->Gardenkur at 03:46, 9 November 2021

2021-11-09T03:46:04Z

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{{Infobox Hindu temple
|name = Maa Kichakeshwari Temple
|image = Khiching Temple.jpg
|caption =
|map_type =
|coordinates_footnotes=
|map_caption = Location in Orissa
|country = {{IND}}
|state = [[Odisha]]
|district = [[Mayurbhanj District|Mayurbhanj]]
|location = [[Khiching]]
|elevation_m =
|elevation_footnotes =
|deity = Maa Kichakeshwari Debi
|architecture = Temple built from Black Stone<br>[[Kalinga Architecture]]
|temple_quantity =2
|monument_quantity =
|inscriptions =
|year_completed = 920-926 A.D.
|creator = [[Bhanja dynasty|Bhanja rulers]]
|temple_board =
|website =
}}

'''Kishakeshwari Temple''' ({{lang-or|କୀଚକେଶ୍ଵରୀ ମନ୍ଦିର}}) is temple of [[Hindu]] Goddess [[Chamunda]] alias [[Kali]] located in [[Khiching]], which was the ancient capital of the [[Bhanja dynasty|Bhanja rulers]], located about 205 km from [[Balasore]] and 150 km from [[Baripada]] in the [[Mayurbhanj district]] of north [[Odisha, India|Odisha]], India .<ref name=h>[http://www.hindubooks.org/templesofindia/sarvam_sakti_mayam/bengal/khiching.htm KHICHING - KICHAKESWARI SHRINE]</ref><ref name=i>[http://ignca.nic.in/asp/all.asp?projectid=ormyb0090001 Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts - Khiching - Kichakesvari Temple.]</ref>

==History==
The largest temple of the town is dedicated to Goddess Kichakeswari, the family goddess of the ruling chiefs of [[Mayurbhanj]]. The Goddess Kiscakeshwari was not only which was not only [[Iṣṭa-deva(tā)|ishtadevata]] of [[Bhanj dynasty]] but also the State deity.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tribal polities and state systems in pre-colonial eastern and north eastern India by Surjit Sinha|year=1987|publisher=Published for Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta, by K.P. Bagchi & Co., 1987|page=41|url=https://books.google.com/?id=S4E_AAAAMAAJ&dq=Mayurbhanj+Palace&q=Kichakeshwari#search_anchor|isbn=9788170740148}}</ref> The original temple dates back to 7th or 8th Century, with repairs done over the centuries.

The main temple opens to devotees early at 5 a.m. and closes down at 10 pm. It, however, remains closed between 12 noon to 3 pm.

===Architecture===
The temple, made of [[Chlorite group|chlorite]], is architecturally brilliant and well carved from its outer surface. This temple is one of the most impressive temple of [[Kalinga architecture]]. The style of the temple is contemporary of the [[Brahmeshvara temple|Brahmeshwara]] and the [[Lingaraj temple]]s of [[Bhubaneswar]]. Height of the temple is {{convert|100|ft}} and total area is {{convert|1764|ft2}}.

The original temple was built somewhere in the 7th or the 8th century old and was in bad shape as it had fallen in hands of vandals. However, the erstwhile and last ruler of [[Mayurbhanj State|Princely State of Mayurbhanj]], [[Maharaja]] [[Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo]] was appalled of its state. He rehabilitated and reconstructed the temple in the year 1934 spending an approximate amount of [[Indian Rupee|Rs.]] 85,000, taking care not to disturb original sculptures of [[Parasvadevata]]s, the [[Chaitya|Chaitya arches]], the [[Erotic sculpture|amorous couples]], the scroll works and the [[wikt:arabesque|arabesque]]s, which can still be seen in the original portions of the temple.

The temple is made up of black chlorite which faces towards the east and consists of [[Vimana|rekha vimana]] and stands over a high platform of 1.20 meters. The interior is single roomed where the Goddess deity is present and worshipped. The exteriors of temple is highly decorated, with magnificent sculptors like nayakas, [[Nāga|naga-nagin]], [[Ganesha]], [[Kirtimukha]], [[Khakharamundi]] and other divine god and goddess. The huge pillars sculpted with [[Nāginī|Nagin]] are unique heritage of this temple.<ref name=i/>

Inside the complex there is a well preserved brick structure known as ''Itamundhi''.

===Iconography===
The shrine contains a large ten-armed fearsome skeletal image of [[Chamunda]]-[[Kali]] with striking veins, ribs and sunken belly, wearing a garland of [[human skull|skull]]s and seated over a dead body.

==Museum==
The Khiching Museum is the second oldest museum in the state of Odisha.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140106/jsp/odisha/story_17754256.jsp#.Vn_iJFn_Hrs|title=History meets nature at Khiching|work=The Telegraph|access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref>
During the time of excavation by [[Archaeological Survey of India]] in the year 1908 several images of gods and goddess where found including the images of [[Buddha]]. These are preserved in a museum housed within the temple compound, which was constructed by Maharaja Purna Chandra Bhanjdeo in the year 1922.

The museum has the life-size excavated idols of [[Durga]], [[Ganesha]], Parsvanatha, [[Tara (Devi)|Tara]], [[Parvati]], Ardhanageswar, [[Vaishnavi (deity)|Vaishnavi]], [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]], [[Kartikeya]], Avalokiteswar, [[Buddha|Dhyani Buddha]], [[Mahishasuramardini]], [[Uma (goddess)|Uma]], [[Shiva|Maheshwara]] and female devotees on display. The museum has exhibits like the copper and iron implements, terracotta figurines, seals, ornaments, potteries, coins, stone tools and various fragments of the temples. The courtyard of the museum has several sculpted parts of ancient temples on display in open.<ref name=i/>

The presence of Buddha and [[Avalokiteśvara]] idols suggest, a commendable amalgamation of religion and culture. It mirrors the refined religious tolerance exercised by the rulers, as far back as in the 10th century AD.<ref name=h/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Kechakeshari temple sin test bar.jpg|
Shiv-parvati (khiching mbj).jpg|
Kechakeshari temple besides.jpg
Kechakeshari temple art1.jpg
Kechakeshari temple museum.jpg
Kechakeshari temple khiching mbj.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category inline|Kichakeshwari Temple}}

{{Shakti temples in Odisha}}
{{Coord|21.553|N|85.495|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Mayurbhanj district]]
[[Category:Kali temples]]

Kichakeshwari Temple - Revision history

->Gardenkur at 03:46, 9 November 2021