The Somabaresvara Siva Temple enhances Bhubaneswar’s reputation as “the Temple City of India.” It serves as a sacred place for pilgrims and tourists alike, enhancing the economy of the city and adding to the preservation of culture. Visitors often include this temple in one or another Odisha tour package, making it a must-stop for tourists dealing with the religious and historical heritage of the region.
For an invigorating experience, visitors should incorporate the Somabaresvara Siva Temple into their Odisha tour packages. Other sites that can also be toured are Lingaraja Temple, Mukteswara Temple, and the Rajarani Temple, to give a well-rounded perspective into Bhubaneswar’s architectural and cultural heritage.
The Somabaresvara Temple is located in the area around the notable Kapilesvara Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It lies at latitude 20° 15′ 53″ N and longitude 85° 51′ 40″ E, with an elevation of 56 feet. Thus, it has become a prominent landmark amidst the temple city of Bhubaneswar and has attracted tourists as well as devotees.
Main Deity and Religious Importance
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped in the form of Sivalingam on a square yonipitha of sandstone. The temple is dedicated to a deity where the union of divine energies is symbolized present in all Shiva temples–the pidha vimana style displays the Kalinga architectural style.
Architectural Features
The Somabaresvara Temple shows a triratha plan while a part of the structure gets buried within the baranda. The temple faces west, and traces of some structures give an account of its past grandeur:
- The bada (base) remaining part is 0.78 meters.
- The height of gandi (body) is 0.75 meters, with three receding tiers.
- The height of the mastaka (crown) is 0.50 meters.
- The doorjamb measures 0.57 meters high and 0.38 meters wide, which is still 0.27 meters below the ground level in the sanctum.
- The cella measures 0.75 square meters in the ratio of a rectangle, and the area covered by the vimana is 1.15 square meters.
Surrounding structures
- The temple is a part of a wide complex, which is composed of various noted structures:
- To the west, at a distance of 7.50 meters, stands Beharana Mandapa.
- Eastwards, there is a sacred tank called Kapila Kunda.
- The Natamandapa (dance hall) of Kapilesvara Temple is to the north.
- The temple of Kala Bhairava is found to the south at a distance of 1.55 meters.
