BHUVANESWAR
The Hari-Hara Kshetra

The Eastern gate is the biggest and is capped by a 50 foot high pyramidal roof. As seen in the great Puri temple, the tower on the gate is small in size and adornment, when compared with the tower on the sanctum sanctorum. Atop the tower of the main temple, there are seen the replicas of the Orissan symbol of the lion crushing an elephant and the great Gryphones supporting the disc at the summit. They are exquisitely carved. Expect this, there is nothing that catches the attention of the visitors. As a matter of fact, sculpture is subordinated to architecture in the upper part. The main temple measures 147 feet in height and enshrines three deities on three sides-the principal one-Bhagavathi is on the North, Karthikeya on the West and Ganesh on the South. The Lord Lingraj made of black stone measures 8 feet in height and is encircled by a stone rim drawn to a point on the north side. The sculptural beauty on the walls attracts all sections of people. The scenes depicting the marching army and jewellery displayed are superb. Many miniature buildings - votive shrines - the replicas of the tower found around the temple, constructed by the donors from time to time; but are totally neglected by the management. Standing in ruins, due to inadequate attention, they wring tears, to speak the truth. When caught between the wonder at the exquisitely chiselled, masterly embellished sculptural beauties, the handi-work of divine artists, and despair at the near ruins of the subsidiary shrines, the guide hastens the sight seers out of the compound for seeing the worth, seeing ones, lying in its neighbourhood.

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