Markandeyesvara Temple is a 13th century shrine, situated near the south-west corner of
Bindu Sagar, in
Bhubaneswar,
Orissa. The presiding deity here is
Lord Shiva. The temple has great resemblance with the Sisiresvara Temple and the Vaital Deul Temple.
The decoration of the doorframe is slightly different from that of the 'Sisiresvara' temple. Here the figures of eight 'Grahas' are only represented; Ketu being absent.
The temple boasts a magnificent pancha-ratha curvilinear shikhara. The façade of the temple has a 'Chaitya'-window, depicting a ten-armed figure of Nataraja.
The exquisitely carved images of Lord Ganesh, Muruga and Goddess Parvati are seen in the niches of the central projections. The corner-niches have different forms of Shiva including Aja-Ekapada and Ardhanarishwar (Shiva and Shakti in one figure). The beautifully carved image of four-armed Mahishasuramardini is worth a visit.
