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Hidden 9th-Century 'Bhauma-Kara' Temple with Unique 'Boar-Incarnation' Friezes Discovered in Odisha’s Deogarh District

📅 April 5, 2026 📰 Odisha Cultural Review
Hidden 9th-Century 'Bhauma-Kara' Temple with Unique 'Boar-Incarnation' Friezes Discovered in Odisha’s Deogarh District

A survey of the dense forests in Odisha's Deogarh district has located a previously unrecorded 9th-century temple belonging to the Bhauma-Kara dynasty. The structure is distinguished by its remarkably preserved exterior friezes, which exclusively depict various scenes from the Varaha (Boar) incarnation of Lord Vishnu, a rarity in the regional Kalinga style.

The temple's remote location protected it from medieval invasions and modern encroachment, leaving its intricate sandstone carvings in near-pristine condition. State archaeologists are currently documenting the site's unique iconography, which includes depictions of maritime trade and forest life that were previously unknown in Bhauma-Kara art.

Original source: Odisha Cultural Review