Kedargauri Temple

Kedargauri Temple (or Kedar Gouri Temple) is among the known ancient temples of Odisha, located near the famous Mukteswara Temple in Bhubaneswar. It is believed to be one of the eight Astasambhu shrines in the city. The presiding deity worshiped at the temple is Lord Shiva, who is also locally known as Kedareshwar.

The complex includes two main temples: Kedar Temple which houses a Shivalinga and another one is the Gauri Temple which houses the idol of Goddess Parvati (consort of Lord Shiva). Apart from these, there are three small temples of Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, and Goddess Durga inside the premises.

The temple premises also have two kunds (ponds) - Khira Kund and Marichi Kund. It is said that the water of these kunds has sacred powers. The water of Khira Kund heals man from the cycle of birth and death. On the other hand, it is believed that if a woman takes a dip in Marichi Kund, she is cured of sterility.

According to the legends, the temple was built by King Lalatendu Keshari in memory of two lovers, named Kedar and Gauri. Another story suggests that Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati came to this place from Varanasi seeking peace and serenity. The temple was built in their devotion.

History of Kedargauri Temple

There are a few myths related to the construction of the Kedar Gauri Temple. One is that a couple named Kedar and Gauri were in love and wanted to marry each other. However, people from their village were against their decision and as a result, they fled away and found shelter in this place, where the temple stands now.

When Gauri felt hungry after the long journey, Kedar went in search of food but was killed by a tiger. On learning about his death, Gauri jumped into the pond and died. It is believed after listening to this tragic story, King Lalatendu Keshari built this temple as a tribute to the lovers. Thus, today many couples visit the shrine to seek blessings for their blissful married life.

Another myth is that in search of peace and silence, Lord Shiva along with his consort, Goddess Parvati came to this place from Varanasi and settled here. Hence, this temple was constructed in dedication to these deities.

One festival celebrated with much fervor at Kedargauri Temple is Sital Sasthi. This festival celebrates the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is celebrated every year in May or June. On this day, a procession of Lord Shiva is carried out from the Lingaraj Temple to Kedargauri Temple, where his marriage with Goddess Parvati is conducted with rituals.

Apart from Sital Sasthi, other festivals like Shivaratri, Ganesha Chaturthi, Nag Panchami, and Hanuman Jayanti are celebrated in the temple.

Architecture of Kedargauri Temple

The Kedargauri Temple has two shrines - one is the Kedar Temple and another is the Gauri Temple. The temple is built in Kalinga Buddhist architecture style. The Kedar Temple architectural type is similar to the Siddheshwar Temple which lies in the complex of Mukteswara Temple.

This shrine is a Dakshin Mukhi temple and houses a Shivalinga. Its outer wall is surrounded by the statues of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya. On the other hand, the outer walls of the Gauri Temple are intricately carved with beautiful images. The height of the Kedargauri Temple is 13.7 meters.