Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Maa Varahi Temple of Chaurasi: Obscure and Beautiful

    March 6, 2022

    Kalinga War: The Victory of Amity over Violence

    March 6, 2022

    The Battle of Tukaroi: The End of The Bengal Sulanate

    March 6, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
    OdishaLifeStyle
    Subscribe Login
    • Home
    • Locations
      • Hidden Places
    • Culture
      1. Arts and Crafts
      2. Literature
      3. View All

      Pipili: Odisha’s Manual Of Applique Work

      February 8, 2022

      Terracotta and Odisha: Bonding Over Ages

      February 8, 2022

      Stone And Wood Carvings: A Tale Of Inseparable Beauty

      February 8, 2022

      Dhokra And Brassware: The Tribal Souvenirs Of Odisha

      February 8, 2022

      Mukteshwar Temple: Small and yet Significant

      February 8, 2022

      Odia Literature: From The Beginning to Now

      February 8, 2022

      Bande Utkala Janani: From Freedom Movement to State Anthem

      February 8, 2022

      Manoj Das : An Epitome of Odia Literature

      February 8, 2022

      Durga Puja : A Festival of Fervour

      February 9, 2022

      Utkal Divas: The Glorious Day for a United Odisha

      February 9, 2022

      Gotipua Dance: A Mirror to Ethos of Hindu Culture

      February 9, 2022

      Odissi : The Dance That Describes Odisha

      February 9, 2022
    • Events
      • Disaster
    • Editorial
      • Health
    • Food & Drink
    • Personalities
    • Stories
      • Modern History
    • Announcements
    OdishaLifeStyle
    Home»Locations»The Lost Temple of Odisha: Khajureswara Temple
    Locations

    The Lost Temple of Odisha: Khajureswara Temple

    OdishaLifeStyleBy OdishaLifeStyleJanuary 14, 2021Updated:February 5, 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    Idols_in_Khajuresvara_group_of_temples_Sergarh_Balasore_district_Odisha
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    The village of Shergarh, in the Baleswar district of Odisha, is famous for the Khajureswar community of temples of Shiva. Khajureswara Sivalinga, along with Baneswar Shiv Linga from Baleshwer town, is said to have been built by Banasura. A small compound with a cluster of temples has a Khajureswara temple: 3 smaller temples and 2 stupas.

    There are stone idols of Chamunda, Varahi, Kaumari, Maheswari Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Parvati, Virabhadra and Ganesh in the entire Deula complex and a representation of each of the styles of Rekha, Pidha and Khakara. Haraparvati in chloride stone and a Gajalaxmi are the other prominent figures of the Shakti Cult of this area.

    courtesy Wikipedia

    The Temple Complex

    Perched on an elevated plain in Balasore’s Khajurasahi, this temple complex is a prominent place to explore the Kalinga style of architecture’s elegance and symmetry. Some of the idols found in this temple are believed to go back to the time of Somavamshi.

    A four-armed idol of Durga sitting on a lion, identifiable to the 9th-10th centuries A.D. It is currently affixed to one of the outer walls of the temple of Khajureswara, carrying a rosary, sword, trident and lotus.

    The pidha temples of the impoverished Kalingan order are the “Vimana” and “Jagamohana” of the complex. Some of the Hindu deities of the Somavansi period (10th to 11th centuries AD) are housed here. “There are three lingas without Joni Pitha (also referred to as” Yonipitha “or a base) and a circular Joni Pitha without linga (locally referred to as” Patalaphuta, “meaning a deity originating from the crux of the earth).

    Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the sanctuary was built where the idols were built during the 10th and 11th centuries. During the 19th century, local landlord Gangadhara Senapati had it restored. Some of the idols in the current temple are now being worshipped.

    This complex, built in 11 AD during the Vajrayana period of Buddhism, has an exceptional stone base that is currently worshipped as Shiva. The stupa is generally referred to as “Patala phuta” with the shift to Hinduism. Both “Vimana” and “Jagamohana” are pidha temples of the impoverished Kalingan order.

    Some of the Hindu deities of the Somavansi period (10th to 11th centuries AD) are housed here. Without Joni Pitha (Yoni Pitha), there are three lingas and without the linga, there is a circular Joni Pitha.

    One of the deulas of the Khajureshwar complex (courtesy Wikipedia)
    Shivlinga in the new temple (courtesy IGNCA government site)
    The new temple (courtesy IGNCA government site)

    Neglected Monument

    During Shivaratri, the annual “Jagara mela” fair attracts hundreds of thousands of people for a few days. Although the shrine is a popular historical monument and has its place in the National Arts Centre of Indira Gandhi (IGNCA), it is a blind spot on the tourist map and seldom sees a tourist.

    However, the old temple is currently languishing in neglect. For anyone to know about the architectural and historical details, there is not a single sign board in the temple. While every year for the Jagara mela, the new temple gets a makeover, the old one remains untouched to slowly perish. Some of the idols lie outside the temple, although several may have been robbed and sold in the antique market.

    Conclusion

    Even known relatively well locally, the Khajureswara Temple Complex has been forgotten. A lot of the history of the site has been lost due to time, neglect and greed and more looks to be lost if this state of neglect continues. Let us stop this destruction of our cultural heritage by highlighting this site.

    Ancient Balasore Khujureswar Shergarh Shivalinga Temple
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleA Trip to The Unknown
    Next Article Bikramkhol Cave: A Cave Hidden and Preserved in the Arms of Mother Nature
    OdishaLifeStyle
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Maa Varahi Temple of Chaurasi: Obscure and Beautiful

    March 6, 2022

    The Battle of Tukaroi: The End of The Bengal Sulanate

    March 6, 2022

    Bhitarkanika National Park: Native Wildlife and Nature

    March 4, 2022

    Olasuni: The Hill, The Temple & The Fair

    March 4, 2022

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Our Picks
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Don't Miss

    Maa Varahi Temple of Chaurasi: Obscure and Beautiful

    By OdishaLifeStyleMarch 6, 20220

    In Chaurasi, Odisha, there is a temple called Varahi Deula which is an ancient Hindu…

    Kalinga War: The Victory of Amity over Violence

    March 6, 2022

    The Battle of Tukaroi: The End of The Bengal Sulanate

    March 6, 2022

    Manabasa Gurubar: Odisha seeks for Sukh, Shanti and Aishwarya

    March 5, 2022

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

    About Us
    About Us

    Your source for the lifestyle news. This demo is crafted specifically to exhibit the use of the theme as a lifestyle site. Visit our main page for more demos.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: [email protected]
    Contact: +91-94399-xxxxx

    Our Picks
    New Comments
      Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
      • Home
      • Editorial
      • Stories
      • Culture
      © 2022 OdishaLifeStyle. Powered partner OdishaShop.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

      Sign In or Register

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below.

      Lost password?