The small and elegant Mukteswara temple is often referred to as the "miniature gem of Orissan architecture". The frequency with which the term 'gem' is employed will be immediately appreciated with the very first glimpse of this delicate, refined little structure.
In
addition to its beauty, the Mukteswara is important as a transition point
between the early and later phases of the 'Kalinga' School of Temple
Architecture. The builder has successfully combined many elements of the
old with new designs and conceptions. Many of the innovations took root,
and became essential features of all later temples. Because of this, one
scholar has described the Mukteswara as "harbinger of the new culture".Relationship Between Old & New Structures
The relationship with older structures can be immediately seen in the small size of the temple - 35 feet (11m) high at the pinnacle of the tower. At this stage, Orissan builders had not yet attempted the later colossal structures. The latticed windows of the 'Jagmohana' (porch) were probably modelled on those of the 'Parsurameswara' temple, and the octagonal compound wall seems to have been patterned on an earlier structure, which now exists only in fragmentary form.
A 'torana' (arched gateway), which was excavated in a field near Bhubaneswar in fragments, is now in the Orissa State Museum . It would seem that Mukteswara's own stunningly beautiful gateway was strongly based on this earlier example.
The Jagmohana Building
The 'Jagmohana' building has here become a structure in its own right, and has begun to show the later shape of a terraced pyramid, although the internal shape has not yet become a real square. Both buildings are now on platforms, and their component parts have become more fully accentuated.
Over the doorway to the inner sanctum, the ninth planet ('Ketu', identified by the canopied, three hooded snake) has been introduced. On the other hand, haloes, which in earlier temples delineate the human from the divine, have been removed from the cult images. In general, comparing this temple to the earlier 'Parsurameswara', you will notice an overall lightening of effect.
The developing pyramid of the 'Jagmohana' roof as well as stylistic innovations on the exterior of the tower lend a new impression of movement towards the sky, an impression which will become more and more pronounced in succeeding centuries. This is echoed in an increasing sense of elongation in sculptural decoration as well.
There
are a number of depictions of skeletal ascetics among the sculptural
images, most of them shown in teaching or meditation poses. Some scholars
have suggested that this relates to the role of the temple as a center for
'Tantric' initiation. The name 'Mukteswara' ('the Lord who bestows freedom
through Yoga') might support this view. Almost all of the sculptures on
the temple are wonderful.