Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Shree Mandira Jagamohana : Architecture and Conservation

Susanta Kumar Dash Dr. Bhaskar Mishra

The majestic temple of Lord Shree Jagannatha at is known as Shrivatsa Khandasala or Shrivatsa Purusottama Kshetra, Puri represents a unique Ballabha Prasada/Palace. The text Bhuvana Kalingan marvel of art and sculpture. The style of Pradeep makes a reference to 36 types of construction of temples in Odisha is usually divided prasadas (palaces). Out of the said 36 types into three categories such as Rekha, Pidha and Prasadas (palaces) Srivatsa Ballava or Khakhara. Odishan texts of temple architecture Shrivatsa Khandasala is considered to be very such as Bhuvana Pradeep, dear to Lord Vishnu. Shilpa Sarani, Shilpa Prakash and other The speciality in unpublished palm leaf the style of construction of manuscripts have well Kalingan temple is that one defined all architectural stone is kept over other and aspects of temples. In these are joined with each accordance with the said other with an iron method Shree Jagannatha dowelling. Different Temple has been sculptural decorations constructed in Pancha have been engraved on the Ratha (five chariots/pagas/ said stones. The height of segments) Rekha order. Shree Jagannatha Temple Rekha is the name given to from the level of Grand a type of temple with Road is 214 ft 8 inches. curvilinear spire. As the The temple of Lord temple consists of two Jagannatha, an flanking pagas as Anuraha, two corners as architectural marvel is divided into four parts viz Konaka and one Rahapaga (middle one) the (a) Vimana/Garbha Griha or Sanctum architects have opined that the temple has been Sanctorum, (b) Jagamohana or Mukhasala or built in pancharatha style. According to the audience hall, (c) Nata Mandapa or hall meant madalapanji, the temple chronicle, Jagannatha for dance and music and (d) the Bhogamandapa Temple was built more than 800 years back and or refractory hall. On the basis of stone

May - June - 2016 1 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review inscriptions and other historical documents, (trunk) of Jagamohana is divided into two potalas historicians have opined that the construction of or tiers. Seven and six pidhas are found in the existing temple started during the reign of King lower and in the upper potalas respectively. The Ananta Burman Chodaganga Dev. But the temple Jagamohana or audience hall is a pidha temple could not be completed during his life time. i.e. a structure with pyramidical roof. The pidhas Subsequently the construction of the main temple or horizontal platforms recede in size as they go (Sanctum Sanctorum) and Jagamohana was upwards. The division of paga in the Gandi of completed during the reign of Ananga Bhima-III Jagamohana is clearly noticeable. There are four and the four deities were installed on the pidhas with spires on the Rahapaga and above bejewelled platform (Ratnasimhasana). During them a violent lion in stone is fixed. In the middle the reign of Purusottamdev and Prataprudradev, of the two potalas (stone tiers) various sculptural Natamandapa and Bhogamandapa were motifs are noticed. On the upper portion of the constructed. In Shree Mandira and in different potalas we find pidha-mundis, small pillars and mandapas and pillars Khandolite stones some beautiful stone maids which highlight the (Baulamala) have been used. decorative programme. The eastern part of the main temple is joined with the western side of Jagamohana is an integral part of Shree Jagamohana at Rahapaga. The height and width Mandira. Jagamohana is a big hall facing the of the entrance gate to sanctum sanctorum is 14 sanctum sanctorum or garbhagriha. This stands feet 4 inches and 8 feet 10 inches respectively. on four huge stone pillars. It has two doors namely There is a gate/entrance on the south side of Jaya- Beherana and Jaya-Bijay on the south and east Vijay. The height and width of the said gate known side respectively. From the style of construction as Kalahatadwar is 13 feet 8 inches and 6 feet of Jagamohana it is seen that its bada is 6 inches respectively. The gate on the north is pancharatha in plan and it consists of five usual closed now with a small pidha temple called elements. The Pabhaga (foot) portion of Bhandaragriha. The floor area of Jagamohana Jagamohana is divided into five parts. The lower is 41 feet 20 inches x 41 feet 20 inches. At its jangha (shin) has khakhara-mundis (miniature centre there are four pillars at about 50 feet height. temple of Khakhara order) similarly the upper These four pillars caused a square having length jangha depicts pidha mundi (miniature temple and width of 18 feet each. of pidha order). The thana (niches) of the mundis have been sealed. Additional projections of pillars The Mastaka portion of Jagamohana are found on both sides of the mundi. The recess consists of the usual elements of Beki (Neck), between the two pagas in lower jangha are Amalabeki, Amalaka (an Indian fruit of the same occupied by Vidala (figure of lion over elephant). name a little flattened), Kalasha, Ayudha. This The upper jangha contains erotic figures of is otherwise known as Ayudha chakra (Weapon: couples in different posture. The roof of chakra). The height of Jagamohana is 120 ft. It is Jagamohana is of pancharath style. a square size structure having both 80 ft. breadth and length. The door frames of Jaya-Vijaya gate The Anurahapaga of the Jagamohana (14 feet x 7 feet) are ornately decorated with has been projected a little more than the Konaka. different kinds of floral designs. Seven numbers However, the Rahapaga has been projected a little of magnificent sculptures find place on both side more than that of Anurahapaga. The Gandi of the Jaya-Vijaya gate. The gate is made up of

