MY VILLAGE TEMPLE
Janhapank(Jagati) is situated at a distance of 16 Km. from Boudh . Near the village at Gandhradi, is situated the famous twin temples
of Nilamadhava and Sidheswar. These temples were constructed under the
patronage of the Bhanja rulers of Khinjali mandala in 9th century A.D.
These two temples were built on one platform which are exactly similar
to each other. The one on the left hand is dedicated to Siva named
Siddheswar and its sikhara is surmounted by a Sivalinga.The second is
dedicated to Vishnu ,named Nilamadhava and its sikhara is surmounted by
a wheel of blue chlorite. The principle of construction
of the Jagamohanas at gandharadi is slightlt different than that of
other temples. Their roofs are built on the cantilever principle and
originally it appears to have been supported on twelve large pillars
arranged as a hollow square .
Thus each side had four pillars of which the central ones flanked an
opening. Originally these two Jagamohanas appear to have been open on
all sides but later on the lintels on all sides appear to have given
away and then it became necessary to fill in the gaps between pillars
with the exception of the four openings with ashlar masonry.
At the same time the side openings were filled up with a jali or
lattice of blue chlorite towards the bottom and a frieze of four
miniature temple sikharas over it. This arrangement is not followed in
later temples where the ingress of light into jagamohana is through four
or five stone pillars in the opening used as window bars.
The style of ornamentation in the jagamohans of the Gandharadi temples
is altogether different. Even stylized chaitya-windows are rarely to be
seen at Gandharadi except at the bases of the pilasters of the vimana .
the ornamentation on these two jagamohans is very simple and much less
overcrowded . The importance of the Gandharadi temples lies in the fact
that they provide a link and that a very important one, in the chain of
the evolution ,in the chain of the evolution of the mediaeval Orissan
temple type.
The Gandharadi temple is also locally known as Chari Sambhu Mandira (
the temple of four Sambhus or Siva lingas). In the Siva temple
Siddheswar is the presiding deity. In the Jagamohan ,to the left of the
door leading to the sanctum is the siva Linga called Jogeswar and to
the right of the door is the linga called Kapileswar. At a little
distance from Siddheswar standsa the temples of Paschima Somanath (
Siva), the door of the temple opening to the west.
Some images of considerably antiquity are found worshipped in shrines
nearby. Notable among them are the images of Ganesh in the temple of
Paschima somanath and a beautiful image of eight armed Durga worshipped
under a banyan tree,the later image being badly eroded due to the
vagaries of weather. These images probably once adorned the siddheswar
temple .Portions of beautifully carved door steps in black chlorite and
other decorative motifs have been unearthed. In the vicinity of the
temple. A five feet (1.52 meters) high Hanuman image of good workmanship
is being worshipped near the village Jagati and a beautiful carved
Nabagraha slab is lying in the cornfield. Archeological Survey of India
has preserved this place. .
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| District Headquarter : | Boudh |
| State Capital : | Bhubaneswar |
| Nearest Railway Station : | Rairakhol |
| Nearest Airport : | Bhubaneswar |
| How to Reach : | |
| Boudh is well connected with road and rail with other district headquarter and the state capital Bhubaneswar. The distance of Boudh from Bhubaneswar is 240 Km. One can come to Boudh via State Highway No. 1 & 14 via Nayagarh to Charichhak or can come by National Highway No. 42 . via- Angul.Regular train services are available from Bhubaneswar viz. Bhubaneswar to Sambalpur Intercity Express,Hirakud Express,Puri to Sambalpur passenger train. To reach Boudh one has to get down at Rairakhole station. From here one has to travel around 27 Km. either by Bus or taxi to reach Boudh. The nearest Airport is at Bhubaneswar. Taxi or auto rickshaws are to be hired from Boudh to go to Jagati. | |
