Stamp On Jagannath Temple Released

September 30, 2003

THE DEPARTMENT of Posts is celebrating the variety and diversity of the country's temple architecture through a set of four commemorative stamps. Temple architecture in India reflects the advanced construction material used and the skills of the artisans of the area. The stamps released on Monday pay homage to the ingenuity and the brilliance of the builders, the designers and the artists involved.

Each stamp has a face value of Rs. 5 and depicts the facade of the temples. The Vishal Badri temple, dedicated to Badrinath by Adi Sankara, in the Himalayan valley of Garwhal, which is also home to the hot mineral spring, known for its spiritual and medicinal value. The Mallikarjunaswamy temple in Srisailam, which houses one of the 12 Jyothirlingams of Lord Siva and located on the Nallamalai hills near Krishna river, made history with the entry of Satavahanas, the early rulers of Andhra.

The Tripureswari temple in Udaipur, Tripura which reflects the Stupa-Sirsa style of architecture was built in 1501 A.D. by the Maharaja Dhanya Manikya and the Jagannath temple in Puri showcasing the richness of the Kalinga style of architecture, was built over a period of 100 years, beginning 12th century by Raja Ananga Bhima Dev.

Stamps, First Day covers and information sheets can be bought at the philatelic bureaus and counters. First Day cancellation can be done at all the head post offices.

By Sujatha R