Even though it was never completed, the majestic eleventh-century Raja Rani Mandir is among the very finest of Bhubaneswar's later temples. Most likely the name of the temple is related to the attractive red-and-gold sandstone used in its construction, a stone which is known locally as rajarani.
The plain jagmohana was repaired in 1903 after having fallen down in ruins. The spectacularly elaborate deul is a shikhara-cluster, with several half shikharas against the central tower, a type seen at Khajuraho.
The sculptural images are elegant and lively, the exquisite maidens figures in languid and alluring poses, amorous dalliance, holding children, looking in mirrors, playing with pet birds, taking off her anklet, playing instruments, holding branches of trees, etc.
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The major highlight of this temple are the beautiful dikpalas, the Guardians of the Eight Directions, on the corner projections of the deul, with their respective vehicles and attributes. From the temple entrance proceeding in a clockwise direction they are:
Indra (east), chief of the 33 Vedic nature deities, the Storm God with a thunderbolt in his hand and an elephant goad, with his vehicle the elephant;
Agni (south-east), the bearded and potbellied Vedic god of fire, with his vehicle the ram,
Yama (south), the Judge of the Dead, with his club and noose, his vehicle is a buffalo,
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Raja Rani Mandir
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Nirriti (south-west), deity related to suffering and misery, on a prostrate holding a severed head,
Varuna (west), the Vedic deity of the ocean, with a noose in his left hand standing on his vehicle the ‘makara’ (crocodile),
Vayu (north-west), Wind God with a banner and a deer as his vehicle,
Kubera (north), God of Prosperity, placed at the top of seven jars of gems, shown here with a wish-fulfilling tree, his vehicle is a horse
and Ishana (north-east), a form of Shiva displayed with an erect phallus alongside an emaciated figure.
Raja Rani Mandir |
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