Nagini of Rajarani Temple

Naga Information:

In various Asian religious traditions, the Nagas are a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala) and occasionally take human or part-human form, or are so depicted in art. Furthermore, Nagas are also known as dragons and water spirits. A female naga is called a Nagi, or a Nagini. Their descendants are known as Nagavanshi. According to legend, they are the children of the sage Kashyapa and Kadru. (Wikipedia)

Sculpture Information

Nagas are one of the notable features of Rajarani Temple. Multiple such sculptures appear on the gates and walls of the temple. Naga-Nagini Stambha is a marvel of its kind.

A beautiful lady with the lower body of a serpent is carved on the temple’s wall. She is on a pillar and holding a garland-kind item in her hands.

Nagini is adorned with fewer ornaments around her neck, arms and waist. She has a smile on her face with her hair tied upward side.

Detailing of the skin of Nagini’s serpent body part is noteworthy.

Rajarani temple dates back to the 11th Century CE and is the best example of Kalinga Architecture (Kalinga Panchratha Style). It is built in a Rekha Deul format.