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The temple of Hara-Candi is situated at a distance of 1 1/2 kms to the southwest corner of the Jagannatha temple in the Hara Candi sahi of Puri town. Skanda Purana made a reference to Hara Canndi as one of the Sakti (goddess) among eight Saktis who are engaged to protect Ratnavedi. The temple of Hara Candi is a small deula and it consists of two structures viz vimana and jagamohana. It faces to north. VimanaThe vimana of the temple is a pancaratha pidha deula (Pl.No-33)and its height is about 20 feet from the surface of the temple complex. 53 The structure of the 285

vimana has four parts such as pista, bada, gandi and mastaka. The pista is about 1 1/2 feet in height and it is completely undecorated. The bada of the vimana is pancanga type i.e. having five fold divisions such as pabhaga, tala jangha, bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. All the component parts of the bada are devoid of decorative ornamentations. The three sides central niches of the bada are housed with parsvadevata images of devi Narayani, Varahi and Ugra Tara. The four armed devi Narayani is the parsvadevata of the eastern side. It has been installed on the plain pedestal. Here devi is carved in padamasana posture. She displays cakra in right upper hand, gada in right lower hand, conch in left upper hand and padma in left lower hand. The image of Narayani is about 1 foot high. The four armed devi Varahi is the parsvadevata of the southern side. She has been installed on the plain pedestal. The image is also carved in padmasana posture. She displays khadga in right upper hand, varada mudra in right lower hand, pana patra in left upper hand and the left lower hand holds a baby. The image of devi Varahi is about one foot in height. The four armed image of Ugra-Tara is the parsvadevata of the western side. She has been installed on the prostrate body of male figure. Devi Ugra-Tara displays khadga in right upper hand, pana patra in left upper hand, cutting head in left lower hand and the attributes in left upper hand is not clerarly visible. She wears a garland of skulls in her body, which lies towards her feet. All the side deities in the bada of vimana are made of chlorite. The bada of the vimana is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure and it consists of five flat shaped pidhas. The base of the gandi continues the pancaratha plan of the bada. Jhapa simhas are projected on the middle portion of each side of the gandi. Dopichha lions are not found from 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 as usual components of Orissan pidha deula. Here the ayudha is cakra. The sanctum preserves the image of ten-armed goddess Hara Candi as the presiding deity of the temple. The devsis in the form of Mahisamardini Durga. She possesses as usual attributes in hands. There is another slab containing an image of same Candi installed on the left side of the presiding deity. According to tradition, the additional image of devi Hara Chandi was brought from the tank of Svetaganga. A brass image of eight armed Candi is also worshipped in the sanctum. Inner walls 286

of the sanctum are covered with glazed tiles and the ground floor is covered by marbles. The sanctum has one dooway towards the jagamohana. The entire doorway is covered with glazed tiles. The lintel portion is depicted with paintings of Ganesa, Gaja-Laksmi and Sarasvati. Navagrahas are finely carved on the architrave above the doorway lintel. Figures of Vyaghra mukhi and Simhamukhi are depicted on either side jamb of the doorway. The diminutive jhapa simhas are carved on the both sides base of the doorjambs. The left side wall of the doorway contains an image of Kartikeya in its niche. While the right side wall niche of the doorway contains an iamge of Ganesa. There is a small shrine of Siva closely attached to the right side wall of the doorway. Jagamohana:The jagamohana of the temple has a flat roof and it is built in 1980's by local people. Inner side westrern wall is depicted with a painting of asstabhuja Mahisamardini Durga. She displays trident, cakra, arrow and khadga in right side hands while the left four hands hold conch, bow, snake and knife respectively. Lion, the conventional mount of devi is noticed in the floor of the jagamohana. Two lions are projected on the both sides of the entrance of jagamohana. Date of the temple:According to priests of the temple, this temple is not older than 300 years. B. K. Ratha has referred that the temple of Hara Chandi was constructed in the 17th century AD 54. The construction period of the Hara Candi temple can be tentatively assigned to the second half of the 17th century AD on the consideration of its building style.