2 May - June- 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 black chlorite. On both sides of the gate some ASI. Since 1979 till date ASI has been taking up stones inscriptions pertaining to the period of conservation and repair work of Shree Jagannatha Kapilendra Dev, Purusottam Dev and Temple, the two walls, subsidiary temples, lions Prataprudra Dev have been fixed. Stones having gate and different gumutas (anterooms). Navagraha figures adorn the upper architraves of Jaya-Vijaya door. In the year 2015 a joint inspection comprising expert committee members of SJTA In the recent past several cracks have and ASI was conducted on Jagamohana from been spotted in some pillars and beams of which it was learnt that four stone beams resting Jagamohana. It has sparked widespread on the main pillar of Jagamohana are in a resentment among devotees and servitors of the dilapidated condition. Cracks were noticed in the shrine. The entire State of Odisha expressed its water container made of stone kept near the pillars concern over the poor up keep and deteriorating on the north side of Jagamohana and also in the condition of the 12th century shrine. stone beams over Bhandargriha (storehouse). As stated by the members of the expert Since 1975 the conservation of Shree committee, the entire load of Jagamohana rests Jagannatha Temple, subsidiary temples and two on the eight stone beams and are transmitted to massive concentric walls have been handed over the four pillars. There are eight numbers of iron to Archeological Survey of India (ASI). beams placed below these stone beams to absorb Subsequently an agreement was signed between the load. The iron beams have also started rusting. the Managing Committee of Shree Jagannatha It is worth mentioning that 800 years ago, the four Temple Administration (SJTA) and ASI on deities were installed on the bejewelled platform 22.8.1979 under the provision of Section 5 of inside the sanctum sanctorum after completion of Ancient Monument Preservation Act. It is worth the construction of Jagamohana. According to mentioning that 16 ancient monuments were noted historian Dr. Satya Narayan Rajguru, the identified in the entire country for conservation Jagamohana was constructed by Sri Ananga by ASI. Shree Jagannatha Temple is one among Bhimadev-III of Ganga dynasty. After 250-350 them. Since then ASI has been looking after years of completion of Jagamohana was covered conservation and repair work of Shree Mandir. with lime plaster. In 1972 a huge crack was developed at the adjoining place of the main temple and The conservation and repair of Jagamohana (Viman & Jagamohana). Besides Jagamohana has become imminent as major some banyan trees had also grown on the said cracks have been developed in the stone beams adjoining place causing cracks on the temple. As and stone joints of Jagamohana. In order to a result of which rain water seeped profusely protect the 12th century shrine, emergency inside the temple. In order to repair the temple meetings were held among the Managing with the help of modern technology, the Managing Committee of Shree Jagannatha Temple, Committee of SJTA made correspondences with Chhatisanijoga and the expert committee. The ASI. A group of experts headed by DG, ASI Managing Committee of SJTA informed ASI to visited Shree Jagannatha Temple in order to take up immediate repair of Jagamohana. In order conduct an on the spot inquiry. Necessary repair to facilitate repair some changes were made in and renovation work was effectively taken up by the daily rituals of the deities. It has been learnt

