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{{short description|Temple in Huma, India with a leaning tower}}
{{About|Leaning temple of Huma||Huma (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = The Leaning Temple of Huma
| map_type = India Odisha
| map_caption = Location in Odisha
| coordinates = {{Coord|21|16|50|N|83|54|44|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = Huma Gudi
| image = Huma SBP.jpg
| caption = Main temple in Huma
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Odisha]]
| district = [[Sambalpur]]
| locale = Huma near [[Sambalpur]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Lord Shiva|Shiva]]
| festivals= Shivratri
| architecture = [[Kalinga Architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 1660–1788
| creator =
| website =
}}

The '''Leaning Temple of Huma''' in [[India]] is one of only two leaning temples in the world.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sajnani|first1=Manohar|title=Encyclopaedia of tourism resources in India|date=2001|publisher=Kalpaz Pub.|location=New Delhi|isbn=8178350181|page=266}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kishore|first1=author, B.R.|title=India : a travel guide|date=2008|publisher=Fusion Books|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-8128400674|page=333|edition=Rev.}}</ref> It is located in Huma, a village situated on the bank of the [[Mahanadi River|Mahanadi]], 23 km south of [[Sambalpur]] in the Indian state of [[Odisha, India|Odisha]]. The temple is dedicated to the [[Hindu]] god [[Lord Bimaleshwar]].

It is not known if this structure is leaning by design or for another reason. Although the [[edifice]] leans, the [[pinnacle]] of the temple is perpendicular to the ground.

==Architecture==
[[File:Huma, Sambalpur.jpg|thumb|Natural Scenery near Huma]]

The Bhairavi Devi temple is situated to the left of the main temple, and the Bhairo temple is situated to the right of the main temple. According to historical records, Ganga Vamsi Emperor Anangabhima Deva-III built this temple. The temple was rebuilt or renovated by King Baliar Singh (1660–1690 A.D.), the fifth [[Chauhan]] king of Sambalpur. The rest of the temples were built during the rule of King Ajit Singh (1766–1788 A.D.) of Sambalpur.<ref name="sambalpur_nic">{{cite web |url=http://sambalpur.nic.in/turist_spots.htm |title=Tourist Spots in Sambalpur District |publisher=Sambalpur.nic.in |access-date=2 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716023453/http://sambalpur.nic.in/turist_spots.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="panda_1996">(Panda, 1996:34–35; Pasayat, 1990:20–23; Senapati and Mahanti, 1971:51,526)</ref>

[[File:Huma 01.jpg|thumb|Bimaleswar temple, Huma]]
[[File:Kudo fishes in the river Mahanadi.jpg|thumb|right|'Kudo' Fish at the river bank. They eat edibles from visitors' hands.]]

The temple is positioned on a rocky outcrop on the bank of the river Mahanadi. The reason for the leaning cannot be assumed to have been technical flaws at the time of construction. It is also not an easily acceptable idea that a weak foundation might have caused the leaning of the temple. There may perhaps have been interior displacement of the rocky bed on which it stands, either due to flood currents in the river Mahanadi, or earthquakes.

The plinth of the temple has deviated slightly from its original arrangement, and as a result, the body of the temple has tilted. This tilt has fascinated historians, sculptors and other researchers. The surprising thing is that the main temple is tilted in one direction, whereas the other small temples are tilted in other directions. Within the temple complex i.e. within the boundaries of temple, everything is in a tilted condition, including the boundaries themselves, and the villagers and priests says that the angle of inclination has not changed over last 40 or 50 years. The tilt may be due to a geological reason; the underlying rock may be uneven in structure. The angle of inclination of the tilt is 13.8 degrees.

==Legend==
The worship of Shiva is said to have been initiated by a milkman, who crossed the Mahanadi daily to a place on the bank where the underlying rock cropped out. Here he offered his dole of milk, which was immediately consumed by the rock. This miraculous circumstance led to inquiries, which ended in the construction of the present temple.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianfolklore.org/journals/index.php/Lok/article/view/763/977 |title=Article Download |publisher=Indianfolklore.org |access-date=2 September 2010}}</ref>

==Annual fair==
An annual fair takes place at the foothill of the temple in March every year on [[Shivratri]]. This fair attracts a huge crowd which includes foreign visitors. The Government of Odisha has proposed a hanging bridge to attract more tourists to the annual fair.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hanging Bridge at Leaning Temple in Huma Proposed to Woo Tourists|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Hanging-Bridge-at-Leaning-Temple-in-Huma-Proposed-to-Woo-Tourists/2014/06/23/article2295368.ece|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=23 June 2014}}</ref> There is a special type of fish found here known as 'Kudo' fish; they are frequently fed by visitors. It is believed that anyone to catch the Kudo fish turns into stone by a curse, there is a stone statue of a woman at the temple who is cutting one of the Kudo fishes, it is said that she became stone by getting affected by the curse.
<ref name="sambalpur_nic"/><ref name="panda_1996"/>

==See also==
* [[List of leaning towers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2013/Feb-Mar/engpdf/90-92.pdf Leaning Temple of Huma]

{{Shiva temples in Odisha}}
{{Western Odisha}}
{{Hindu temples in Odisha|West Odisha}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Odisha]]
[[Category:Inclined towers]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1690]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1690]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Sambalpur district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Sambalpur]]
[[Category:1690 establishments in Asia]]

Leaning Temple of Huma - Revision history

>Citation bot at 20:03, 15 February 2021