Orissa Review July - 2010

Narasimha Temple at

Ratnakar Mohapatra

Introduction Natamandapa. All the structures within the The temple of Narasimha is one of ancient premises are thickly plastered in lime mortar and painted in colours. The temple is built in sand Vaishnava Shrines of Puri. It is situated near the stones, locally called as Baulamala pathara. northeast boundary wall of the famous Gundicha temple. The shrine is found mentioned in the A. Vimana Skanda Purana to be existing while Indradyumna The Vimana of the Narasimha temple is 1 had visited the place. Indradyumna is stated to a Pancharatha Rekha deula and its height is about have built a temple for Narasimha and to have 60 feet from the ground of the temple.5 Dr. B.K. installed the deity therein with the help of sage Rath has mentioned that the height of the temple 2 Narada. Pandita Surya Narayan Das has also is about 35 feet from the surface of the temple referred that before the emergence of Chaturdha complex.6 The structure of the Vimana has four murtis, king lndradyumna had installed this God vertical divisions viz. pistha or plinth, bada or wall, and performed thousands of Asvamedha yajnas Gandi or sikhara and mastaka. The base of the in this place (Narasimha temple).3 For this reason, structure is square of 17 feet on each side. The this Narasimha is popularly known as µYajna- Vimana is raised on a high plinth of 4 feet. There Narasimha.4 An elevated place has been levelled are no decorative elements in it. The bada of the for erection of the main temple and its two front Vimana is panchanga type i.e. having five apartments. The surface of the temple complex is component parts such as pabhaga, talajangha, about 3 feet high from the road level. The area bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. All the around the temple complex has been enclosed component parts of the bada are devoid of by high masonry walls with provision of a series decorative ornamentations except the baranda of steps for entry into the premises of the western which contains three jhapasimhas: one on each side. The temple faces to west. side of the southern, eastern and northern of the Architectural features of the temple: Vimana respectively. The temple of Narasimha consists of three Parsvadevatas: structures such as the Vimana, the Jagamohana The three sides central niches of the bada and the Natamandapa. The main temple is a of Vimana house the images of Varaha, Trivikrama Pancharatha Rekha deula, which is fronted by a (Vamana) and Vishnu as the Parsvadevatas of the pyramidal Jagamohana and a rectangular main presiding deity. The Parsvadevatas are

