BHubaneswar: Education Minister Union Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Cabinet colleagues and Cultural Union Minister G Kisshan Reddy to direct the Indian Archaeological Survey (ASI) to do all possible steps for the 6th century Mahadev Mahadev Temple Swapeswar with Documentation and Conservation of Heritage Monuments Others in the Ratnachira valley of the Puri district.
Indian National Trust for Cultural Arts and Heritage (Intach) recently found an ancient temple from the 6th century in the village of Bireapurusotturampur in Pipli Tehsil from Puri District while conducting a survey of Ratnachira valley and its monument.
Intach members claimed that this temple was made of square block of Khandolite stone, belonging to the post-gupta era.
This temple is locally respected as Swapeswar Mahadev and is dedicated to God Shiva.
The temple was damaged due to thick vegetation growth above the temple.
“It is estimated that aged 1300-1400 years, this temple is one example of the initial second architecture preserved in the region.
However, I feel sad to know that the temple structure is in a precarious state and requires survey steps immediately,” Read Pradhan Letter.
He said the Ratnachira Valley was a gold mine from an ancient monument, which was mostly not the documented to date.
Maintaining the importance of historical, spiritual and socio-culture monuments in the Ratnachira Valley in mind, Pradhan requested Reddy’s personal intervention to carry out all possible steps for the preservation of these ancient temples and documentation and other Heritage Monument conservation at Ratnachira Valley.
After the discovery of this ancient temple, Minister of Tourism and Culture Odisha Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi announced that the state government would fund the recovery of the temple.