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The temple of Ksetrapala Siva is situated on the inner enclosure of the southern side of the Jagannatha temple complex of Puri. This temple is close to the Muktimandapa. According to a tradition, devotees get permission to visit 215

Jagannatha after worshipping Kshetrapala Shiva. That is why, the deity is generally called as the guardian of the city (ksetra). 108 The temple of Kshetrapala is built in sand stones, called as Baulamala patharas. It consists of two structures such as vimana and mukhasala. The temple faces to south towards sea (Mahodadhi) Vimana The vimana of the Ksetrapala temple is a rekha deula and its height is about 35 feet from the surface of the temple complex. It is thickly plastered with lime mortar. The structure has four parts such as pista, bada, gandi and mastaka. It is erected on the plinth of 3 feet high. The base of the bada is square of 16 feet. The bada of the vimana has three divisions viz pabhaga, jangha and baranda. The pabhaga of the bada consists of conventional mouldings of khura, kumbha, patta, kani and basanta. The pagas of the jangha are decorated with rekha mundis. The baranda of the bada consists of three horizontal mouldings. Parsvadevatas:The central niches of the three sides of the bada are housed with parsvadevata images of Kutab-Candi, devi Kali and Yama. The image of KutabCandi is the parsvadevata of the eastern side of the bada. She has been installed on the standing dog, possibly the mount. Due to restrictions for entry towards this devi, survey could not be done in detailed about the gestures of the hands of the deity. Devi Kali is the parsvadevata of the northern side. The four handed image of Kali has been installed on the prostrate body of Siva. She displays khadga in right upper hand, gada in right lower hand, cutting head in left upper hand and a blood pot in left lower hand respectively. The kirtimukha design is finely carved on the top of the background slab of the deity. Two flying apsara figures are also carved on either side top corner of the slab. The image of Yama is the parsvadevata of the western side. He has been installed on the backside of buffalo, the conventional mount. He holds usual elements in his hands. The bada of the vimana is surmounted by the curvilinear tower and it exhibits five pagas or rathas. All the pagas of the gandi are mostly undercorated. Jhapa simhas are projected on each side middle portion of the raha paga of gandi. The base of the frontal raha paga of the gandi contains an angasikhara. The entire gandi of the vimana is mostly undecorated .Dopichha lions are completely absent 216

in their respective places. Deula Carini figures are inserted in the four cardinal directions of the beki above rahas. The mastaka of the vimana consists of beki, amalaka sila, khapuri and kalasa. Other elements like ayudha and dhvaja are not found from the top of the mastaka. The sanctum preserves Sivalinga within Saktipitha as the presiding deity of the temple. The inner walls of the sanctum are devoid of decorative ornamentation in contrast to the outer walls. The sanctum of the vimana has one doorway towards the jagamohana. The door jambs of the main deula are completely undecorated. The image of Gaja -Lakhsmi is carved on the centre of the doorway lintel. The figures of Nandi and Bhrngi are carved in standing posture on either side jamb of the doorway. Mukhasala or Jagamohana:The mukhasala of the Ksetrapala temple is a small pidha deula and its height is about 15 feet from the surface of the temple complex. The structure of the mukhasala is supported by four octagonal pillars. It is an open mandapa hall. The gandi of this structure is a pyramidal superstructure. Bull, the conventional mount of Lord Siva is installed in a separate small pidha structure, which is erected in front of the mukhasala. was constructed According to R. C. Mishra, the temple of Ksetrapala during the time of Ananga bhima Deva. 109 On the basis of the architectural style, the vimana or main deula of the Ksetrapala temple was probably constructed during the Ganga period of Orissa history.