Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar: A Temple of Love and Beauty!
Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar: Hey, my little adventurers! Look at this gorgeous temple standing right in front of us! Isn’t it lovely? It seems to be constructed out of some special reddish-gold kind of stone, and that’s what gave it its name! “Raja” is king, and “Rani” is queen, and this lovely stone is ‘Rajarani’ stone. So, it’s essentially a royal-colored temple!
What is so uniquely special about this temple is that it does not have the statue of a god or goddess within, unlike most temples. But relax, it’s just as sacred a place, and we feel it was constructed in honor of Lord Shiva, a most revered Hindu deity, and his beautiful wife, Goddess Parvati.
Contents
- 1 A Glimpse into the Past: Rajarani Temple History
- 2 Once Upon a Time: Legend of the Temple
- 3 Why So Special Is This Temple? Importance of the Temple
- 4 Let’s Look Closer: Rajarani Temple Architecture
- 5 Whispers of the Past: Myths and Beliefs
- 6 When to Come: Temple Timings
- 7 More Wonderful Places Around: Hindu Destinations Near Temple
- 8 How to Get Here: Access to the Temple
A Glimpse into the Past: Rajarani Temple History
Imagine traveling back in time, hundreds and hundreds of years ago! The Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar was constructed a very, very long time ago, approximately 1000 years ago, by a mighty king. Can you imagine that? That’s even before your great-great-grandparents were born!
There are some intelligent people who research ancient buildings and they believe that this temple was previously known as ‘Indreswara Temple.’ Perhaps it was named after the king who constructed it, or perhaps after Lord Shiva himself! This temple has witnessed so much in the long years, just like an old experienced grandparent who has many stories to share. It was well repaired years back, so we can still witness its beauty today. The friendly folks of an organization named the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) look after it now with so much care, like a valuable treasure.
Once Upon a Time: Legend of the Temple
Now, for some fun tales and myths! Despite the fact that there’s no central statue within, people have a lot of theories regarding the Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar.
Some people refer to it as the “Love Temple”! Why? If you take a close look at the walls, you’ll be able to notice so many carvings of gorgeous women and even couples dancing or holding hands! The walls seem to tell tales of love and joy.
One common legend behind the name Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar has to do with the beautiful stone itself. Like I told you, the reddish-gold stone is referred to as ‘Rajarani stone’. So, it’s like the temple is wearing royal garments made of this unique stone!
Another sweet tale is that on the entrance, there are images of a ‘Naga’ (half-human, half-snake) and a ‘Nagini’ (half-human, female snake). Some folks think these are such as the King and Queen of the country, who are watching over their beloved temple.
“Though the temple is not explicitly referred to in such major Hindu texts as the Vedas or Puranas in a manner that prescribes its construction or dedication, the Rajarani Temple’s architectural style and sculptural motifs, particularly the inclusion of deities such as Shiva and Parvati, and the Dikpalas (directional guardians), are in conformity with prevailing Shaivite conventions and iconographies presented in a range of Hindu texts and architectural treatises.”
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Why So Special Is This Temple? Importance of the Temple
Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar is just too important for a million reasons, without even having a primary idol!
A School of Art: This temple is a huge, open-air art school! The sculptures on its walls give us so much information about how people lived, what they dressed in, and what music and dances they had a great time listening to and dancing many, many years ago. It is a history book in stone!
Unique Architecture: It’s one of a kind as to how temples were constructed in this region of India, known as the Kalinga style. It influenced the construction of other temples, even some well-known ones far, far away! It’s almost like the Rajarani Temple was a trendsetter!
Guardians of Directions: Examine the temple base closely. You’ll notice eight tremendous statues! These are referred to as “Dikpalas,” and they’re like the protectors of the eight directions of the world. Just think of them standing guard, safeguarding Rajarani Temple from all sides! You can see Indra (the king of the gods), Agni (the god of fire), Yama (the death god), Nirriti (the god of misery), Varuna (the water god), Vayu (the god of wind), Kubera (the god of wealth), and Ishana (another incarnation of Lord Shiva). Isn’t that awesome?
