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Pancharatha Temple is a highly revered shrine at Sonpur, in Orissa. This beautiful temple, constructed in a chariot size, resembles the Sun Temple at Konark. The temple enshrines Lord Shiva as the presiding deity. Other deities worshipped include Lord Ganesh, Lord Muruga and Goddess Parvati. Most noteworthy feature of the temple is that the idol of Lord Ganesh faces east; generally in all Shiva temples the idol faces south. It is believed that Pancharatha Temple was built by King Birmitra Singhdeo to commemorate the death of his son Prince Somobhusan.
Pancharatha Temple Sonepur
Sureswari Temple of Sonepur
Gundicha Temple Sonepur
The temple of Suvarnameru is said to have originally built by a trader named Neulisa. It is said that the lingam of Suvarnameru Shiva was located on the right bank of river Tel in a village called Suvarnapali. Neulisa, who was once going on trade on a bullock cart halted near the village Suvarnapali for some time. There he put some merchandise bags and in order to sew the bags properly he wanted to sharpen his needle. He, however, rubbed the needle unknowingly on the smooth surface of the Swaymabhu lingam, which was there. To his great astonishment, he found the iron needle changing into a gold one. He at once realized that the smooth piece of stone was nothing but a miraculous stone, which could covert iron into gold. He then brought all the pieces of iron which were with him and converted them into gold simply by touching the lingam. The trader tried to take away the lingam with him but be could not dig it out of the earth. In that night he was directed by Lord Suvarnameru in a dream to build a temple for him on the left bank of river Tel. The trader built a temple for him and found the lingam appearing inside it. It is also said that on the occasion of the coming of Suvarnameru Siva, there was a shower of gold pieces for 2 ½ praharas
Subarnameru Temple Sonepur
In the bed of Mahandi there is a small rock called Lankeswari and the deity installed there is known by the same name. Lankeswari is the titular Goddess of Kaivarta community and is worshipped daily by them. The deep gorge in Mahanadi near hill rock is called Lankeswari Darha. It is important to mention here that Goddess Lankeswari, the presiding deity of Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana. In fact, Sonepur was a strong hold of Trantirc Buddhism literature and in the Trantric Buddhism it is referred to as Lanka.
The Kapileswar temple is situated at 4 km from Binka and 35 km from Sonepur. Legend says King Anangabhima II (1211-1238 AD) who conquered western Orissa from the hands of the Kalachuris of Ratnapur, once suffered from an incurable disease resulting from the sins of killing some Brahmin generals and prayed Lord Jagannath to be cured. He was directed in a dream to construct some Shiva temples in every Yojanas to get his sins washed away. At that time the Kapileswar temple was built. Of course the legend is not supported by any historical evidence. However, the Kapileswar temple seems to be built after the Koseleswar temple of Baidyanath from architectural style. A big fair is held every year on the occasion of Shivaratri.
The village Charada also houses Goddess Chardei whose icon is assigned to 5th-6th century AD. Her main festival is Hanu Yatra which is celebrated with great fervour in the month of Kartika.
