Astasambhu Siva Temples, Dhenkanal,Darshan Information

Situated at Kualo, Dhenkanal district, Orissa, Astasambhu Temple is a group of eight temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The eight temples are Astasambhu, Kanakeswar Temple, Swapneswar Temple, Aisneswar, Kapileswar, Baidyanatheswar, Baneswar and Lokanatheswar. The temples were built in the 10th century AD at Dhenkanal.

Location Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

legend

According to legends, the temples were built by the Shulki kings after the Almighty Lord Shiva blessed a king to get cured from a fatal disease.

Architecture

Like the other Astasambhu temples, the ones at Dhenkanal in Odisha are also built in the Kalinga architectural style. Grey sandstone was used in building the edifices. The Vimana of the temple porch is 0.41m. The main Vimana is around 4.15m tall and contains the gandi, bada and the mastaka. The triangular bada is the flagship of any Astasambhu Temple. The bada is around 1.30m tall among which the pabhaga measures around 0.32m, jangha measures 0.68m and the baranda measures 0.30m. The gadi is around 1.85m and the height of the mastaka is around 1m.

All around the 4 sides of the raha paga, the Udyota Simhas are errected.

Culture

Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha is famous for its thousand-year-old cultural legacy. The city once housed more than 7,000 shrines built in the last 2000 years. The Lingaraj Temple, Jaleshwar temple, Paschimesvara etc are some of the century old temples of Bhubaneswar. Today the city is balancing the responsibility of enshrining the old heritage shrines as well as giving space to the modern cultural aspects. The city is now an important tech hub of the East.

Bhubaneswar is the perfect example of the Indo-Aryan culture, at the same time the place has also accredited the existence of the Adivasis (natives) alongside. Their art, architecture and handicrafts project the enthusiasm the people have towards creative art and some of the Kala are century old.

The Odissi Dance is one of the finest classical dances in India. Though, it belongs to the Northern India's Hindustani Classical music, but still the dance and the music associated with it is exclusive par excellence.

Visitors to Bhubaneswar can explore the State Museum in Bhubaneswar that enshrines the reminiscences of the valorous past of Kalinga (the ancient name of Odisha).