Gangesvara Siva Temple

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Gangesvara Siva Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DeitySiva lingam
Location
LocationBhubaneswar
StateOrissa
CountryIndia
Gangesvara Siva Temple is located in Odisha
Gangesvara Siva Temple
Location in Orissa
Geographic coordinates20°14′33″N 85°51′17″E / 20.24250°N 85.85472°E / 20.24250; 85.85472
Architecture
Typekalingan
Kalinga Architecture
Completed13th-14th century AD
Elevation18 m (59 ft)

Gangesvara Siva Temple (lat. 20° 14’27" N., long. 85° 50’ 12"E., elev. 73 ft) is situated within a precinct on the left side of the GangesYamuna road (leading from Talabazar Chowk to the Ganges-Yamuna temple) Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. It is located at a distance of 200 metres north-east of Lingaraj temple, 50 metres north of Lakhesvara temple across the road, 200 metres south of Subarnesvara and 100 metres east of Gourisankar temple. The temple is facing east. The presiding deity is a Siva lingam within a circular yonipitha. It is a living temple and is maintained by the Ganga Yamuna Sangathana.

There is a common belief among the local people that Goddess Parvati killed the demons Kirti and Basa in the Ekamra Kshetra. After this heroic incident, the deity felt thirsty. In order to quench the thirst, Lord Shiva struck his trident into the earth. A spring came out and to consecrate the spring river goddess Ganga and Yamuna were invited. To commemorate the incident, the twin temples of Gangesvara and Yamunesvara were constructed during the Ganga rule in Orissa. However, the present monument is a later renovation of the original shrine as evident from the use of earlier building materials used in a non-schematic manner and the depiction of sculptures from the later period in the jangha.

Significance

i) Historic significance  : Local people attribute the temple to the imperial Gangas.

ii) Cultural significance  : Festivals like Shivaratri, Chandana Yatra, Kartika Purnima and Jalabhiseka are performed.

iii) Social significance  : Thread ceremony, Marriage ceremony, Engagements and other social functions are also performed.

iv) Associational significance :Ganga-Yamuna Sangathana

Physical description

See also

References

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