Baitāḷa deuḷa or Vaitāḷa deuḷa (Odia: ବଇତାଳ ଦେଉଳ) is an 8th-century Hindu temple of the typical Khakara style of the Kalinga architecture dedicated to Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, India. 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.
Baitala deuḷa
ବଇତାଳ ଦେଉଳ
Clockwise from top left : Side view of main deula, Ardhanarishwara image, View of deula and jagamohana with three towers & flags visible which give it the name tinimundia deula
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 Khakhara order of temples— which bears an affinity to the DravidianGopuram of the South Indian temples. Its gabled towers with a row of Shikharas reveals unmistakable signs of southern intrusion.[1] The plan of the deuḷa is oblong and the jagamohana is a rectangular structure, but embedded in each angle is a small subsidiary shrine. Baitala deuḷa boasts of some figures, although executed in relief, are however characterized by delicacy of features and perfect equipoise.[2][3]
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, Surya noted for its facial expression, with Usha (Dawn) and Pratyusha shooting arrows on either side and with Aruna 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
Vertical panorama of the entire temple
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
Alasakanya
Ganesha
A pediment in one of the sides of the temple depicting Shiva in a sitting position
A pediment on top of two columns and a niche.
Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made. It is known as a harikāṭha or jupastambha.
Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made, close-up.
A pediment on one of the sides of the temple.
A close up on the central pediment
Relief detail on Baitala Deula temple with the symbol of Purna Kalasha surrounded by garlands.
A double pediment depicting a dancing Shiva
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]'
^D.P.Ghosh, Nirmal Kumar Bose and Y.D.Sharma. Designs from Orissan Temples. P.24
^Brockman, Norbert C. (2011). Encyclopedia of Sacred Places. California: ABC-CLIO, LLC. pp. 212–213. ISBN978-1-59884-655-3.
^Parida, A.N. (1999). Early Temples of Orissa (1st ed.). New Delhi: Commonwealth Publishers. pp. 85–89. ISBN81-7169-519-1.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vaital Deula.
Vaitala Deula (Teeni Mundia Deula)
January 08, 2023
baitala, deula, baitāḷa, deuḷa, vaitāḷa, deuḷa, odia, ବଇତ, ଉଳ, century, hindu, temple, typical, khakara, style, kalinga, architecture, dedicated, goddess, chamunda, located, bhubaneswar, capital, city, odisha, india, also, locally, known, tini, mundia, deula, . Baitaḷa deuḷa or Vaitaḷa deuḷa Odia ବଇତ ଳ ଦ ଉଳ is an 8th century Hindu temple of the typical Khakara style of the Kalinga architecture dedicated to Goddess Chamunda located in Bhubaneswar the capital city of Odisha India 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 Baitala deuḷaବଇତ ଳ ଦ ଉଳClockwise from top left Side view of main deula Ardhanarishwara image View of deula and jagamohana with three towers amp flags visible which give it the name tinimundia deulaReligionAffiliationHinduismDistrictKhurdaDeityChamunda Kapalini LocationLocationBhubaneswarStateOdishaCountryIndiaLocation in OdishaGeographic coordinates20 16 N 85 15 E 20 267 N 85 250 E 20 267 85 250 Coordinates 20 16 N 85 15 E 20 267 N 85 250 E 20 267 85 250ArchitectureTypeKalinga architecture Contents 1 Architecture 2 The Deity 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 Footnotes 6 External linksArchitecture EditBaitaḷa Deuḷa Temple s striking feature is the shape of its sanctuary tower The semi cylindrical shape of its roof is a leading example of Khakhara order of temples which bears an affinity to the Dravidian Gopuram of the South Indian temples Its gabled towers with a row of Shikharas reveals unmistakable signs of southern intrusion 1 The plan of the deuḷa is oblong and the jagamohana is a rectangular structure but embedded in each angle is a small subsidiary shrine Baitala deuḷa boasts of some figures although executed in relief are however characterized by delicacy of features and perfect equipoise 2 3 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 Surya noted for its facial expression with Usha Dawn and Pratyusha shooting arrows on either side and with Aruna 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 Baitaḷa Deuḷa is a Shakti shrine The Deity Edit Vertical panorama of the entire temple 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 Edit Alasakanya Ganesha A pediment in one of the sides of the temple depicting Shiva in a sitting position A pediment on top of two columns and a niche Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made It is known as a harikaṭha or jupastambha Supposed stone on which sacrifices were made close up A pediment on one of the sides of the temple A close up on the central pediment Relief detail on Baitala Deula temple with the symbol of Purna Kalasha surrounded by garlands A double pediment depicting a dancing Shiva Inscription on outer right wall in Odia script It reads ସ ର କ ସ ପ ତ ସ ରଣ transliteration sri kasipti sraṇa in old Odia which means I seek shelter at the feet of the Lord of Kashi Shiva Several pediments at one side of the temple Parvati Ardhanarishwara Alasakanya Panorama with streetSee also EditVarahi Deula Chaurasi List of temples in BhubaneswarFootnotes Edit D P Ghosh Nirmal Kumar Bose and Y D Sharma Designs from Orissan Temples P 24 Brockman Norbert C 2011 Encyclopedia of Sacred Places California ABC CLIO LLC pp 212 213 ISBN 978 1 59884 655 3 Parida A N 1999 Early Temples of Orissa 1st ed New Delhi Commonwealth Publishers pp 85 89 ISBN 81 7169 519 1 External links Edit 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baitala Deula amp oldid 1071021217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
