Nilkantheswar Shiva Temple

Nilakanthesvara Shiva Temple is a temple in Orissa, India, located on the western embankment of the Bindusagar tank. It is situated on the left side of the lane branching from the road leading from Kedar Gouri chowk to the Vaitaḷa deuḷa in Bhubaneswar, the capital state of Orissa. The temple faces east. The temple's enshrining deity is a circular yoni pitha with a chlorite Siva lingam. The temple is made out of sandstone. The present temple is a recent construction over the remains of an earlier one. The building material is old but the entire structure now has cement plaster and an enamel point.The temple has multiple public owners.HistoryThe original temple was constructed during the 10th Century, as indicated by the Parsvadevata-like Kartikeya holding a cock in his upper left hand.The local people ascribe the temple to the Kesaris (Somavamsis). Its cultural significance is Sankranti and Sivaratri. Its social significance was for the rituals of Sradha, Rudrabhiseka, mangula, marriage and thread ceremonies.DescriptionThe temple is made of sandstone. The interior is dry masonry with cement plaster. The temple is in Kalingan style. It is in fair condition. Its architecture, historic and cultural importance are graded B. Its associational importance is graded C.There is a modern compound wall measuring 9.50 metres in length x 1.48 metres height x 0.40 metres thickness made of laterite with two entrances. On the northern side of the temple there is a circular yoni pitha with Siva lingam. The eastern side of the temple displays four eroded, detached sculptures that are not clearly identifiable.