Music in Stone: There is a special music festival each year here at the Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar! Brilliant musicians visit and perform exquisite Indian classical music. Imagine the sweet melodies floating around, with the temple shining in the moonlight – it’s absolutely enchanting!
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Let’s Look Closer: Rajarani Temple Architecture
Wow, what a smartly constructed temple! The Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar consists of two primary components:
The Vimana (The Tall Tower): Up, up, up! That big, arched tower is known as the Vimana. It’s such a stone mountain, pointing up towards the heavens. What is very fascinating is that it has lots of little towers carved upon it, like baby mountains! This makes it look very majestic and unique. The tower top is rounded and pot-shaped like something called a ‘Kalasa’.
The Jagamohana (The Porch): Just in front of the tall tower is a hall, similar to a porch, known as the Jagamohana. This section has a roof which resembles a pyramid somewhat. This is where individuals would assemble and prepare to watch the main section of the Rajarani Temple.
The entire temple is placed on a platform, which is like a stage. And the walls are lined with so many details all over! You will find:
Beautiful Ladies (Nayikas): Many carvings are of graceful women in different poses – some are dancing, some are looking in a mirror, some are playing with birds, and some are just looking lovely! These are called ‘Nayikas’. They are very famous and show how talented the artists were long ago.
Other Tales in Stone: You will also find pictures of gods, goddesses, and even scenes of everyday life. It’s a huge comic book in stone that does not require words to tell stories! The carving of the stone gives the figures a sense of almost being alive!
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Whispers of the Past: Myths and Beliefs
The Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar contains some interesting beliefs and stories that people have been passing on for a very long time.
The “Love Temple” Once More: As we discussed, the beautiful pair and stunning female carvings have earned it the nickname “Love Temple.” According to some, these carvings symbolize the concept of love and harmony in the world.
No Statue, Still Holy: The temple has no statue within, yet people still have a very spiritual feeling here. They think the temple itself, complete with all its stunning art, is a place of holiness.
The Magic of the Stone: The unique reddish-gold ‘Rajarani’ stone on which the temple was constructed is said to possess a special energy. Just consider how much love and hard work went into carving each component of this stone!
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When to Come: Temple Timings
You can definitely return and visit the Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar again if you wish to.
The temple generally opens at 6:00 AM in the morning and stays open up to 7:00 PM in the evening daily. Therefore, there is plenty of time to witness its magnificence.
And the good news is that if you are a kid under 15 years of age, you can enter for free! For elder visitors, there’s a tiny entrance fee, but it’s worth it to get to view such a great place.
More Wonderful Places Around: Hindu Destinations Near Temple
Bhubaneswar is actually a “Temple City,” my friends! After we’re done here at the Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar, there are quite a number of other incredible places we can go to that aren’t very far away:
Lingaraj Temple: This is one of the largest and most significant temples in Bhubaneswar, which is devoted to Lord Shiva. It’s gigantic and contains phenomenal carvings!
Mukteswara Temple: This is a small but very lovely temple, renowned for its arched gateway known as a ‘Torana’. It’s reminiscent of a dainty archway in stone.
Parasurameswara Temple: Another old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, with very old and interesting carvings.
ISKCON Temple, Bhubaneswar: This is a lovely temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, and it is very serene.
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves: These are ancient rock-cut caves where Jain monks lived. You can visit them and imagine how people lived thousands of years back!
Dhauli Shanti Stupa: This is a peace pagoda on a hill, constructed by Emperor Ashoka after a major war. It’s a spot for peaceful reflection and watching the views.
You can also go to the Nandankanan Zoological Park if you’re an animal person, or the Odisha State Museum to check out more great old stuff!
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How to Get Here: Access to the Temple
It’s really easy to access the Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar!
By Air: Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport. After deplaning, you can avail yourself of a taxi or rickshaw, and you will reach the temple shortly.
By Train: Bhubaneswar has a large railway station. There are numerous trains from all parts of India that arrive here. The temple is just a taxi or auto-rickshaw ride away from the railway station.
By Road: If you’re coming from nearby cities or even within Bhubaneswar, you can easily reach the temple by car, bus, or auto-rickshaw. The roads are good, and it’s a famous landmark, so everyone knows where it is!