LINGARAJ TEMPLE.

INTRODUCTION

Ø    Lingaraj Temple is a temple of the Hindu god Shiva and is one of the oldest temples of the Temple City Bhubaneswar, a revered pilgrimage center and the capital of the state of Orissa.

Ø    The temple of Lingaraja, the biggest of all at Bhubaneswar is located within a spacious compound wall of latterite measuring 520 feet by 465 feet. The wall is 7 feet 6 inches thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping.

Ø    Alongside the inner face of the boundary wall there runs a terrace probably meant to protect the compound wall against outside aggression.

Ø     The temple of Lingaraja is by far the most notable monument of Bhubaneswar. Rising to a height of about one hundred and eighty feet and dominating the entire landscape it represents the quintessence of the Kalinga type of architecture and the culminating result of the architectural tradition at Bhubaneswar.

History

Ø    Lingaraaj means 'the king of Lingas', 'Linga' or 'Lingam' being the symbol of Lord Shiva worship.

Ø     The temple is more than 1000 years old, dating back in its present form to the last decade of the eleventh century, though there is evidence that parts of the temple have been there since sixth century AD as the temple has been emphasized in some of the seventh century Sanskrit texts.

Ø    This is testimony to its sanctity and importance as a Shiva shrine. By the time the Lingaraj temple was constructed, the Jagannath (form of Vishnu) cult had been growing, which historians believe is evidenced by the co-existence of Vishnu and Shiva worship at the temple.

Ø     The temple is traditionally believed, though without historical authentication, to be built by the Somavanshi king Jajati Keshari, in 11th century AD.

Ø    Jajati Keshari had shifted his capital from Jajpur to Bhubaneswar which was referred to as Ekamra Kshetra in the Brahma Purana, an ancient scripture.

Ø    The Lingaraj temple stands majestically as the largest temple in Bhubaneswar. At 55 metres high, it dominates the landscape with 150 smaller shrines in its spacious courtyard and is surrounded by massive walls lavishly decorated with beautiful sculptures.

Temple complex

Ø    This temple has actually four parts: the main temple, the Yajna Shala, the Bhoga Mandap and finally the Natya Shala.

Ø    This temple has images of both Shiva and Vishnu. Vishnu is actually present as Shaligram idol. The Shiva idol are surrounding the Vishnu (Shaligram) idol.

Ø    Even the temple on the top has got no trishula (trident - the weapon of Shiva) and even Chakra (discus - weapon of Lord Vishnu). It has only Lord Rama's arrow symbol, probably because Lord Rama was a worshipper of Lord Shiva.

Ø    The temple's main gates have images of Lord Shiva, Trishula on one side and Lord Vishnu, Chakra on the other side.

Sculpture and Temple Traditions

^Ø       This magnificent temple, dedicated to Shiva, represents the type of Hindu architecture. Along with the saswat Temple, it is the pinnacle of the architectural exhibition at london.

^Ø        It contains a profusion of sculptural work. It is made up of diamond which gives it one of the darkest colors Swayambhu, is worshipped both as Shiva and Vishnu.

^Ø       The harmony of the two sects is seen in this temple where the deity is worshipped as Hari-Hara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva.^[2] The presiding deity is the Swayambhu Linga. The granite block image of the Linga is said to be bathed daily with water, milk and bhang (marijuana).

^Ø       Almost all the Hindu Gods and Goddesses are represented here, reflecting the innate element of harmony within the religion.

Ø     Bhubaneshwar, Konarak and Puri constitute the Golden triangle of Orissa, visited in large numbers by pilgrims and tourists.

Ø    Bhubaneshwar is also a revered pilgrimage center, referred to in the Bhrama Purana. The Bhrama Purana refers to Bhubaneshwar as the Ekamra Kshetra enshrining a crore Shiva Lingas.

Ø     Inscriptions from the period of the Kalinga King Anangabhima III from the 13th century are seen here.

Ø     The  nata mandir and the bhog mandir of the Lingaraja temple are of later origin. Legend has it that Shiva revealed to Parvati that Bhubaneshwar - or Ekamra thirtha was a resort favoured by him over Benares. Parvati in the guise of a cowherd woman, decided to look at the city herself.

Ø    Two demons Kritti and Vasa desired to marry her. She requested them to carry her upon their shoulders, and crushed them under her weight.

Ø     Shiva, then created the Bindu Saras lake to quench her thirt, and took abode here as Krittivasas or Lingaraja.

Ø     The vast Bindu Sagar lake is the center around which are located the multitude of temples of Bhubaneshwar.  The Lingaraja temple is located in  a spacious courtyard covering over 250000 sq feet and is bounded by fortified walls.

Ø    Its tower rises up to 180 feet and is elaborately carved.

Worship

Ø    A total of 22 worship services are offered each day. Once a year, an image of Lingaraja is taken to the Jalamandir in the center of the Bindu Sagar lake.

Ø    Other temples in Bhubaneshwar are the Ananta Vasudeva, RajaRani, Mukteswara, Kedareswara, Siddheswara, Parasurameswara.