Rajarani Temple Bhubaneswar Odisha History and Interesting Facts

Rajarani Temple Quick Facts

Rajarani Temple Overview

The Rajarani Temple, located in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the Indian state of Odisha, is the best example of ancient Architecture. This Hindu temple was built around the 11th century. It is believed that originally this temple was known as Indreswara.

Rajarani Temple History

The temple is located northeast of the Lingaraj Temple, which was constructed in the middle of the 11th century. In the year 1953, S. Of. A similar date is mentioned in the survey of Orissa temples conducted by Saraswati. Various historians have also told this temple to be between the 11th and 12th centuries when the Jagannath temple at Puri was built. It is one of the most visited temples of Bhubaneshwar.

Rajarani Temple Interesting Facts

1. This magnificent temple was built from dull red and yellow sandstone which is locally called "Rajarani" and due to this the name of this temple was given as Rajarani.
2. It is locally known as "Prem Mandir" because of the amazing carvings of women and couples in the temple.
3. This Temple is built in Panchata style on a single platform with two structures. The temple in the middle is called the vimana and there is a hall on the roof called "Jagmohan" to see the pyramids of the temple.
4. The interesting thing about this temple is that no god is worshiped here as there is no idol in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
5. There are some erotic carvings of women and men on the walls of the temple. These artifacts are reminiscent of the artifacts of the Khajuraho temple located in Madhya Pradesh.
6. The Temple has Panchanga Bada, or five divisions called Pabhaga, Taljangha, Bandhan, Aparajana and Baranda.
7. There is no idol of any holy gods and goddesses inside the temple and hence this temple does not belong to any specific sect of Hinduism, but it is largely believed to be a temple of Shaivites.
8. Various sculptures of women with breathtakingly intricate and elaborate carvings are carved on the walls around the temple. For example, sculptures of a woman loving a child, a woman looking at a mirror, a woman taking out her anklets, playing a musical instrument and dancing can be seen. Apart from this, the idol of Nataraja, the idol of Lord Shiva's marriage is also built here.
9. It is believed that other temples of central India have been built on this temple, mainly the temples of Khajuraho group of monuments and the Toteswara Mahadev temple of Kadva etc.
10. Other notable sculptures of the temple are the Nag-Nagi Stambha, the Shiva Dvarapala at the entrance, and the Lankulisa above the entrance with the architecture of the Navagrahas.
11. This temple is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and one has to take a ticket to enter it.
12. A Rajarani Music Festival is organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Odisha every year from 18 January to 20 January at the temple.
13. The temple focuses on classical music and gives equal importance to all three styles of classical music namely Hindustani, Carnatic and Odissi.
14. Musicians from different parts of India come and participate in this three-day festival and perform their music.
15. The festival was started in the year 2003 with the help of Bhubaneshwar Sangeet Mandal (BMC).