Mukteswara Temple
The Mukteswara temple of Bhubaneswar is regarded as on of the most delightful expressions of Kalinga School of architecture. It is also called the Gem of Orissa Architecture. Mukteswara temple is a captivating confluence of old and new style of Kalinga School of architecture. Panchatantra fables from the genies of ornate carvings of this temple. Magnificient arched gateway leads to temples’ interior which has excellent carftmanship reflecting the combination of Hindu, Buddhist and join features. Parsuraeswar temple stands just opposite the Mukteswara temple which is devoted to Kartik, the son of Lord Shiva.
Tales from Ramayana and Mahabharata are portrayed in brilliantly in carvings on the walls of Parsurameswara temple. Siddeswara temple is situated in the vicinity of Mukteswara temple. This temple has a magnificent image of lord Ganesh which is the main deity of the temple.
The sculptural decoration of the Mukteswara is exquisitely executed. The beautiful sculptures eloquently speak of the sense of proportion and perspective of the sculptor and their unique ability in the exact depiction of the minutest objects. The builders of Mukteswara Temple introduced new architectural designs, new art motifs and new conceptions about the icnography of the cult images. There are a number of depictions of skeletal ascetics among the sculptural images, most of them shown in teaching or meditation poses, which seems appropriate as the name Mukteswara means "Lord who gives freedom through Yoga".
