The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.151

v2.c17.151

It is generally believed that this temple is older than the Great Tower; but this belief is founded entirely on the story which makes Śiva obtain the permission of Viṣṇu before taking up his abode here, and not on any historical tradition. Looking to the style and make of the temple, and its well preserved condition, no one would be disposed to think that it was of an ancient date, and as it is one of the few temples at Bhuvaneśvara which enjoy the benefit of an inscription which expounds its history, there can be no doubt on the subject. There are existing two large slabs stuck on the western wall of the courtyard, bearing Sanskrit inscriptions. One of these was originally intended for the temple of Brahmeśvara, and the other for that of Ananta and Vāsudeva. Both of them had been removed from their proper places by General Stewart, and deposited in the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal at about the early part of this century. When Major (then Lieutenant) Kittoe visited Bhuvaneśvara in 1838, the priests complained bitterly of the sacrilege, and he suggested the restitution of the stones. The Society readily permitted this, but in replacing them, through some mistake or other, the Major selected the outer wall of this temple for both of them, instead of their respective places. Before making the restitution, James Prinsep published transcripts and translations of both the record in the *Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal*. The Brahmeśvara record will be noticed lower down. The other professes to be an eulogium on Bhaṭṭa Bhava Deva, a Bengal paṇḍit of great renown, whose treatise on inheritance is held in high estimation by the lawyers of the Maithila School. He was the minister of a king named Harivarma, and the record was composed by his friend Vācaspati Miśra, a distinguished paṇḍit, author of many original works and commentaries. A portion of the line [85] giving the details of the date is obliterated, but the date has been doubtfully read Samvat 32. The date of Vācaspati is well known, it was about the close of the 11th century, and the temple consequently is of that date. The inscription, as read by Major Marshall, runs thus :