రాజారాణి ఆలయం
రాజారాణి ఆలయం 11వ శతాబ్దానికి చెందిన హిందూ దేవాలయం. ఇది ఒడిషా రాష్ట్రంలోని భుబనేశ్వర్ పట్టణంలో ఉన్నది. ఇది ఒకప్పుడు ఇంద్రేశ్వర ఆలయంగా పిలువబడేదని భావిస్తారు. ఈ దేవాలయ కుడ్యాలపై ఉన్న శృంగార శిల్పాల కారణంగా స్థానికులు ఈ ఆలయాన్ని 'ప్రేమాలయం'గా పిలుస్తారు. ఈ ఆలయం ఎత్తైన తిన్నెపై "పంచరథ" శైలిలో నిర్మించబడింది. ఈ ఆలయంలో గర్భగుడి, జగన్మోహన మంటపం ఉన్నాయి. ఈ ఆలయనిర్మాణానికి మడ్డిఎరుపు, పసుపు ఇసుకరాళ్లను ఉపయోగించారు. ఈ రాళ్లను స్థానికంగా రాజారాణి అని పిలుస్తారు. ఈ దేవాలయం గర్భగుడిలో ప్రస్తుతం ఎటువంటి విగ్రహం లేదు. ఈ ఆలయ నిర్మాణం ఆధారంగా ఇది శివాలయంగా నిర్ధారించారు.
Various historians place the original construction date between the 11th and 12th centuries, and have placed it roughly belonging to the same period as the Jagannath Temple at Puri. The architecture of other temples in central India is believed to have originated with this temple, the notable ones being the Khajuraho temples and Totesvara Mahadeo temple in Kadawa. There are various sculptures in the walls around the temple, and the "vimana", depicting scenes of the marriage of Shiva, Nataraja, Parvati, and include tall, slender, sophisticated "nayikas" in various roles and moods such as turning her head from an emaciated ascetic, fondling her child, holding a branch of tree, attending to her toilet, looking into a mirror, taking off her anklet, caressing her pet bird and playing a musical instrument. Rajarani Temple is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a ticketed monument.
Based on the sculptural architectural style, the temple is dated to the mid-11th century. Brown groups the temple along with Anant Vasudev Temple and places it around the 11th–12th centuries. Another survey of Orissa temples carried out by S. K. Saraswati in 1953 yielded a similar date. Panigrahi, who did a comprehensive analysis of Orissan temples, gives an unspecified date between Lingaraj Temple and Mukteswara Temple. Fergusson believes construction of the temple was begun by around 1105. George Michell believes the temple was built during the same time as Lingaraja Temple. Rajarani Temple roughly belongs to the same period as the Jagannath Temple at Puri. The architecture of other temples in central India originated from the temple. The notable ones in the category are the Khajuraho temples and Totesvara Mahadeo temple in Kadawa. Scholars believe based on the style that the temple might have been built by Somavamsi kings who migrated from Central Indis to Orissa during the period. Rajarani temple is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a ticketed monument.
The Orissan temples have two parts namely the sanctum (deul or vimana) and the other is place from where pilgrims view the sanctum (called "jagamohana"). The initial deul temples were without the jagamohana as seen in some of the older temples in Bhubaneswar while the later temples had two additional structures namely nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). The vimana is square in plan, and the walls are variegated by ressaults (called "rathas" or "pagas"). Amalaka (also called "mastaka"), a stone disk with ridges on the rim, is placed over the "bada" (tower) of the temple. Rajarani Temple stands on a raised platform. The temple was constructed of dull red and yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani".
It is pancharatha in plan with a curvilinear superstructure ("rekha shikhara") 18m(55 ft) tall. The "vimana" (tower) is surrounded by a cluster of miniature towers with double crowning elements and appears round, unlike other temples in Bhubaneswar but like the towers of Khajuraho temples. The temple stands on a plinth with three mouldings. The "bada" consists of five divisions instead of the three divisions usually found in other temples. The "vimana" rises to a height of from the basement. The "vimana" (sanctum) measures * from the inside, * from the outside. Its spire is decorated with clusters of turrets (replication of the spire itself) emerging from the rib of the spire. The temple has "panchanga bada", or five divisions, namely, "pabhaga", "talajangha", "bandhana", "uparajangha" and "baranda". The lowermost division, called the "pabhaga", has five decorative mouldings, namely, "khura", "kumbha", "patta", "kani" and "basanta". The superstructure ("gandi") of the temple has a number of miniature turrets ("angashikharas"). The superstructure is crowned with a fluted disc-shaped architectural piece called an "amalaka", and a vase ("kalasa") surmounts it as the crowning finial.
