Dhabaleswar Temple

Introduction to Dhabaleswar Temple

Odisha is popular for its ancient temples. Dhabaleswar Temple is one of the old temples in Cuttack, Odisha. It lies in the middle of the Mahanadi River. Since it lies in the lap of nature, people of Cuttack and nearby cities visit here to offer their prayers and enjoy an outing in nature as a family. It is 35 km away from the central city of Cuttack. The main deity of the Dhabaleswar Temple is Shiva.

Legend of Dhabaleswar Temple

The temple name was derived from 'Dhabala', which refers to white, and 'Eswar' refers to god. Hence, it is called Dhabaleswar Temple. According to the legend, once a thief stole a black calf from a village and hid inside the temple of Shiva. The villagers surrounded the temple with weapons. The crowd heard the cry of the calf. The thief prayed to Shiva to save him from the angry mob. Hearing his request, the deity Shiva appeared as a sanyasi in front of the mob and asked them why they were there. After hearing about the thief, he entered the temple. He brought a white calf from inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and cleared the crowd's doubts. People thought that the man was not the thief.

By then, the sanyasi had disappeared, and the thief knew it. He came in front of the village people and explained that the deity Shiva appeared in front of all to save him. He decided to stay there and spend the rest of his life serving the deity. As the deity turned the black calf white, he got another name, Dhabaleswar, and the temple was named after him.

The Architecture of Dhabaleswar Temple

The emperor of Khurda, Bir Kishore, built the Dhabaleswar Temple. It was built in 1153 of the Saka era, 1232 AD. The Bhubaneswar Development Authority repaired and renovated the temple. The present temple reflects a blend of Kalinga and Dravidian styles. The main temple structure is built of sandstone. It has a square plan with a pyramidal roof. Several smaller shrines of various deities surround the main temple. The temple has three main chambers, with the central chamber housing the idol of Shiva.

The temple has a beautiful entrance known as Jagamohan. Intricate carvings of animals, birds, and mythological figures decorate it. It leads to the main hall of the temple, Natamandapa. Four pillars support it.

A Pindha Deula (commodities hall) is followed by the Garbha Griha (shrine) and Rekha Deula (above shrine), like Lingaraj Temple or Jagannath Temple. Around the temple, there is a marble-covered raised platform. There are some shops on the platform. Pilgrims can buy Pooja items from there. The Dhabaleswar Temple contains multiple sculptures of deities on its walls. Narasimha, Varaha, Kartikeya, and various Hindu deities' sculptures are present in the temple. Most deities were sculpted using black chlorite stones.

The distinctive feature of the Dhabaleswar Temple is its two-tiered roof which is made of terracotta tiles. The lower tier has a series of miniature temples. A series of pillars support the lower tier. The upper tier has a series of miniature shikharas (spires). A series of brackets or Sala support it. It is a unique feature of the temple's architecture. Intricate carvings of various Hindu deities and mythological scenes decorate the Sala brackets.

The main temple has steps leading downwards. In the end, there is a small raised platform with four pillars holding up a tapered roof. Pilgrims can see a heap of flowers offered to the deity inside the platform. The main deity Shiva is in the form of a lingam. The lingam is the main focus of worship at the Dhabaleswar Temple. It is one of the most sacred sites for Shaivites in the region.

Festivals in the Dhabaleswar Temple

Mahashivratri, Kartik Purnima, Paush Purnima, Dola Purnima, Durga Pooja, Janmashtami, Diwali, Holi, Ratha Yatra, and Saraswati Pooja are grandly celebrated in the Dhabaleswar Temple.

Benefits of Worshipping at Dhabaleswar Temple

Worshipping in Dhabaleswar Temple can help in spiritual growth as the temple is believed to have divine power to help clean the mind and soul. Worshipping the deity helps in removing difficulties and obstacles from devotees' lives. Offering prayers with faith and devotion at this temple can help one attain Moksha.