Khajureswar Temple Of Shergarh: An Archaeological And Religious Inquiry Into Tantric Practices

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/09/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 4 (2026)

Article No.

048

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-GDRZVURM

Received

29 Aug 2026

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0

Abstract

Archaeological evidence from the Balasore district, such as hilltop Shaiva shrines, Shakta Iconography, early mediaeval temple complexes, and protective goddess cults, indicates the presence of Tantric religious traditions Integrated into the natural sacred landscapes of the Nilagiri region, At Ajodhya, the Tantric goddess Maa Marichi, Varahi, and Jaina sculptures are found. These sculptures date back to 11th century. The temple contains Tantric, Buddhist and Jaina images suggesting a multi religious ritual centre during the somavanshi period. This indicates that the region was a part of Tantric Buddhist Shakta cultural zone. The current study revealed that the elements of Tantricism and the socialization of Tantric culture still exist in North Odisha particularly in Balasore and Mayurbhanj district, reflecting the long continuing traditions.

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This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.