Sobhanesvara Temple, Niali: A Study of Art, Architecture and Iconography

Dr. Rusav Kumar Sahu

Abstract: Sobhanesvara temple at Niali is located on the eastern bank of the river Prachi which was constructed towards latter half of the 12th century CE as per the inscription carved on the eastern wall of jagamohana. Accordingly, the temple was constructed by the Nagavamsi king Vaidyanatha probably a vassal king of the Ganga monarch. The writer of the inscription was a poet namely Udayana known from the inscriptions discovered from the Amaresvara temple located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. This is one of the important Saivite shrines of not only in coastal Odisha but also in India.

Keywords: Sobhanesvra, Siva, garbhagriha, vimana, jagamohana, natamandapa, bhogamandapa, iconography, Visnu, Dikpalas, pidhamundi, khakhara mundi, bho motif, kirtimukha