The "jagamohana" (porch), though demonstrating a pyramidal structure, is yet to take on the status of a complete structure on its own. It bears signs of the repair done in 1903 when it collapsed into ruins. The "jagamohana" measures * from the inside and * from the outside. The tiered ("pidha") "jagamohana" and the interior are plain, possibly left incomplete. The plan of the "jagamohana" is square compared to the rectangular ones present in earlier temples.
The sculptures have a depth that was lacking in the Mukteswara Temple sculptures. The slightly projecting entrance is flanked by round thick columns entwined by "naga" on the left. Guardians of the eight directions project from the base of the temple in the eight directions, starting from the gateway in a clockwise direction around the porch and the deul, ending at the "torana" (entrance). The other noted sculptures are "naga-nagi sthambha", "saiva dwarapalas" on the entrance doorjambs, and "lakulisa" on the lintel of entrance, above which is the architrave of Navagrahas. The best-preserved sculptures of the temple are the standing "astadikpalas" on the central façade of "kanika", appearing on the "jangha" portion of the "bada" clad in diaphanous drapery. The image of Varuna is intact and notable for its body ornamentation, coiffure and facial expression. Scenes of the marriage of Shiva, Nataraja, and Parvati are the cult images present in the temple. There are tall, slender, sophisticated nayikas gracing the walls of the sanctum depicted in various roles and moods in amorous dalliance with actions such as turning her head from an emaciated ascetic, fondling her child, holding a branch of tree, attending to her toilet, looking into mirror, taking off her anklet, caressing her pet bird and playing instrument. There are also erotic ("mithuna") figures carved in high relief on the projecting portions of the "uparajangha". The other decorative motifs are carved in the shape of "vyala", "jagrata" and "gajakranta". The scroll motifs are of foliage, creepers and vines ("vanalata"), each containing lush foliage independent of any stalk or vine.
ఈ ఆలయపు తిన్నె భాగంలో చెక్కబడిన దళాలతో కూడిన పద్మాలను పరిశీలించిన చరిత్రకారుడు ఎం.ఎం.గంగూలీ ఈ ఆలయం వైష్ణవ ఆలయంగా ఊహించాడు. అదీ కాకుండా భువనేశ్వర్ చుట్టుపట్ల వున్న శివాలయాల పేర్లు 'ఈశ్వర ' అనే పేరును చివర కలిగి ఉన్నాయి. ఉదా: పరశురామేశ్వర, బ్రహ్మేశ్వర, మిత్రేశ్వర్. కానీ ఈ దేవాలయం పేరు అసాధారణంగా ఉంది. పైగా ఈ ఆలయంలో ఏ దేవాతా మూర్తి విగ్రహం లేదు. ఈ కారణాల వల్ల ఇది వైష్ణవాలయం అయివుండవచ్చు అనేది ఎం.ఎం.గంగూలీ అభిప్రాయం. అయితే ఈ ఆలయం శివాలయంగా నిరూపించే కొన్ని లక్షణాలు మనకు కనిపిస్తాయి. ఉదాహరణకు శైవులైన చండ ప్రచండ ద్వారపాలకుల విగ్రహాలు ఈ ఆలయంలో ఉన్నాయి. with "jatamukha", and a garland of skulls reaching up to and a snake. K. C. Panigrahi believes that, based on the "Ekamra Purana", the temple was originally called Indrevara and that it was positioned to the east of Siddheswara Temple. The image of Lakulisha, the founder of the Pasupatha sect of Saivisim, in a seated posture with "yogamuthra" along with his disciples, is found in the lintel of the "jagamohana". Images of eight bearded ascetics are arranged on both sides of the images of Lakulisha. There are three panels on the facade of the main temple showing images of Shiva dancing with his consort Parvathi in the company of attendants playing musical instruments. A carving depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvathi is on the western side below the central niche. The presence of Naga and Nagini at the entrance led to a local belief that it is the king (Raja) and queen (Rani) who are associated with the temple, leading to the name Rajarani, but this belief is not accepted by historians.
ఒడిషా రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వపు పర్యాటక శాఖ ప్రతి యేటా జనవరి 18 నుండి జనవరి 20వరకు ఈ ఆలయ ప్రాంగణంలో రాజారాణి సంగీతోత్సవాలను నిర్వహిస్తుంది. ఈ ఉత్సవాలలో హిందుస్తానీ, కర్ణాటక, ఒడిస్సీ సంప్రదాయ సంగీతాలకు సమాన ప్రాధాన్యతనిస్తారు. ఈ మూడు రోజుల సంగీతోత్సవాలలో పాల్గొనడానికి దేశంలోని పలుప్రాంతాల నుండి సంగీత కళాకారులు వస్తారు. 2003 నుండి ప్రారంభమైన ఈ ఉత్సవాలకు భువనేశ్వర్ మ్యూజిక్ సర్కిల్ (బి.ఎం.సి) సహకారాన్ని అందిస్తుంది.