72 Orissa Review July - 2010 housed with small nisha shrines projecting out from installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. the walls. The image of Varaha is the Parsvadevata According to Prof. T.E. Donaldson, the image of the southern side. The four handed image of on the backside central niche is Vishnu rather than Varaha is installed in standing pose holding the Narasimha who is enshrined in the sanctum.8 Old uplifted left arm of Prithivi with his major right priests of the temple trace it as the image of hand and then hoisting her up on the elbow of his Narayana. Here the image of deity assumes a left upper hand. He holds Chakra in his uplifted Samabhanga pose. He holds gada and lotus in back right upper hand while his lower left hand his upper two hands, which are uplifted in a holds a conch above Goddess Prithvi. The right symmetrical fashion. The lower two hands are lower hand of deity is completely broken. The completely broken. Sridevi and Bhudevi are backside head of the deity is relieved with a full- flanked on either side of deity with holding flowers blown lotus flower with stalk. A nagi figure with in their hands. The background slab of the deity hands in anjali mudra is carved on the pedestal is decorated with trefoil makara head arch and rather than between the legs of Varaha in the Kirtimukha motif at the apex. Two flying conventional manner. Two flying apsara figures apsara figures are depicted on the both side top are carved on the both sides top corners of the corners of the slab. On the basis of sculptural slab. They display flowers and garlands in their features, R.P. Mohapatra has referred that all the hands. The background slab of deity is decorated Parsvadevatas of Narasimha temple are the with trefoil makara head arch crowned by the workmanship of the early medieval period.9 kirtimukha motif. The curvilinear superstructure is The Parsvadevata on the northern side surmounted on the gandi of Vimana. It displays niche is Trivikrama or Vamana. The four handed five pagas or pilasters to outwards. The gandi of image of Trivikrama has been installed on the double the main shrine is bereft of figure sculptures and petalled lotus pedestal. He holds gada in right upper decorative designs except however the projecting hand, lotus flower in right lower hand, chakra in lions on central raha paga of all directions. Other left upper hand and conch in left lower hand four pagas are completely plain. Dopichha simhas respectively. Figures of Sridevi and Bhudevi are have been fixed on the top of kanika pagas of the flanked on either side of deity. The right leg of deity gandi. Garuda figures are also inserted in the four is set firmly on the ground and another uplifted left cardinal directions of the beki above rahas. Both foot touches the image of Brahma. Beneath his the figures of lion and Garuda are acting as the uplifted leg is a scene of Bali who is presenting the supporting elements of the amalakasila of the gift to Vamana while Sukracharya lifts his hands up mastaka. in dismay. The backside head of the deity is decorated with trefoil Makara head arch, which is The mastaka of the Vimana consists of surmounted by the Kirtimukha motif. µThere is a usual components of Orissan Rekha deula such Vidyadhara figure depicted on the right side top as the beki, the amalakasila, the khapuri, the corner of the slab. Prof. K.S.Behera and T.E. kalasa, the ayudha (Nila chakra) and the dhvaja. Donaldson have referred that the image can be The sanctum preserves a remarkable 7 dated to the late 13th century AD. image of Lakshmi-Narasimha as the presiding The image of Vishnu is the Parsvadevata deity of the temple. The deity is installed on a of the eastern or backside central niche of the high masonry simhasana of 6 feet in height and 4 bada. The four handed image of Vishnu has been feet in width.10 The height of the deity is 5 feet

73 Orissa Review July - 2010 and it is made of black chlorite.11 He displays of Jaya and Vijaya, the two legendary chakra in right upper hand, conch in left upper doorkeepers of Vishnu are finely carved at the hand and another two lower hands are stretched base of the jambs. over his knees. The image is designed seated in B. Jagamohana or Mukhasala yogasana with both legs crossed and tied near the knee. Devi Lakshmi has been installed on the The Jagamohana of the Narasimha temple left lap of Narasimha. The pedestal of the is a pancharatha pidha deula and its height is about 16 presiding deity is richly carved with scroll works, 50 feet from the ground of the temple. The flower designs and Garuda figures. The structure of the Jagamohana is also raised on the background slab of the deity is finely decorated high plinth of 4 feet and its base is square of 15 with trefoil makara head arch. Here the deity feet on each side. The bada is panchanga type i.e. having five component parts such as pabhaga, Narasimha is in calm posture. The artistic finish talajangha, bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. and iconographic peculiarity of the image take us All the components of bada are completely plain back to the time of the Ganga period.12 The deity and plastered by lime mortar. The southern side was very likely installed at Puri by Chodaganga central paga of the bada is fixed with a balustraded Deva who is said to have introduced the system window. The balusters of this window are relieved of Narasimha worship in Orissa.13 Prof. T.E. with dancing female figures (playing on various Donaldson has referred that the image is in a musical instruments), salabhanjikas, alasakanyas symmetrical fashion similar to the image at 17 14 and gajasimha motifs of much later workmanship. Nuapatna. R.P. Mohapatra has also identified The gavaksha mandana portions of the northern that a similar Lakshmi- Narasimha image is still and southern sides of bada are relieved with some noticed in the premises of the Ganga Mandira of decorative elements in its surface. A large panel 15 town. Besides the presiding deity on the left side gavaksha mandana of the (Narasimha), there is another Narasimha image Jagamohana represents three mounted elephants also kept in the backside of the presiding deity. on the march. The king is sitting on an elephant The image is not Lakshmi- Narasimha but here and one mounted is holding parasol on the head the deity (Narasimha) is in ferocious form. of the king. Most probably, it is the depiction of Because the lower two hands of deity are the scene of royal tour of Puri king. engaged to take out the entrails of Hiranyakashyapu, the demon. This backside deity The pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the gandi of Jagamohana. It is not appeared from the front. The inner walls of consists of two potalas; the lower and the upper the sanctum are devoid of decorative potalas, which contain six and five pidhas ornamentations. respectively. The middle portion of each potala is The sanctum has one doorway towards projected with jhapa-simha in all sides of the the Jagamohana. The jambs of the doorway are gandi. The recess or the kanthi between the two embellished with the floral motifs, creepers, potalas are filled with decorative female figures nagabandhas and scroll works. Now it is partly and the different scenes of Lord Krishna. covered by China plates. The image of Gaja- Dopichha lions have been fixed on the top of Lakshmi is finely carved on the center of the kanika pagas of the gandi. Deula Charini figures doorway lintel. The Navagrahas are carved on are finely inserted in the four cardinal directions the architrave above the doorway lintel. Figures of the beki above rahas.

