Chitrakarini Temple, Hindu temple in Old Town, Bhubaneswar, India.
Chitrakarini Temple is a stone Hindu sanctuary with an elaborately carved facade in the old town center of Bhubaneswar. The walls and central tower display complex stone work showing elephants, lions, dancing figures, and religious motifs that transform the entire structure into a crafted artwork.
The sanctuary was built in the middle of the 13th century under King Narasingh Dev-1 from the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. This period was marked by great artistic activity, and the temple reflects the architecture and stonework craftsmanship of that era.
The temple takes its name from the goddess of artists and painters. Devotees worship Chamunda in her powerful form, and throughout the sanctuary you see skillfully carved depictions of deities and mythological figures that turn the space into visual prayer.
The way in is through a narrow lane behind the larger Lingaraja Temple. The location is easy to reach on foot when you turn left from Lingaraja Temple Road and follow the path.
The sanctuary originally housed nine Shakti goddesses, five in the inner shrine and four more in the corner towers. This arrangement was rare and made the temple a special place devoted to the divine feminine.
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