Bhringesvara Shiva Temple

The main temple is of late Kalingan style dating back to 15th century. The present temple was built during the Gajapati Rulers.

A four-handed black chlorite image of Brahma holding Veda and water vessel in upper two hands and rosary, abhaya mudra in lower two hand. The temple is situated on the foothills of Dhauli and the left bank of the river Daya, in the southeastern outskirts of Bhubaneswar in the village Khatuapada.

The temple stands on a high platform measuring 26.50 m in length, 22.10 m in width and 2 m in height. On plan, the temple has a square vimana and a frontal porch measuring 08.35 m in length (vimana measures 7.10 m and frontal porch is 1.25 m). The vimana has a square sanctum measuring 2 m2inside the cella. The vimana is pancharatha as distinguished by a central raha and a pair of anuratha pagas and kanika paga on either side of the raha. On elevation, the vimana is of rekha order that measures 11.14 m in height. The bada of the temple measuring 4.14 m has five mouldings without any sculptural embellishment. The pabhaga measures 1.08 m, tala jangha – 0.95 m, bandhana – 0.31 m, upara jangha – 0.90 m, and baranda – 0.95 m. The pabhaga has four base moldings of khura, kumbha, pata and basanta. The gandi measuring 4.50 m is devoid of any decoration except the Udyota simha in the raha pagas on three sides and gajakranta in the western wall. The mastaka bears beki, amlaka, khapuri, kalasa, ayudha measuring 2.50 m. in height.

The doorjambs are partly renovated. It measures 2.38 m in height and 1.10 m in width. It has three vertical bands with sakhas like puspa, nara, lata from exterior to interior, each sakha measuring 0.14 m. There is a chandrasila between the doorjamb on the floor, which is decorated with beautiful conches on both the sides. At the base of the doorjamb, there are two dvarapala niches on either side measuring 0.55 m in height, 0.36 m in width and 0.10 m in depth. The niches are occupied by Saivite dvarapalas holding tridents and river goddesses – Ganga is standing in tribhangi pose on her makara mount under a parasol held by a diminutive female figure in the right niche and Yamuna in the similar fashion standing on her tortoise mount in the left niche. Lintel: The architrave above the doorjamb measuring 1.50 m is carved with the Navagrahas seated in Padmasana within a niche. Ravi is holding lotus in his both hands, Rahu has a big head crowned by a jatamukuta, holding half-moon and Ketu with a serpent tail has uplifted hands and three-headed serpent canopy over the head.