The twin Shiva temples of Kushesvara (Kushakeswara) and Labesvara (Labakeswara or Hanumantesvara) are situated on both the sides of the road, almost opposite each other, immediately east of the Rameshwar temple on the road leading from Kalpana Square to Bindhu Sagar.
Believed to have been built in the 15th century and clearly receving a new coast of paint every few years, the curious positioning of these temples had me pondering on whether they were originally intended to be bisected by the road, or if the road is a later addition to the landscape that decided to separate them ? As this road essentially heads north out from the famous and ancient Lingaraj Temple, I can only assume they were originally constructed to be either side of a trackway/road.
There really isn’t much more that can be said for these little structures. I wanted to include them in by blog set about the temples of Bubaneswar because they are always included in such lists, and there was no effort involved in seeing them.
My only other observation is an ASI report from some time ago that highlights deterioration in both structures, including cracks in the roof through which rain water percolates into the sanctum. A relatively simple problem to resolve with such low profile temples, so I hope they have been given some recent attention.
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Categories: Bhubaneswar, India, Kusesvara and Labesvara Temples, Odisha
Kevin Standage 