Architecture of Two Vaishnava Temples of the Coastal Belt of Odisha in India

Abstract

The aim of this article is to highlight the detailed architectural features along with the religious significance of two Vaishnava temples of the coastal belt of Odisha in India. Vaishnavism might have existed in Odisha from the early medieval period of Indian history. Really, Vaishnavism had deeply influenced the religious life of the people of the Prachi Valley in the coastal belt of Odisha. The Ganga rulers of Odisha had patronized the temple building activities for the spread of Vaishnavism in the coastal-belt of Odisha. As a result of which, some Vaivshnava temples had been erected by the native rulers and rich devotees to popularize Vaishnavism in the Prachi Valley of Odisha. Most of the medium size Vaishnava temples of the coastal belt of Odisha have not been dealt by the art historians in detail. Here, two Vaishnava temples of the coastal belt of Odisha have been taken by the author for scholarly discussion. They are such as Varaha-Narasimha temple of Adaspur and Madhavananda temple of Narasinghpurhat respectively. The temple of Varaha-Narasimha is a unique Vaishnava shrine of the coastal-belt of Odisha in Eastern India. Varaha-cult had gained the royal patronage during the Ganga rule of Odisha. This temple is a monumental evidence of the Varaha-Narasimha worship in the coastal-belt of Odisha. The present temple is erected on the ruins of the earlier one (temple), which was destroyed by nature. This temple is well-known in that locality for its presiding deities. The Madhavananda temple of Narasinghpurhat is also another important Vaishnava shrine of the coastal belt of Odisha. The architectural pattern of Madhavananda temple indicates that the temple belongs to the modern period. These two Vaishnava temples represent the Kalinga style architecture of Odisha in Eastern India. Methodologically, both the primary and secondary sources are examined and utilized in this article.