PILGRIMAGE
IN INDIA
Vaital Temple:- Vaital
temple is perhaps the finest extent
representative of the Khakhara order of the Kalinga style of
temple architecture, an order that was specially devoted
to
the tantric cults. The deul rectangular in shape and oblong on
plan, is positioned at a right
angle to the flat-roofed
jagamohana. The two-storeyed semi-cylindrical wagon roof
of the deul strongly suggests the influence of Buddhist cave
architecture. The vault of the deul is rather plain without any
art work and the shape of the common deul in miniature form
adorns the four corners of the jagamohana. In place
of the
traditional ratha projections, the bada has shallow pilasters.
On the backside, the five pilasters have been crowned
by
two vidalas seated back to back above two carved mouldings. The medallion
of the upper chaitya window, in addition to a ten-armed Nataraj, has the
figures of Lakulisa on the south and the composite form of Hari-Hara
on the north. In front of the jagamohana the stone post shows two Buddha
like figures seated in the famous dharmachakra
pravartana mudra. The unconcealed apathy and animosity
of the Pasupatas (ardent Shiva worshippers) towards
Buddhism has probably provided the inspiration for the
ironical representation of the Buddha on the sacrificial post
found in front of the Vaital deul that was once an important centre for the
esoteric rites of the Tantrics. The presiding deity of the temple is Chamunda,
a tantric cult-name for Durga or Shakti. In keeping with the requirements
of the sect, the sanctum is dark and the whole atmosphere
is disquieting and weird. The eight-armed Chamunda, locally known
as Kapalini, planked by an owl and a
jackal, sits on a corpse. Her body, emaciated and reduced to skin
and bones, is adorned with the garland of skulls. Her sunken eyes and
shrunken belly and the cerie setting with a number of strange
images filling the niches around the sanctum,
present here in her terrible best.
Some of the early erotic sculptures in Orissan art are
found here. The erotica later became a conventional motif, ubiquitously present
in almost all forms of decorative temple
architecture. The figures depicted in various
positions were probably relevant in the context of the tantric rites. On the
eastern face of the temple one can see an extremely fine image of the Sun god
flanked by his sisters Usha and Pratyusa and the chariot is
driven by Aruna. The sun motif was developed to fruition at a later date
in the famous Sun temple at Konark.
Getting there and around
By Air - Bhubaneshwar
is the nearest airport i.e. 60kms from Puri. It is well connected to the other
major cities of India.
By Rail - Puri
is wel connected to the major city of Orrisa by regular and few express trains.
By Road - Puri
is well connected by road with important cities in and out of the state, Bhubaneshwar,
Konark, Berhampur, Taptapani, Sambalpur and Kolkata.
Accommodation:- There
are a number of hotels, lodges, dharmashalas and youth hostel and Panthnivas,
most of them along the beach. The wide range of accommodation
make it convenient for the tourists
to choose according to their pockets and likings. The budget class hotels
are to be found generally at the norther end of the
beach. The Dharmshalas charge a nominal tariff of Rs 2 to 3 per head per day.
Some of the hotels include Panthanivas , Youth Hostel
, SE Rly Hotel, Chakrathirtha Road, Puri Hotel, Sagarika
Hotel, Victoria Club Hotel, Bay view Hotel. The Dharmashalas
are on the Grand Road or at Dolavedi.
