Vaital Temple is a Tantric shrine, located near
Bindu Sagar, in
Bhubaneswar of
Orissa. Built during the eight century, Vaital temple belongs to the Khakhara order - an offshoot of the Kalinga School.
Vaital Temple is noted for its sculptural embellishment and the most striking feature is the 'deul' (tower) with rectangular shape. The dimly lit inner sanctum substantiates the fact that once it was a major center of esoteric rites and Tantric worship - the combined elements from certain sects of Buddhism and Hinduism.
The presiding deity is Chamunda - the Tantric form of Goddess Durga - which is depicted as enthroned upon a corpse, wearing a necklace of skulls and protruding out her bright red tongue. There 15 niches around the image of Chamunda, filled with strange figures.
A four-faced linga, decorated with unusual carvings, can be spotted at the entrance. The eastern face of the tower is graced with a beautiful image of Lord Surya, flanked by twin sisters of dawn Usha and Pratyusha. Also found here is the image of Arjuna driving his chariot.
