Bharati Matha Temple

Bharati Matha
Bharati Matha Location in Orissa
Geography
Coordinates
Country	India
State	Orissa
Location	Bhubaneswar
Elevation	26 m (85 ft)
Culture
Primary deity	lord Vishnu
Architecture
Architectural styles	Kalingan Style (Kalinga Architecture)
History and governance
Date built	11th century AD.

Bharati Matha Temple is a temple of the Hindu God Siva. This is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar (The Temple city of India), a well known heritage place and capital of the State of Orissa. The temple is a Hindu monastery with three stories which was built in the 11th century AD. It is currently used for living Matha purposes and earlier it was used as a Hindu pilgrimage centre.

Location

Lat. 20° 14’ 43” N., Long. 85° 49’ 93” E., Elev. 86 ft.

Approach

Bharati Matha is located in the Badheibanka Chowk, Old Town Bhubaneswar. One can approach the Matha on the left side of Ratha road leading from Lingaraja to Ramesvara Goswami is the present Mahanta of the Matha. It is one of the oldest Hindu monasteries of Bhubaneswar.

Surrounding

The Matha is surrounded by Ratha road in east, Jamesvara Patna road in south, private buildings in north and Bhrukutesvara temple in west.

Orientation

The Matha is facing towards the west.

Tradition and legends

According to local legend as narrated by the Mahanta, the monastery was established by Yajati Kesari, the builder of the Lingaraja Temple, and the Matha was initially used to house the artisans who were engaged in the construction of Lingaraja Temple.

Ownership

This temple is not under any private ownership and comes under public property. It is under the care and maintenance of the Endowment Department and on the personal supervision of Matha Mahanta Pranab Kishore Bharati Goswami.

Significance

Cultural

Rituals like Kartika purnima, Prathamastami, Durga puja, etc., are celebrated. During Prathamastami, Lord Lingaraja comes here to visit his uncle in the Matha.

Social

Marriage ceremonies, thread ceremonies, engagements and name giving ceremonies are observed.

Associational

Endowment Department.

Architectural features

Plan and elevation

The Matha is square on a plan measuring 26.00 square mts. The Matha stands on a high platform measuring 1.50 metres and it has seven mouldings. On elevation, the Matha is a three storied building measuring 11.50 metres in height. With a central courtyard, there are three living rooms in each side of the Matha. Each room measures 6.15 metres in length x 3.45 metres in width. The Matha is enclosed by a massive compound wall that measures 53.60 square metres with a height of 2.52 metres.

Decorative features

Doorjambs: The doorjamb of the Matha measures 1.70 metres in height x 0.84 metres in width, with a thickness of 0.35 metres.

Building material

This temple is made up of coarse grey sandstone and the construction technique is masonry type.

Preservation

Showing signs of deterioration because of the growth of wild vegetation and the collapse of wall and superstructure in the east and north. There is damage all over the walls due to the growth of vegetation.

Signs of distress

The Matha is in a dilapidated condition. The rooms in the western wing have already collapsed and only the outer wall exists.

Structural problems

The southern wing, which is now used, is also in a dilapidated condition and first floors have collapsed. Rain water is seeping inside the rooms through the cracks in the roof creating danger to the structure.

Repairs and maintenance

It was repaired by the Matha Mahanta recently during Durgapuja but only a little work has been done. The building needs total restoration and conservation in view of its archaic architecture.

Conservation problem and remedies

Due to the cracks in the roof, rain water is seeping into the rooms.

Burial temples

Pipal trees and Asoka trees are found on the outer wall of the Matha on the northern and southern sides. In the southern side of the entrance there is a cluster of nine small temples and a few detached sculptures and temple fragments kept within a small compound, behind the Matha shrine of Talesvara Siva temple. These nine temples of Pidha order enshrine the Siva lingam in the sanctum. According to the Matha legend these temples are dedicated to the previous Matha Mahantas in recognition of their contribution and religious merits. These shrines have been erected upon the burial of the deceased Mahantas, which was an interesting and important Matha tradition in the past. These shrines have been named as burial temples to distinguish them from the other temples.

See also

• List of temples in Bhubaneswar

Reference notes

1. K. C. Panigrahi, Archaeological Remains at Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, 1961. P. 19.
2. T. E. Donaldson, Hindu Temple Art of Orissa, Vol. I, Leiden, 1985, P. 64.
3. Date of Documentation: 22.10.2006

References

• Lesser Known Monuments of Bhubaneswar by Dr. Sadasiba Pradhan (ISBN 81-7375-164-1)