Bhringesvara Shiva Temple

The Bhringesvara Shiva Temple is situated on the foot hills of Dhauli and the left bank of the river Daya, in the south-eastern outskirts of Bhubaneswar in the village Khatuapada. The temple is facing towards west and the presiding deity is a circular yoni pitha with a hole at the centre. The temple is made of light grey sandstone. The temple is renovated from bottom to top by employing the earlier materials. This temple is now under the protection of Orissa State Archaeology. The special features of the idol is the four-handed black chlorite image of Brahma holding Veda and water vessel in upper two hands and rosary and Abhaya Mudra (represents protection, peace, benevolence, and dispelling of fear) in his lower two hands. The parsvadevata niches are located on the Raha Paga of the Tala Jangha on the three sides of north, west and south, each measuring 1.06 metres in height, 0.57 metres in breadth and 0.39 metres in depth houses the images of Ganesa in the south and the image of Mahisasuramardini in the north. The niche in the south is empty. Ganesa stands in Tribhanga pose over a lotus pedestal and holds rosary in his lower right hand and a mace in his lower left hand. The upper two hands are broken. The image is also crowned by jatamukuta and wearing a sacred snake thread (nagopabita). Behind the head, is a trefoil chaitya motif with two attendants offering jackfruits and flying vidyadharas holding garlands in their both hands. Mahisasuramardini in the northern niche is unusual. It has taken the place of Parvati. Hence, this may be a later installation inside the niche. The demon has a buffalo head and a human body. The deity who has four arms presses the head of the demon in her main left hand and tramples the demon with her right leg. The image has all archaic features of an early phase, which may be assigned to the 8th century AD.