Parashurameshvara (7th century CE) Temple Bhubaneswar


Parashurameshvara Temple www.britannica.com

Parashurameshvara Temple Wikimedia Commons

Parashurameshvara or Parsurameswar (representing Shiva as the lord of Parashurama, one of the avatars of Vishnu) Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha is one among several temples dedicated to lord Shiva. Dating back to the Shailodbhava period between the 7th and 8th centuries CE. (650 CE?), it is built in Nagara style and is incorporated with temple design features of pre-10th century native to this region.

Like all temples of Odisha, Parashurameshvara has all features relevant to a Hindu temple, including the sanctum, called vimana, and a place from where pilgrims view the sanctum, called the jagamohana (hall of worshippers), a bada (the curvilinear spire in the form of a pyramid composed of horizontal planes) over its roof, rising to a height of 40.25 ft (12.27 m). The first ever additional structure called jagamohana was introduced here in this temple. Jaganmohana, rectangular in shape, has trellised windows with slabs of stone sculptures depicting dancers and musicians. Light enters the interior through doors and the latticed windows. Besides, the main deity Lord Shiva, there are stone images of Saptamatrikas, namely, Chamunda, Varahi, Indrani, Vaishnavi, Kaumari, Shivani and Brahmi. (Shakta deities);
first temple to have this feature. This suggests
the builders of this temple Shailodbhavas, were worshippers of Shakta deities that are adorned
on the wall. A notable feature is the presence of
the earliest representation of a six-armed Mahishamardini (Goddess Durga) image. Similarly, Lord Shiva (Nataraja) is represented in various Tandava posture in this temple.

Parashurameshvara Temple Alamy

It is interesting to note that There are grotesque figures of vetalas (ghosts) on the pilasters of jaga mohan and on the faces of vimana of the temple. So are graceful figures of nagas (snake-man) and their female counterparts nagins. They point out the workmanship of the sculptors of by-gone era.

The exact period of construction of this temple is a matter of serious discussion and some historians place the date between 500 and 600 CE and not subsequent to the construction of the Satruguneswar, Bharateswar and Lakshmaneswar temples in the late 7th century. However, most current scholars agree with 7th century date based on the presence of number of planets (grahas) depicted on the door to the inner sanctum. The temple in 1903 underwent major repair work with minor changes in the roof of the inner sanctum, while retaining most of the original structure.

Temples that came up in the later period, had two additional structures namely nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings).

Parashurameshvara Temple is being maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is one of the major tourist attractions in the state of Odisha. Parashuramashtami is a major festival celebrated in this temple on the 8th day of Ashadha (June–July). The festival image of Lingaraj (Utchavamurthi) is taken to Parashurameshvara Temple and feasted.

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