Bhubanesvari Temple inside Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa is a Shakti Peetah. It is a 16th century shrine. The shrine is situated next to Khirachora Gopinatha temple to the north of the western gateway of the Jagannath Temple. The shrine is also known as Panchashakti Temple as five Goddesses are worshipped in the temple – Bhubanesvari, Saraswati, Gayatri, Savitri and Sashti Devi are worshipped in the temple.
Bhubanesvari is also the goddess of learning here and therefore students and artists in large number visit the temple. The shrine is also referred as Saraswati Temple.
The east facing sandstone temple has a vimana, jagamohana, natamandapa and bhogamandapa.
The main murti of Goddess Bhuvanesvar, which is five feet in height, is installed on a one foot high simhasana or throne. She is seated on a white lotus in padmasana pose.
Murti of Goddess Bhubanesvari
She has four arms – the right upper hand holds ankusha, the right lower hand diplays varada mudra, the left upper hand holds naga pasha and the lower left hand displays abhaya mudra. She has three eyes and is decorated with the crescent moon. The deity is adorned with clothes and different ornaments. A trefoil makara head arch is seen on the backside of the deity.
Bhairavas are the dwarapalakas in the shrine and they two of them guard the main door of the sanctum sanctorum.
The natamandapa of the temple has images of Saraswati, Savitri, Gayatri and Sashti. One foot high, Saraswati is installed on her mount goose. The east facing Saraswati holds veena in her two hands.
Sashti Devi is depicted as holding a child on her left lap. There is also an image of Narasimha here.
The most important temple in the shrine is observed on the fifth day during the waxing phase of moon. It is known as Basant Panchami or Saraswati Puja.
Many of the Parsavadevata murtis in the temple have worn out as it was carved on stand stone.