskrit: चामुण्डा, ISO-15919: Cāmuṇḍā), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother Shakti and is one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses).W ...
located 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 ...
, the capital city of
Odisha, 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 Sch ...
. It is also locally known as ''Tini-mundia deula'' due to the three spires on top of it, a very distinct and unusual feature. The three spires are believed to represent the three powers of the goddess Chamunda - Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali.
Architecture
Baitaḷa Deuḷa Temple’s striking feature is the shape of its sanctuary tower. The semi-cylindrical shape of its roof is a leading example of
Khakhara
Khakhara or Khkhra is a Panchayati Raj, village in Sahabganj, Chandauli District, Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, India."Details of UTTAR PRADESH till Village Panchayat Tier." ''Admin Reports of NPP''. National Panchayat Portal, Panchayat Informatics Di ...
order of temples— which bears an affinity to the
Dravidian Gopuram
A ''gopuram'' or ''gopura'' ( Tamil: கோபுரம், Malayalam: ഗോപുരം, Kannada: ಗೋಪುರ, Telugu: గోపురం) is a monumental entrance tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in the South I ...
of the South Indian temples. Its gabled towers with a row of
Shikhara
''Shikhara'' (IAST: '), a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India, and also often used in Jain temples. A ''shikhara'' over the ''garbhagriha'' chamber ...
s reveals unmistakable signs of southern intrusion.
[D.P.Ghosh, Nirmal Kumar Bose and Y.D.Sharma. ''Designs from Orissan Temples''. P.24] The plan of the deuḷa is oblong and the ''
jagamohana
Jaga mohan or Jagamohan or Jagamohana ( or, ଜଗମୋହନ) is an assembly hall in the Hindu temple architecture, especially in Orissa.
Overview
It is located between the temple entrance and the Garba griha that is to say, the heart of the ...
'' is a rectangular structure, but embedded in each angle is a small subsidiary shrine. Baitala deuḷa boasts of some figures, although executed in relief, are however characterized by delicacy of features and perfect equipoise.
The outer walls are encrusted with panels of Hindu deities, mostly
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
and his consort
Parvati
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
, hunting processions, capturing of wild elephants and the occasional erotic couples.
The facade of the deuḷa above the left of the ''jagamohana'' is dominated by two ''chaitya'' windows—the lower one having a carved figure of the sun god,
Surya
Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a m ...
noted for its facial expression, with
Usha (Dawn) and Pratyusha shooting arrows on either side and with
Aruna in front, driving a chariot of seven horses.
The medallion in the upper ''Chaitya'' window houses a 10-armed
Nataraja
Nataraja () also known as Adalvallaan () is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the divine cosmic dancer. His dance is called Tandava.''Encyclopædia Britannica'' (2015) The pose and artwork are described in many Hindu texts such as the ''T ...
, the dancing form of Shiva. In front of the flat roofed ''Jagamohana'' is a stone post relieved with two Buddha like figures seated in Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana mudra.
Another striking feature is temple's
Tantric associations, marked by eerie carvings in the sanctum. The image enshrined in the central niche, eight armed
Chamunda
Chamunda (Sanskrit: चामुण्डा, ISO-15919: Cāmuṇḍā), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother Shakti and is one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses).W ...
, locally known as Kapaḷini, is the terrifying form of goddess. Thus, Baitāḷa Deuḷa is a
Shakti
In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and rep ...
shrine.
The Deity
The presiding deity,
Chamunda
Chamunda (Sanskrit: चामुण्डा, ISO-15919: Cāmuṇḍā), also known as Chamundeshwari, Chamundi or Charchika, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother Shakti and is one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses).W ...
or Charchika sits on a corpse flanked by a jackal and an owl and decorated with a
garland of skulls. She holds a snake, bow, shield, sword, trident, thunderbolt and an arrow, and is piercing the neck of the demon. The niche is capped by a chaitya window containing seated figures of Shiva and Parvati.
Chamunda is surrounded by a host of other smaller size allied deities carved in the lower parts of the walls, each within a niche separate by a pilaster. The figure on the east wall, to the right of the door, is a skeleton form of
Bhairava
Bhairava (Sanskrit: भैरव ) or Kala Bhairava is a Shaivite and Vajrayāna deity worshiped by Hindus and Buddhists. In Shaivism, he is a powerful manifestation, or avatar, of Shiva associated with annihilation. In Trika system ''Bhairava ...
, the counterpart of Chamunda.
The other, carved on the north wall, rises from ground, having filled his skull-cup with the blood of a person whose severed head lies on the right. On the pedestal is an offering of two more heads on a tray resting on a tripod, flanked by a jackal feasting on the decapitated body on the right and a woman holding a head on the left.
The tantric character of the temple is also marked by the stone post, to which sacrificial offerings were tethered, just in front of the ''jagamohana''. Artificial light is needed to see in the darkness of the interior, though early morning sun lights up the interior.
Gallery
File:Sculptures on Vaital Deul, Bhubaneswar.jpg,
File:Sculpture of Alasa Kanya at Vaital Deul - Feb 2008.jpg, Alasakanya
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 07.jpg, Ganesha
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 01.jpg,
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 08.jpg,
File:Bhuvanesvar1019.jpg, A pediment in one of the sides of the temple depicting Shiva in a sitting position
File:Bhuvanesvar1027.jpg, A pediment on top of two columns and a niche.
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 03.jpg, Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made. It is known as a ''harikāṭha'' or ''jupastambha''.
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 05.jpg, Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made, close-up.
File:Bhuvanesvar1017.jpg, A pediment on one of the sides of the temple.
File:Bhuvanesvar1021.jpg, A close up on the central pediment
File:Bhuvanesvar1022.jpg, Relief detail on Baitala Deula temple with the symbol of Purna Kalasha surrounded by garlands.
File:Bhuvanesvar25.jpg, A double pediment depicting a dancing Shiva
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 28.jpg, Inscription on outer right wall in Odia script. It reads 'ସ୍ରୀକାସୀପ୍ତୀ ସ୍ରଣ' (transliteration : ''sri kasīptī sraṇa'') in old Odia which means 'I seek shelter at the feet of the Lord of Kashi Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
File:Bhuvanesvar1026.jpg, Several pediments at one side of the temple.
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 11.jpg,
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 09.jpg,
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 06.jpg, Parvati
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 20.jpg, Ardhanarishwara
File:Baitala Deula Bhubaneswar 23.jpg, Alasakanya
See also
*
Varahi Deula, Chaurasi
Barahi Deula (Odia:ବାରାହୀ ଦେଉଳ) is an ancient 9th century built temple situated on the eastern coast of Odisha in Puri district,India. The barahi temple of Chaurasi is unique in more than one way. The image enshrined in this ...
*
List of temples in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital city of Odisha, India. It was the ancient capital of the Kalinga Empire and the architectural legacy of the period is its greatest attraction. There are many sites in the city that testify the importance of the regio ...
Footnotes
External links
The chamunda templeMore pictures on Vaital deuḷaVaitala Deula (Teeni Mundia Deula)
{{Shakti temples in Orissa
Hindu temples in Bhubaneswar
Shakti temples
9th-century Hindu temples