May - June - 2016 3 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review that the rituals of Mahaprabhu from 11.30 AM to State Secretariat in the afternoon on 20.5.2016. 6 PM were rescheduled in order to facilitate the In the said meeting Sri N.K. Sinha, Union engineers and skilled workforce of ASI for Secretary, Culture, Sri Suresh Chandra undertaking repair and deplastering the Mohapatra, Chief Administrator, SJTA, Sri Jagamohana. Initially the ASI took steps for Manoranjan Panigrahi, Commissioner-cum- deplastering of the vulnerable portions of the stone Secretary, Culture, Govt. of Odisha, Sri B.P. beams. In the meantime the expert committee of Routray, Principal Secretary, Law, Govt. of ASI, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha, Gajapati Odisha, Sri Rakesh Tiwari, Director General of Maharaja Shree Dibyasingh Dev, Chairman of the ASI, Civil Engineering experts from IIT Temple Managing Committee, Standing Khargapur, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Chennai, NIT Committee of Odisha Legislative Assembly have Rourkela and senior officers & experts were also inspected the Jagamohana. Hon’ble Chief present. It was decided that in the first phase the Minister of Odisha has requested Sri Mahesh crack stone pockets will be repaired. However, Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of Culture of Govt. of the conservation and repair works of Jagamohana India to expedite the conservation work on war will be completed soon. In the recent past footing. Besides Dr. Arun Menan, Asst. Professor, Jagamohana issue has been on focus for its Civil Engineering, IIT, Chennai along with Senior deteriorating condition. The structural damage of Engineers of ASI have inspected the condition of Jagamohana was the most sought after topic in Jagamohana on 25.2.2016. A report to this effect the State as well as Country. has been submitted to ASI on 12.3.2016. The Standing Committee of Odisha State Legislative Shree Jagannatha Temple at Puri in Assembly has assessed the repair and Odisha is internationally projected as the historic conservation work of Jagamohana on 14.3.2016. monument of the East, the white pagoda of the th th ASI has also submitted relevant information to British mariners in the 16 –17 C. The temple is the Standing Committee in this regard. verily Shrivatsa Khandasala, the most dear abode of Lord Shree Jagannatha which is annually visited It has been stated by ASI that appropriate by multitude of pilgrims, devotees and visitors all steps have been taken to engage two reputed over the world. The alarming message of structural institutes of the country for conducting repair and deterioration of the present monument has conservation work of Jagamohana. In the sparked off serious concern among the world meantime, a meeting under the chairmanship of community and it has thrown open a challenge to Prof. A.P. Gupta, former Head of the Department modern technology for its restoration, construction of Civil Engineering, IIT, Kharagpur has been and finally signaling a reassurance of its stability. held. It has been decided in the said meeting that Government is out and out serious about the timely the conservation and repair work of Jagamohana completion of the restoration work of this historic will be taken up at the earliest. In the meantime a edifice. committee headed by Sri N.K. Sinha, Secretary, Culture, Govt. of India has also inspected Jagamohana on 20.5.2016. A high level meeting Susanta Kumar Dash, Chief General Manager (P&A), under the chairmanship of Sri Aditya Prasad IDCO and Dr. Bhaskar Mishra, OSD (JTA), Law Deptt., Padhi, Chief Secretary, Odisha was held in the Govt. of Odisha, Bhubaneswar.

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