Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

2271 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Hindu · India

Mahavinayak Temple

Chandikhole, Jajpur district, Odisha · 20.7054°, 86.0862°

Mahavinayak — Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Surya and Ganesha worshipped as oneSomavamshi (Keshari)Kalinga
Sacred since
1100 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
12th c. (Keshari)
Somavamshi (Keshari)

History & significance

A hilltop shrine at Chandikhole whose single sanctum holds five deities — Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Surya and Ganesha — worshipped together as one. Among the oldest Ganesha sites in Odisha, it draws pilgrims from across the state.

Sthala katha — the legend

The temple is said to mark the spot where Rati's devotion won Kamadeva's release from Shiva's curse, five divine hands reaching out together for her offering to reveal the five gods present as one.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Somavamshi (Keshari)