2.4. The Bhogamandapa (hall of offering)

The bhogamandapa of the Jagannatha temple stands immediately to the east of the natamandapa. It is a pancaratha pidha deula like the jagamohana and it is made of yellowish sand stones rendered red-ochre painting. This structure is profusely carved in the most finished style of Orissan art. It is the only part of the temple complex, which is not suffered from plastering and white wash. The structure of bhogamandapa is smaller than the other sanctuaries. It measures 58 93

feet by 56 feet on the ground plan and also stands on a richly sculptured pista of 7 feet 6 inches high.39 It has also four vertical divisions such as pista, bada, gandi and mastaka. The total height of the bhogamandapa is about 75 feet from the road level. The pista of the bhogamandapa consists of five fold vertical divisions such as pabhaga, tala jangha, bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. The upana portion of the pista is relieved with rows of elephants and mounted cavaliers. The pabhaga of the pista has usual five conventional mouldings of khura, kumbha, patta, kani and basanta. The barandi shows a bridled sardula mounted by a human figure having kilted legs. Small dopichha lions are fixed at the corners of the plinth. The jangha of the high plinth is decorated with pidha mundis, naga pilasters etc. Jali works are noticeable in all the elements of pista. The niches in the barandis contain chlorite figures of the deities and amorous couples. In the narrow recesses of the barandi portion contain amorous couples or mithuna figures. The pidha mundis are flanked by naga-nagini columns, which capped by seven hooded serpent. In the niches of the barandi are housed with chlorite figures which derived from the Indian mythological scenes. Depiction of Krsna's entire life story at the top of the plinth in a row is quite striking. Among the twelve festivals (kautuka yatras), two festivals i.e. the Dolayatra (swinging festival) and Navakeli yatra (rowing festival) are prominently portrayed. 40 The Dolayatra of Lord Krsna is engraved in the niche of the upper barandi. The figure of Lord Siva dancing on a bull is finely engraved. The scenes of the grazing cows with their calves including Lord Krsna with the cowherd boys have been nicely depicted. Lord Krsna is playing on the flute and dancing with gopis. In the eastern side niche is depicted with the scene of the rowing of boat containing Lord Krsna. All the rowers are milk-women (gopis) who are making strenuous efforts in rowing. Other gopalila scenes of Lord Krsna, which depicted in the niches of the high plinth are viz. dancing figure of Lord Krsna, Aghasura badha, Putanabadha, Bakasura badha, lifting of GiriGovardhana, childhood scene of Lord Krsna with gopis etc. The scene of Rama's installation on the throne of Ayodhya or Oudh is more attractive to visitors and other notable scene is Indra with his Airavata. 94

The bada of the bhogamandapa is pancanga type i.e. having five vertical divisions such as pabhaga, tala jangha, bandhana, upper jangha and baranda. All the component parts of bada are richly carved with jali works and sculptures. The pabhaga of the bada consists of five conventional mouldings of khura, kumbha, patta, kani and basanta. The bottom portion of the bada or pabhaga is excellently relieved with khakhara mundis flanked by naga pilasters, jali works, bhara-raksakas and flower devices. Small dopichha lions are also fixed on the corner walls of the pabhaga. The lower jangha is richly decorated with rekha munndis (miniature rekha temples), small dopichha lions at corners, woman tree motifs, royal tour scene of Puri king with his retinue, amorous. couples, scroll works, image of Lord Visnu, abhiseka scene of Lord Rama, dancing figure of Lord Krsna, rowing of boats, kirtimukha designs in the pilasters and lastly the worship of Mahimsamardini Durga-Sivalinga with Madhava (Jagannatha) by the king. The asta-dikpalas are comfortably housed in the rekha mundi niches of the tala-jangha. They are all in seated postures with their respective mounts and directions. These dikpalas display usual attributes in their hands. The bandhana of the bada consists of five horizontal mouldings, which are finely relieved with jali works and lotus petalled designs. The upper jangha of the bada is decorated with kirtimukha motifs, dancing female figures with musical instruments, amorous couples or mithuna figures, royal court scene of Puri king, war tour scene of animals (elephants and horses), images of RamaLaxmana-Sita on the throne, tandava nrtya of Lord Siva, Gaja-Laksmi image, some gopalila scenes of Lord Krsna such as Krsna playing on the flute with gopis, Krsna is swinging under the Kadamba tree etc. The counter parts of the asta-dikpalas are also depicted in the upper jangha of the bada. They are finely carved with their respective mounts and directions. There is a notable bas-relief of Ananta-sayee Visnu depicted in the southern side outer wall of the bhogamandapa. The baranda of the bada consists of five horizontal mouldings, which are relieved with scrollwork, jali works, flower devices, kirtimukha designs, cavaliers, rows of elephants, and lions. The chlorite sculptural images contained in the niches of the outer walls of the bhogamandapa, are said to have been brought from the Sun temple of Konarka by Marahattas for the decoration of the temple." R.L.Mitra also 95

