Bhubaneswar, Jan. 11: The Purbeswara Shiva temple — located in the Kancha Sahi of Old Town — attracts hundreds of devotees and pilgrims from all over the country throughout the year for its religious and cultural significance.

However, the 13th century temple, the superstructure of which had collapsed long ago, needs urgent archaeological maintenance and conservation.

Local residents say the temple is Purbeswara due to its location.

It is situated towards the east of Lingaraja temple, 300 metres away on the left side of the road leading to Garage Chhak.

The Purbeswara Temple Development Association formed by local residents maintains the temple.

A precinct has been built around the temple that protects it from immediate encroachment, though new constructions and buildings have come up around the precinct.

A kitchen for cooking prasad was constructed recently by the local people in the southeastern corner of the precinct.

The living temple is of cultural significance for observation of rituals and festivals such as Shivaratri, Sankranti, Rudravisheka and others.

At present, one only finds the jagamohana or the original sub-structure of the temple, which is home to the presiding deity — a lingam.

“The temple is in a half-built condition now. But the decorative features on the remaining structure indicate that the original structure must have been massive. However, the main monument has been dilapidated and broken for a long time,” says Ashwinee Satpathy, curator of the State Archaeology Department.

Historians believe that the architectural features of the remaining portions of the original monument indicate its construction during the Ganga dynasty.

“The structural design and patterns of design on the monument show that it was part of the matured phase of temple building tradition in Orissa,” says historian Sadashiba Pradhan.

At present, a tin sheet has been erected over the sanctum behind the jagamohana.

The temple was renovated and repaired by the Orissa State Archaeology around five years ago.

However, some vegetation and cracks have developed on the existing main structure (the jagamohana) of the temple now, facilitating rainwater seepage into the structure.

“It would be helpful if authorities from the State Archaeology Department could repair the structure again and, maybe, seal it so that it is conserved properly,” said a member of the Purbeswara temple development association.

“The temple attracts many pilgrims because of its proximity to the Lingaraj temple. The State Department of Culture or Tourism could have developed it into a heritage site,” said Dipu Panigrahi, caretaker of the temple.

“The temple is an ancient monument from the 13th century. But it is not a protected monument under our department. It definitely needs to be conserved and has the potential to be developed into a heritage site,” says an official at the State Archaeology Department.

“But with only a handful of archaeologists, conservation engineers and officials, such projects may have to wait too long,” he added.

Moreover, the Department of Culture and Tourism has to come together for conservation and development of such monuments, said the official.