Bhubaneswar: Archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of a medieval Devi Mandir buried beneath the Sukasari Mandir, located adjacent to the iconic Lingaraj Mandir in Bhubaneswar, a city famed for its mandir heritage.
Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India suggest the newly discovered structure is an ancient Durga Mandir built in the rare Khakhara style, where the maa is worshipped instead of Bhagwan Shiva, a notable deviation in a predominantly Shaivite region. ASI officials estimate that this underlying Devi mandir predates the Sukasari Mandir by 2–3 centuries, potentially making it one of the oldest Khakhara-style shrines in Odisha.
The ongoing excavation, which resumed after initial work in October 2021, has already revealed remarkable artefacts, including an eight-armed statue of Maa Durga, murtis of Bhagwan Vishnu, Gajalakshmi, and Narasimha, as well as pottery, stone inscriptions, and other relics. Experts date the mandir to the 7th–8th century, during the rule of the Bhaumakara dynasty, while the overlying Sukasari Mandir is attributed to the 13th century under the Ganga dynasty.
ASI Superintendent Nanda Kishore Swain highlighted the site’s historical importance: “This medieval Mandir is a vital part of Ekamra Kshetra’s heritage. The unearthing of a Shakti Peeth in a predominantly Shaivite area is a rare occurrence.” The Khakhara style, noted for its rectangular structure in contrast to the more common square or circular Rekha and Pidha designs, is traditionally dedicated to goddesses. Comparable examples in Odisha are scarce, including the Durga mandir at Baideswar in Banki, Gangeswari Mandir at Bayalish Baati near Gop, and the Barahi mandir at Chaurasi in Puri district.
Around 30 workers, under the supervision of Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, MLA Babu Singh, and ASI officials, are engaged in careful restoration and preservation of the site. Funded by the central government with a budget of Rs 3 crore, the excavation is progressing cautiously, with work conducted daily from 8 am to 5 pm. Labour supervisor Natabar Bhoi noted, “We’re proceeding slowly due to the fragile ruins. Every discovery is meticulously documented and preserved.”
The site was initially identified using advanced scanning near the Lingaraj Mandir’s north gate and the sacred Bindusagar pond. ASI first uncovered the buried Sukasari Mandir and then the deeper Devi ruins. The state government has cleared unauthorised structures around the area and handed over the premises to ASI for smooth operations.
Historically, Bhubaneswar, the “City of Mandirs,” hosted over 1,000 shrines; today, only 200 survive. Rare Khakhara-style Mandirs like this newly discovered Devi shrine are limited across Odisha, with 23 protected by ASI and 15 by the state archaeology department. Historians hope that ongoing excavations will shed new light on the region’s layered religious history, revealing a unique blend of Shaivite and Shakta traditions.
