Heritage enthusiasts, continuing with their weekly endeavor to uncover the rich historical and cultural treasures of Odisha, explored the 16th-century Lakshminarayan temple at Sadhei Sashan village in Odisha’s Jagatsighpur district.
Believed to have been built during the 16th Century during the reign of the Gajapati rulers, the Lakshminarayan Temple stands as a fine example of Odisha’s ‘peedha deula’ architectural style.
Built from stone, the temple complex comprises a sanctum sanctorum, a rectangular Jagamohana with a flat roof, and an additional modern hall in front. The presiding deity, Narayan, is a low-seated on chlorite stone idol accompanied by Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. The idol’s sculptural finesse and stylistic features suggest an origin linked to the Ganga dynasty. Within the same complex lies the Banteswar Mahadev Temple, adding to the site’s spiritual ambiance.
The group of heritage enthusiasts also proceeded to explore the ancient Bhubaneswar Mahadev Temple and Bhagwati Peeth near Balia Gopinathpur village, situated along the Biluakhai river basin.
This ancient Shaivite shrine, believed to be over 1,100 years old as per the Archaeological Survey of India’s assessment, is an invaluable relic of Odisha’s sacred heritage. The temple, crafted from black stone, enshrines a chlorite stone Shiva Lingam in its sanctum. Remarkably, the temple’s main deity is worshiped in the Bhubanmohan form—depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati together, serenely playing the ‘veena’. Adjacent to it stands the Bhagwati temple, a modern reconstruction built upon the remnants of an ancient shrine, housing an exceptionally old and revered idol of Goddess Bhagwati, said the convener of the heritage walk, Srikant Singh.