Baitala Deula

Baitala deuḷa
ବଇତାଳ ଦେଉଳ
Odisha
Geographic coordinates	20°16′N 85°15′E / 20.267°N 85.250°E / 20.267; 85.250
Architecture
Type	Kalinga architecture

Baitāḷa deuḷa or Vaitāḷa deuḷa (

. It is also locally known as Tini-mundia deula due to the three spires on top of it, a very distinct and unusual feature. The three spires are believed to represent the three powers of the goddess Chamunda - Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali.

Architecture

Baitaḷa Deuḷa Temple’s striking feature is the shape of its sanctuary tower. The semi-cylindrical shape of its roof is a leading example of

The outer walls are encrusted with panels of Hindu deities, mostly Shiva and his consort Parvati, hunting processions, capturing of wild elephants and the occasional erotic couples.

The facade of the deuḷa above the left of the jagamohana is dominated by two chaitya windows—the lower one having a carved figure of the sun god,

in front, driving a chariot of seven horses.

The medallion in the upper Chaitya window houses a 10-armed Nataraja, the dancing form of Shiva. In front of the flat roofed Jagamohana is a stone post relieved with two Buddha like figures seated in Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana mudra.

Another striking feature is temple's Tantric associations, marked by eerie carvings in the sanctum. The image enshrined in the central niche, eight armed Chamunda, locally known as Kapaḷini, is the terrifying form of goddess. Thus, Baitāḷa Deuḷa is a Shakti shrine.

The Deity

The presiding deity, Chamunda or Charchika sits on a corpse flanked by a jackal and an owl and decorated with a garland of skulls. She holds a snake, bow, shield, sword, trident, thunderbolt and an arrow, and is piercing the neck of the demon. The niche is capped by a chaitya window containing seated figures of Shiva and Parvati.

Chamunda is surrounded by a host of other smaller size allied deities carved in the lower parts of the walls, each within a niche separate by a pilaster. The figure on the east wall, to the right of the door, is a skeleton form of Bhairava, the counterpart of Chamunda.

The other, carved on the north wall, rises from ground, having filled his skull-cup with the blood of a person whose severed head lies on the right. On the pedestal is an offering of two more heads on a tray resting on a tripod, flanked by a jackal feasting on the decapitated body on the right and a woman holding a head on the left.

The tantric character of the temple is also marked by the stone post, to which sacrificial offerings were tethered, just in front of the jagamohana. Artificial light is needed to see in the darkness of the interior, though early morning sun lights up the interior.

Gallery

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  Alasakanya
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  Ganesha
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  A pediment in one of the sides of the temple depicting Shiva in a sitting position
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  A pediment on top of two columns and a niche.
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  Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made. It is known as a harikāṭha or jupastambha.
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  Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made, close-up.
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  A pediment on one of the sides of the temple.
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  A close up on the central pediment
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  Relief detail on Baitala Deula temple with the symbol of Purna Kalasha surrounded by garlands.
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  A double pediment depicting a dancing Shiva
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  Inscription on outer right wall in Odia script. It reads 'ସ୍ରୀକାସୀପ୍ତୀ ସ୍ରଣ' (transliteration : sri kasīptī sraṇa) in old Odia which means 'I seek shelter at the feet of the Lord of Kashi [=Shiva]'
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  Several pediments at one side of the temple.
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  Parvati
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  Ardhanarishwara
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  Alasakanya

See also

• Varahi Deula, Chaurasi
• List of temples in Bhubaneswar

Footnotes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaital Deula.

• The chamunda temple
• The Chamuda form of Durga in Bhubaneswar
• More pictures on Vaital deuḷa
• Vaitala Deula (Teeni Mundia Deula)