User:Hinaang/Devasabha Temple

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Location

Lat. 200 14’ 06”N, Long. 850 50’00” E, Elev. 85 ft. Devasabha temple is located in the Kharakhia Vaidyanath temple precinct, Old Town area of Bhubaneswar. This is an abandoned temple and is facing towards the east. There is no deity inside the cella.

Tradition & legends

As per the locals, the temple is the assembly of all gods and goddess for which it is known as Devasabha.

Ownership

Single/ Multiple

Single

Public/ Private

Private

Any other (specify)

Since it is not a living temple no attention is paid for its care and maintenance.

Age

Approximate date

14th century A.D.

Source of Information

Building materials / laterite.

Property Type

Precinct/ Building/ Structure/Landscape/Site/Tank

Precinct.

Subtype

Temple

Typology

Rekha deul.

Property use

Abandoned/ in use

Abandoned

Past use

Worshipped

Physical description

Surrounding

It is located in the south-west corner of Kharakhia Vaidyanatha precinct; 5.00 m from the southern and western compound wall. The temple is facing towards the east. The temple stands on a low and square platform measuring 5.50 m² with a height of 0.60 m. On plan, the temple has a square sanctum measuring 4.00 m with a frontal porch of 0.90 m. It is pancharatha as distinguished by a central raha and pair of anuratha and kanika pagas on either sides of the raha. On elevation, the vimana is of Rekha order that measures 5.73 m in height from pabhaga to mastaka. From bottom to the top the temple has a bada, gandi and mastaka. With five fold divisions of the bada the temple has a panchanga bada measuring 2.43 m in height. At the bottom the pabhaga has four base mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata and basanta that measures 0.58 m tala jangha and upara jangha measures 0.50 m and 0.53 m in height respectively separated by a three moulded bandhana measuring 0.25 m in height. The baranda measuring 0.57 m have five mouldings. The gandi and mastaka measures 2.25 m and 1.05 m in height and is devoid of sculptural embellishments.

Raha niche & parsva devatas

The Parsvadevata niches are located in the talajangha of raha pagas on the three sides i.e. west, north and south that measures 0.76 m in height X 0.55 m in width X 0.20 m in depth. All are empty.

Decorative features

Door Jambs: The doorjamb measuring 1.79 m in height and 1.20 m in width has two plain vertical bands. The right side doorjamb is partially broken.

Building material

Laterite.

Construction techniques

Dry masonry

Style

Kalingan

State of preservation

Good/Fair/ Showing Signs of Deterioration/Advanced

The temple is in advanced stage of deterioration because of the cracks on the body of the temple.

Condition description

Signs of distress

A bigger crack has developed in the south-western corner of vimana due to the growth of vegetation.

Grade (A/B/C)

Architecture

B

Historic

C

Associational

C

Social/Cultural

C

Threats to the property

The laterite blocks above the doorjamb are hanging in such a condition that it may collapse at any point of time. Conservation Problem and Remedies: Rain water is directly entering into the sanctum from the roof because of the cracks. There is a bigger tree found in the left side of the junction of anuratha and raha paga of the western wall and the tree is larger than the mastaka of the temple which is gradually widening the cracks through its roofs. The wild vegetations are also covered the entire structure. Detached and loose sculptures: There is a dopicha simha in the northern wall of the temple.

Maps / Plan / Drawings

One Photograph.

Date of Documentation

09.09.2006

Documenter

Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan and team.

References

• Lesser Known Monuments of Bhubaneswar by Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan (ISBN: 81-7375-164-1)
• http://ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orkhurda245.pdf