Parshurameswar Temple

Parashurameswar Temple, built in 650 AD, is one of the oldest temples existing in Bhubaneswar. A typical example of the Orissan style of temple architecture, the temple features pine spire curving up to a point over the sanctum and the pyramid-covered Jagamohana, where people sit and pray.

Small but richly decorated shrine of Lord Shiva, the Parashurameswar Temple has sculptures of amorous couples, animals and floral designs. The windows of the temple have exquisite bas-relief of horses and elephant processions and lattice work. The outer wall of the temple has carvings of Lord Ganesh, Kartikeya, Shiva, Parvati, and other deities. There are also several carvings depicting stories from Puranas. The architrave of the inner doorway is decorated with figures of the eight planets.

The decorative scheme of the shrine, in the temple, is well-organized, with close adherence to ancient architectural texts. This is apparent in the base molding, the clear-cut division of the wall into three segments, and the very precise decorative treatment of the shrine tower. There is considerable disparity in the quality of carving of the walls of the main hall and that of the shrine. The carvings of the shrine are vastly superior to those of the hall. In the northwest corner of the temple compound is the exotically unique ‘one thousand Lingas’.

The temple, on the same side as the Lingaraj Temple is located 2 km south of city center and is close to the main Bhubaneswar-Puri road.