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The mastaka of the Jagamohana consists ayudha (chakra) and dhvaja Two jhapasimhas are of beki, ghanta (bell shaped members) above projected on the northern and southern sides of which there is another beki, amalakasila, khapuri, the Kalasa respectively. kalasa, ayudha (chakra) and dhvaja. The eastern side doorjamb of the The inner walls of the Jagamohana are Natamandapa is depicted with paintings of lotus completely plain. The Jagamohana has one petalled designs, flower medallions and other floral doorway on the west towards the Natamandapa. designs. Sankha and chakra are carved on the The doorjambs of the western side doorway of architrave above the doorway lintel of the east. the Mukhasala are relieved with flower medallions, Other doorways of the Natamandapa are creepers with the frolicking boys and the flower completely plain. designs. The figures of Jaya and Vijaya are carved at the base of the doorjambs and they are acting There is a Garuda pillar or sthambha as the dvarapalas of the mukhasala. placed in the eastern side inner floor of the Natamandapa. The pillar is circular in section and The sandhisthala between the its height is approximately 4 feet 6 inches.19 The Jagamohana and the Natamandapa is covered by image of Garuda is installed in kneeling posture a small pidha deula and its height is about 20 feet on the top of it. The eastern side inner wall niche from the surface of the temple complex. The of the Natamandapa contains an image of pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the Narayana. The four handed image of Narayana gandi of the sandhisthala structure. It has no has been installed on the plain pedestal. He is mastaka on the top of the upper pidha. This carved in seated posture and his upper two hands structure has three doorways; the western leading display chakra and conch and the lower two hands to the Natamandapa, the eastern to the are joined in anjali mudra (japa posture). Jagamohana and the northern to the outside. Inner walls of this structure are completely plain. Boundary wall: C. Natamandapa The temple complex is enclosed by a boundary wall of 4½ feet in height from the road The Natamandapa of the Narasimha level. It is made of both laterite and burnt bricks. temple is a pidha deula and its height is about 35 The top of the boundary wall is decorated with feet from the ground of the temple.18 It stands on the plinth of 2 feet in height. The base of the serrated battlements. The boundary wall of the Natamandapa is rectangular in size and it measures temple is rectangular and it measures 100 feet in 40 feet in length and 15 feet in width. The bada is length on the northern and southern sides and 70 also panchanga type i.e. having five components feet in width on the eastern and western sides 20 such as pabhaga, talajangha, bandhana, upper respectively. In the southwest corner of inner jangha and baranda. All the components of µbada¶ side temple complex is occupied by a Tulasi are devoid of decorative ornamentations. It has chaunra. There is only one entrance porch in the four doorways; one on each direction. The western side of the boundary wall. The pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the hemispherical arch is surmounted on the entrance gandi of Natamandapa. It consists of three flat- porch of the temple. Two jhapasimhas on shaped pidhas. All the elements of mastaka are croachant elephants are finely projected on the not found from the upper pidha of the gandi. The both sides ground of the entrance porch. They mastaka has only three elements, such as Kalasa, are acting as the gatekeepers of the temple.

