Neelakantheswar Temple of Papadahandi.
By: Basant Rath, Editor-In-Chief Indravati Today.
Papadahandi, an important seat of culture and citadel of Saivism is totally forgotten from historical studies till the present day. It is located by the side of NH. 201 at the junction where the road to Maidalpur and Bhawanipatna branches off from the main road leading to Umerkote and the Chattisgad. Papadahandi the erstwhile pipplahundi is situated at distance of 12 kms from the district headquarters. The importance of the village lies in its Neelakanthaswar temple. The village may be identified with Pippalahundi mentioned in inscription of medieval period found at Podagada. It is a place of historic antiquity. During Maha Sivasratri, Kartika Mondays, and Purnima large number of devotees gather and pay their homage.
A ruined fort and a chain of three long and narrow tanks still exist the latter marking clearly the line of the moat encircling the fort. The Turi River is a tributary of the Indravati River. The ancient and historic Nilakantheswar temple which influenced the cult and culture of Papadahandi. The ancient pippalaundi region is a Somavansi structure of medieval period. The temple has a sanctorum, a jogamohan and a kitchen to its right. It is squre nagara rekha temple, belonging to the style of Kalinga School of Art and architecture. The temple is of Panchantra verity also called Pidhadaula. The temple was built with the same plan and during the same period with the temple of Brahmeswar at Bhubaneswar and the temple of Narasimha Nath at Paikmal. The temple is a proto type of Narasimha Nath Temple. It was built during the time of either Yajati Keshar – II, or during the time of Udyokta Keshari. The period of construction of the temple can be fixed between 1024 to 1085 A.D. The builder of the temple was either one of Somvansi representative of King of South Kosala starting Kumar Abhimanyu to Kumar Dharmaratha and posted during the period from 1024 to 1085 A.D or by Devi Kalavati the mother Udtokata keshari and wife of Yajati- II. The name is mentioned on the Keshari Bedhaa stone inscription of the Nala King Bhava Datta Verman ( 5th Century A.D ).
31 August 2009
Neelakantheswar Temple of Papadahandi.
By: Basant Rath, Editor-In-Chief Indravati Today.
Papadahandi, an important seat of culture and citadel of Saivism is totally forgotten from historical studies till the present day. It is located by the side of NH. 201 at the junction where the road to Maidalpur and Bhawanipatna branches off from the main road leading to Umerkote and the Chattisgad. Papadahandi the erstwhile pipplahundi is situated at distance of 12 kms from the district headquarters. The importance of the village lies in its Neelakanthaswar temple. The village may be identified with Pippalahundi mentioned in inscription of medieval period found at Podagada. It is a place of historic antiquity. During Maha Sivasratri, Kartika Mondays, and Purnima large number of devotees gather and pay their homage.
A ruined fort and a chain of three long and narrow tanks still exist the latter marking clearly the line of the moat encircling the fort. The Turi River is a tributary of the Indravati River. The ancient and historic Nilakantheswar temple which influenced the cult and culture of Papadahandi. The ancient pippalaundi region is a Somavansi structure of medieval period. The temple has a sanctorum, a jogamohan and a kitchen to its right. It is squre nagara rekha temple, belonging to the style of Kalinga School of Art and architecture. The temple is of Panchantra verity also called Pidhadaula. The temple was built with the same plan and during the same period with the temple of Brahmeswar at Bhubaneswar and the temple of Narasimha Nath at Paikmal. The temple is a proto type of Narasimha Nath Temple. It was built during the time of either Yajati Keshar – II, or during the time of Udyokta Keshari. The period of construction of the temple can be fixed between 1024 to 1085 A.D. The builder of the temple was either one of Somvansi representative of King of South Kosala starting Kumar Abhimanyu to Kumar Dharmaratha and posted during the period from 1024 to 1085 A.D or by Devi Kalavati the mother Udtokata keshari and wife of Yajati- II. The name is mentioned on the Keshari Bedhaa stone inscription of the Nala King Bhava Datta Verman ( 5th Century A.D ).