96 96 42 mentions that the images are so completely integrated into the structure that he believed it to have been dismantled at Konarka transferred into to Puri and reassembled in its present location. 22 These sculptures represent various aspects of Indian culture running from mythology to abundant display of social scenes and marching of royal army. The pyramidal superstructure is surmounted on the bada of bhogamandapa. It consists of three tiers or potalas such as the lower, middle and upper potalas, which contain six, four and three pidhas respectively. The kanthi or intervening recess separates each potala of the gandi. The figure of lion is projected at the centreof each potala on all sides. The kanthis or recesses between the potalas are filled with figures of ten incarnations of Lord Visnu, dancing female figures, miniature pidha sikharas, mounted elephants, cavaliers and male dancers with musical instruments. The southern side lower potala is relieved with images of Ganesa, Sarasvati, Buddha and Varaha. Dopichha lions are fixed on the top of kanika pagas of the gandi. Garuda figures are inserted in the four cardinal directions of the beki above rahas. The mastaka of the bhogamandapa consists of as usual elements of Orissan pidha deula except that a brazen pot is placed on the top of it. Seven deula Carini figures are also inserted as the supporting elements to the brazen pot of the mastaka. The inner walls of the bhogamandapa are devoid of decorative ornamentations in contrast to the exterior walls. The four heavy square sized pillars support the pyramidal roof of the bhogamandapa. The structure of bhogamandapa is bounded on the south by a covered gangway leading to it and the part of the natamandapa from the kitchen. This is a subsequent addition to the refectory or hall of offering. It has a flight of steps to the north. The eastern, southern and northern sides of the bhogamandapa are provided with doorways. All the doorways of bhogamandapa are mostly same designs and made of black chlorite. The jambs, lintels and navagraha slabs are remarkably executed by the delicate carvings like the Jaya-Vijaya doorway of the jagamohana. The figures of Ganga and Yamuna with their respective mounts are carved on either side jamb of the doorways and they are depicted in standing postures. The bottom portions

of the doorjambs are decorated with khakhara mundis, which contain JayaVijaya figures who are acting as the traditional dvarapalas of the temple. 44 According to traditions recorded in theMadalapanji, the bhogamandapa of the Jagannatha temple was constructed by Gajapati Purusottama Deva (AD 1467-1497).43 T.E. Donaldson has forwarded the view that the bhogamandapa of the Jagannatha temple was built during the reign of King Purusottama Deva (1467-1497 AD). On the basis of an inscription, K.C. Mishra opines that Virakishore Deva (1737-93 AD) and his queen not only constructed the bhogamandapa and Snanavedibut also remodelled the Ratnavedi. 45 On the basis of the architectural features, the construction period of the bhogamandapa can be tentatively assigned to the last quarter of the 15th century AD. Most probably, it was built by Purusottama Deva, the Suryavamsi ruler of Orissa.