Vaital Temple

Overview

Vaital Temple or Baitala Deula, is a 8th-century Hindu temple typical Khakara temple dedicated to Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa, India. This is also locally known as "Tini Mundia Mandira".

About the temple

Vaital Temple is an excellent example of Kalinga architecture that attracts visitors from all over the world. Vaital temple is perhaps the finest extent representative of the Khakhara order that was especially devoted to the tantric cults. The deul rectangular in shape and oblong on plan is positioned at a right angle to the flat-roofed jagamohana. The two-storeyed semi-cylindrical wagon roof of the deul strongly suggests the influence of Buddhist cave architecture. The vault of the deul is rather plain without any art work and the shape of the common deul in miniature form adorns the four corners of the jagamohana. On the backside, the five pilasters have been crowned by two vidalas seated back to back above two carved mouldings. The medallion of the upper chaitya window, in addition to a ten-armed Nataraj, has the figures of Lakulisa on the south and the composite form of Hari-Hara on the north. In front of the jagamohana the stone post shows two Buddha like figures seated in the famous dharmachakra pravartana mudra.

Some of the early erotic sculptures in Orissan art are found here. The erotica later became a conventional motif, ubiquitously present in almost all forms of decorative temple architecture. The figures depicted in various positions were probably relevant in the context of the tantric rites.

The presiding deity, Chamunda or Charchika sits on a corpse flanked by a jackal and an owl and decorated with a garland of skulls. She holds a snake, bow, shield, sword, trident, thunderbolt and an arrow, and is piercing the neck of the demon. The niche is capped by a chaitya window containing seated figures of Shiva and Parvati.

The Chamunda is surrounded by a host of other smaller size allied deities carved in the lower parts of the walls, each within a niche separate by a pilaster. The figure on the east wall, to the fight of the door, is a skeleton form of Bhairava forming the counterpart of Chamunda.

The other, carved on the north wall, rises from ground, having filled his skull-cup with the blood of a person whose severed head lies on the right. On the pedestal is an offering of two more heads on a tray resting on a tripod, flanked by a jackal feasting on the decapitated body on the right and a woman holding a head on the left.

The tantric character of the temple is also marked by the stone post, to which sacrificial offerings were tethered, just in front of the jagamohana. You need an artificial light to see in the darkness of the interior, though early morning sun lights up the interior.

Best Season to Visit

October to April.

How to Reach Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar has its own airport named Biju Patnaik Airport. Bhubaneswar is one of the most important railway stations in Eastern India. It has connecting trains to many states and major cities. The city being the capital is well connected to all parts of the state and nearby states as well. There is regular bus service to and from all major cities. The main bus stand is at a distance of 8 km from the city center.

Temple Address