>Paul H. at 01:22, 6 May 2019

2019-05-06T01:22:45Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Orphan|date=January 2012}}

{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Kukutesvara Siva Temple
| image = KukutesvaraSivaTemple.jpg
| map_type = India Orissa
| map_caption = Location in Orissa
| coordinates = {{coord|21|15|0|N|85|49|30|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Orissa, India|Orissa]]
| district =
| locale = [[Bhubaneswar]]
| elevation_m = 22
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Kalinga Architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 10th century CE
}}

The '''Kukutesvara Siva Temple''' or '''Kukutesvara Temple''' is a small, 1000-year-old shrine to [[Shiva]] located in the "Temple City of India" [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Orissa, India|Orissa]].

== History ==

The Kukutesvara Siva temple was constructed during the rule of the [[Somavamsi dynasty]] in approximately 975–1000 CE.<ref name="IGNCA">{{cite web|url=http://www.ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orkhurda105.pdf|title=Documentation for Archaeological Sites; Kukutesvara Siva Temple, Doc No. OR / KDA/ BSR- 101|last=Pradhan|first=Sadasiba|publisher=[[Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]]|accessdate=28 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="BKR">{{cite book|last=Rath|first=Bijaya Kumar|title=Cultural history of Orissa, A.D. 855-1110|publisher=Sundeep Prakashan|year=1983|pages=23|oclc=10637166}}</ref>

Local legends associate the temple with the [[Kesari dynasty]] (see [[East India]] for context). Located in the Tinimundia chowk which is in the old part of the city, the temple faces eastwards. The principal deity is a ''[[Lingam|Shivalingam]]'' resting on a circular ''[[Yoni#Linga-yoni|yonipitha]]'' facing north. The temple continues to be in use and is managed by two priests with events and rituals including [[Sankranti]] and [[abhisheka]] being observed.<ref name="Pradhan">{{cite book|last=Pradhan|first=Sadasiba|title=Lesser known monuments of Bhubaneswar|publisher=Lark Books|year=2009|isbn=978-81-7375-164-6|oclc=631660537}}</ref>

== Construction and statues ==

The main sanctum or [[Vimana (architectural feature)|vimana]] of the temple is square, its sides measuring 2.1 metres long; it is 3.8 metres high. The vimana is of old construction while the peripheral jagamohana (entrance hallway) is more recent. The jagamohana is rectangular with sides of 42.6 metres and 26.0 metres. The door to the main sanctum is located on the east and is only 1.16 metres high and 0.5 metres wide. The door lintel includers carvings of the [[navagraha]]s, all seated on a lotus. The three other sides of the vimana include ''parsadevata rahas'' (niches).

The southern raha houses a four-armed [[Ganesha]] holding a [[japamala]] (prayer beads) in the upper right arm, a [[laddu]] in the upper left arm and a knife in the lower left arm.

The western raha houses [[Kartikeya]] (a name of the deity Murugan) who holds his lower right arm in [[Mudra#Varada Mudr.C4.81|Varada Mudra]], a trident and knife in his upper arms and resting his other arm on his mount, a [[peacock]].

The final raha, located in the north, belongs to Shiva's consort [[Parvati]]. The deity in this raha, unlike the others, is a more modern addition.

The temple is constructed in typical [[Kalinga Architecture|Kalingan]] style using fine-grained ochreous sandstone and dry masonry.<ref name="IGNCA" /><ref name="Pradhan" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Odisha]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Bhubaneswar]]
[[Category:10th-century Hindu temples]]

{{hindu-temple-stub}}

Kukutesvara Siva Temple - Revision history

>Paul H. at 01:22, 6 May 2019