Rajarani Temple
The mid-11th century temple, located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city famously known as the temple city of Odisha, is where the Rajarani temple was placed, a lovable palace known as Indreswara in the original. The temple glorifies in its stunning dull red and yellow sandstones, built in one of the Kalinga styles in Pancharatha style (which means panch-five; ratha-chariot), spilt in two divisions into a central shrine with a spiral-like tower over to a height of 18m where no idol is placed, which is one of the unique features of this temple, and the second is a viewing hall with a pyramidal roof, which is named Jagamohana by the locals. Though the place has no idol, the temple does not link with some specific concept of Hinduism. As per analyzing the important sites in the temple, the place is considered a Saivite sacred site.
Rajarani Temple - Odisha
Exploring the Roots and Reasons of Rajarani Temple:
There were three assumptions behind the naming and origin of the temple.
First – Historian M.M. Ganguly states the temple is for Vishnu after examining the upper pedestal, which shows a cut-like lotus flower with petals.
Second – All the Shiva temples in the town ended with Iswara in their names, so as per that, Indreswara, popularly known as Rajarani temple, skips the former reason, but that’s not all! Another historian named K.C. Panigrahi states that according to the Ekamra Purana (One of the oldest works noted down the events and history of Orissa, the present name of Orissa is Odisha), the temple called Indrevara was positioned to the east of popular Siddheswara temple, and also there was a carving of Lakulisha (whom the founder of a part of Saivism) seated in a yogic posture with his students around, seen in the lintel of the viewing hall (jagamohana). On both sides of him, there were eight bearded saints seated, which is extra evidence in favour of Saivism. The major symbolism is that there are three carvings shown at the entrance of the main shrine, in which a carving depicts the dancing Shiva with his wife Parvathi amidst his people playing the musical instruments, and there are also the auspicious marriage scenes of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.
Third – Locals named the temple Rajarani, as the carvings of Naga and Nagini on the front porch symbolize Nag as King (Raja) and Nagini as Queen (Rani), but this aspect is not accepted by historians. The site, also known as Love Temple by the locals for having some romantic carvings of couples and women, makes the place one of the famous sites. Though these are the significance of the temple that make the place a must-visit for all devotees of all regions.
Evolution of the History and Architecture of Rajarani Temple:
Imagine that where you are standing is an architectural marvel with so many exquisite carvings and intricate artworks that still look fresh, helping historians gather information about the temple's origin. The temple stands over three layers of pedestals (plinths) with varying measurements when mentioned from inside and outside. It uniquely stands with five amazingly designed disc-shaped patterns placed in the tower of the main shrine named ‘pabhaga, talajangha, bandhana, uparajangha, and baranda,’ while the lowermost division also has five divisions called ‘khura, khumba, patta, kani, and basanta,’ and the roof has a vase (kalasa) and a cubical disc-shaped structure designed amazingly. Then turn to the enticing visiting hall (Jaganmohana), which resembles a pyramidal structure but seems to be incomplete for some reason. Also, the portion underwent some repair in 1903, while the idea of the construction is square, whereas other temples of ancient times followed a rectangle form. Rajarani Temple is unique both in its appearance and the rich history it has, which has been protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Largest Celebrating Popular Festival of Rajarani Temple:
In January, the Rajarani music festival is celebrated and organized by the tourism department of the government of Odisha, which commenced in 2003. Mainly focused on classical music, while Hindustani, Carnatic, and Odissi were also given equal importance. Artists from diverse parts of the country came and participated in this festival, which lasts for three full days.
Visiting Hours
Open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Dress Code
When visiting this temple, prefer clothes that cover the shoulders and legs. It should be advisable to wear traditional attire for both men and women.
Entry fee:
for Indians, INR 5 per person; for foreign tourists, INR 250 per person; and for (below 15) children no entry fee.
How to reach Rajarani Temple through the nearest ways:
By Air : Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, is the nearest airport to reach Rajarani Temple at 4 km. From there, one can hire a cab or taxi to reach the Rajarani Temple.
By Train :Bhubaneswar railway station is the nearest to Rajarani temple, at 4 km. From there, one can hire a cab, taxi, or auto rickshaw to reach Rajarani Temple.
By Road :All major cities are well connected to this temple. The nearby bus terminus is Rasulgarh stop, from where you can reach the temple with a taxi, cab, or auto rickshaw.