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There is an image of Mahavir Hanumana point of view, this temple is one of the notable closely installed in the right side wall of the Vaishnava shrines of Orissa. entrance porch (western side). The image is 4 References: feet in height and it displays gada in right hand 1. Skanda, Purana: Utkala Khanda. Chapter- 15: and huge rock (gandhamardana mountain) in left Vs-8. Calcutta, 1911, hand respectively. This image is housed in a small 2. Ibid, Chapter-16: Vs 21-22. 36-37. shrine of pidha order structure. 3. Pt. S.N. Das. Sri Jagannatha Mandir O Date of the temple: Jagannatha Tatwa (Oniya). Cuttak, 1966, p.314. 4. G.C. Tripathy, Srikshetra Shrimandira Shri Porf. T.E. Donaldson has referred that the Jagannatha (Oriya), , 1996, p.185. Narasimha temple near the Gundicha temple of Puri 5. Pt. H.H. Mohapatra, ³Sri Yajna Narasimha 21 can be dated to the late 13th century AD. R. P. Deva´, in B. Mishra (ed). Srikshetrar Mohapatra has also mentioned that the temple was Devadevi, vol.1. Puri. 2003. p.39. erected in the Ganga period of Orissa history.22 6. B.K. Ratha(ed). The Forgotten Monuments of B.K. Ratha has referred that the Lakshmi- Orissa. Vol.3. New Delhi, 1990. p.220. Narasimha temple near Gundicha temple was 7. K.S. Behera & T.E. Donaldson, Sculptures constructed during the 14th century AD.23 J.B. Masterpieces from Orissa, Style and Padhi opines that the Narasimha temple located Iconography, New Delhi. 1998. p.137. near Gundicha temple is an ancient Vaishnava shrine 8. T.E. Donaldson. Art of Orissa, of Puri.24 On the basis of available sculptures and Vol.II. Leiden. 1985, p.703. the architectural style, the construction period of 9. R.P. Mohapatra, Archaeology in Orissa; sites and monuments, vol.1, New Delhi, 1986, p.175. the temple can be tentatively assigned to the 2nd 10. Pt H. H. Mohapatra. Op-cit, p.40. half of the 13th century AD. The Ganga ruler of 11. Ibid, Also see R.C. Mishra, Purusottama Orissa built this temple. kshetra, Puri. 2003. p.175. Its relation with Jagannatha temple: 12. R.P. Mohapatra. Op-cit, p.175. Narasimha, the presiding deity of the 13. Ibid. temple is related to the rituals of temple. 14. T.E. Donaldson, Op-cit, p.703. During festivals, flower garlands (ajnamalas) are 15. R.P. Mohapatra, Op-cit, p.175. taken from Jagannatha and are kept here. This 16. Pt. H.H. Mohapatra. Op-cit, p.39. temple has also connected with the Navakalevara 17. R.P. Mohapatra. Op-cit, p.176. ceremony of Lord Jagannatha. Now a local 18. Pt. H.H. Mohapatra. Op-cit, p.39. committee is managing the temple. 19. Ibid. p.40. 20. Ibid, p.39. Thus, it is known from the above 21. T.E. Donaldson, Op-cit, 1985. p.703. discussion that the temple of Narasimha is an 22. R.P. Mohapatra, Op-cit, p.175. ancient Vaishnava Shrine where king lndradyumna 23. B.K.Ratha (ed) Op-cit, p.220. performed thousands of Asvamedha Yajnas. On 24. J.B. Padhi, Op-cit, p.55. the basis of architectural style and sculptural features, the temple was constructed during the Ganga period of Orissa history. Although from Ratnakar Mohapatra is a ICHR Junior Research Fellow, the architectural point of view, the temple of P.G. Department of History Sambalpur University, Narasimha is not so important but from the cultural Jyotivihar, Burla.

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