| Lingaraj Temple | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates: | |
| Name | |
| Other names: | ling tertymp |
| Proper name: | Lingaraaj Temple |
| Location | |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Orissa |
| Location: | Bhubaneshwar |
| Architecture and culture | |
| Primary deity: | Harihara Bhuvaneshvari(consort) |
| Architectural styles: | Kalingan Pancharatha Style (Kalinga Architecture) |
| History | |
| Date built: (Current structure) |
11th century C.E. |
| Creator: | Jajati Keshari |
Lingaraj Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Harihara, another name for Shiva and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar, a revered pilgrimage center and the capital of the state of Orissa, India.
The temple of Lingaraja, the biggest of all at Bhubaneswar, is located within a spacious compound wall of laterite measuring 520 feet by 465 feet. The wall is 7 feet 6 inches thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping. Alongside the inner face of the boundary wall there runs a terrace probably meant to protect the compound wall against outside aggression.[1]
As observed by Ramesh Prasad Mohapatra, 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.[1]
There is also a railway station named after it, called Lingaraj Temple Road.
Contents |
Lingaraaj means “the king of lingam”, the symbol of Shaivism. Shiva is here worshipped as Tribhuvaneshwara (Master of three worlds, i.e. heaven, earth and netherworld). His consort is called Bhuvaneshvari.
The temple is more than 1100 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. This is testimony to its sanctity and importance as a Shiva shrine.[2] 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.
The temple is traditionally believed, though without historical authentication, to be built by the Somavanshi king Jajati Keshari, in 11th century AD. Jajati Keshari had shifted his capital from Jajpur to Bhubaneswar which was referred to as Ekamra Kshetra in the Brahma Purana, an ancient scripture.
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.
This temple has actually four parts: the main temple, the Yajña Shala, the Bhoga Mandap and finally the Natya Shala. This temple has images of both Shiva and Vishnu. Vishnu is actually present as Sila. The Shiva idols surround the Vishnu idol. Even the temple on the top has neither Shiva's trishula nor Vishnu's chakram. It has only Rama's arrow symbol, probably because Rama was a worshipper of Shiva.
This magnificent temple, dedicated to Shiva, represents the type of Hindu architecture. Swayambhu is worshipped both as Shiva and Vishnu. The harmony of the two sects is seen in this temple where the deity is worshipped as Harihara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva.[2] The presiding deity, is the Swayambhu Lingam. The granite block image of the Linga is said to be bathed daily with water, milk and bhang (marijuana). Almost all the Hindu gods and goddesses are represented here, reflecting the innate element of harmony within the religion.[3]