Lingaraj Temple

Lingaraj Temple is an ancient Hindu shrine in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, dedicated to Lord Harihara, a united form of Lords Shiva and Vishnu. This is Odisha's largest temple and is the state's most popular tourist attraction and symbol. The temple, which is over a thousand years old, is part of Odisha's Golden Triangle, which includes Konark, Bhubaneswar, and Puri. Bhubaneswar is a famous tourist place for both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu worshippers.The EkamraKshetra is mentioned in the Bhrama Purana because the god of Lingaraj was originally discovered under a mango tree (Ekamra). The Temple Trust Board and the Archaeological Survey of India look after the Lingaraja temple (ASI). The temple averages 6,000 visitors per day and attracts thousands of people during festivities like Shivaratri.

EkamraKshetra, Old Town, Bhubaneshwar Odisha

History

Lingaraja literally translates to "King of Lingam," Shiva's famous form. Shiva was first worshipped as Kirtivasa, then as Harihara, and is now known as Tribhuvaneshwara (also known as Bhubaneswar), the master of three worlds: heaven, earth, and the netherworld. Bhuvaneshvari is the name of his spouse. The current structure of the temple comes from the eleventh century's past century. According to several seventh-century Sanskrit literature, a portion of the temple was built in the sixth century CE. According to Fergusson, the temple may have been founded by LalatInduKeshari, who governed from 615 to 657 CE.The Assembly hall (jagamohana), sanctum, and temple tower were all constructed in the eleventh century, while the Hall of Offering (bhoga-mandapa) was constructed in the twelfth. Between 1099 and 1104 CE, Salini's wife constructed the natamandira. The Jagannath (form of Vishnu) religion had been expanding in the region by the time the Lingaraja temple was completed, which historians believe is indicated by the coexistence of Vishnu and Shiva devotion at the temple. The Ganga dynasty's emperors were devoted Vaishnavists who erected the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the 12th century. According to some traditions, the temple was built during the 11th century CE by the Somavanshi monarch Yayati I (1025-1040). JajatiKeshari moved his capital from Jajpur to Bhubaneswar, which was known as EkamraKshetra in the ancient literature Brahma Purana. A village was handed to the temple by one of the Somavamsi queens, and the temple's Brahmins were given large endowments. Rajaraja II gave gold coins to the temple, according to an inscription from the Saka year 1094 (1172 CE). Another inscription from the 11th century by Narasimha I mentions the offering of beetel leaves as tambula to the main temple. Other stone inscriptions in the temple refer to Chodaganga's royal grants to the local villagers. Yayti I had no chance to construct the temple, according to K.C. Panigrahi, and it should have been begun by his sons Ananta Kesari and UdyotaKesari (believed to be other names of Yayati II as well). The counter-argument is that his shaky successors would not have been able to build such a spectacular monument.

EkamraKshetra, Old Town, Bhubaneshwar Odisha

Architecture

The vimana (building enclosing the shrine), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall), and bhoga-mandapa are all part of the Lingaraja temple plan (hall of offerings).
Bhubanevara'sLigarja temple from the side.
Bhubaneswar's Lingaraja temple is the city's largest. The temple was considered as "one of the greatest specimens of entirely Hindu temple in India" by acclaimed critic and historian James Fergusson (1808–86). It is ensconced within a large laterite compound wall that extends 520 feet (160 metres) by 465 feet (150 metres) (142 m). The wall is 7.5 feet (2.3 metres) thick and has a basic slant coping on top. There is a terrace along the inner face of the boundary wall to shield the compound wall from outside aggression.The complex comprises 150 smaller shrines in its vast courtyard, and the tower is 45.11 m (148.0 ft) high. Every inch of the 55-meter-tall (180-foot-tall) skyscraper has been created. Sandalwood is used to construct the gate of the entrance porch.
The Lingaraja temple is made of sandstone and laterite and faces east. The main entrance is on the east side, with smaller entrances on the north and south sides. The vimana (building containing the sanctuary), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall), and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings) are all designed in the Deula style, with all four in axial alignment and descending height.The dancing hall was linked to the emergence of the devadasi system, which was common at the time. From the Hall of Offering to the sanctum's tower, the various units rise in height.
The bhogamandapa (Hall of Offering) is 42 feet (13 metres) long on the interior and 56.25 feet (17.15 metres) long on the outside, with four doors on each side. Decorative sculptures of men and beasts adorn the hall's external walls. The hall features a pyramidal roof made up of many horizontal levels organized in pairs with a platform in the middle.It is topped with an inverted bell and a kalasa. The natamandira (festival hall) has one main entrance and two side entrances and measures 38 ft (12 m)*38 ft (12 m) on the interior and 50 ft (15 m)*50 ft (15 m) on the outside. Decorative sculptures of women and couples decorate the hall's sidewalls. The roof is flat and slants in phases. Inside the hall, there are thick pylons. The jagamohana (assembly hall) is 35 ft (11 m)*30 ft (9.1 m) on the inside and 55 ft (17 m)*50 ft (15 m) on the outside, with south and north entrances and a 30 m (98 ft) tall roof.As in the Hall of Offering, the hall features a pyramidal roof made up of multiple horizontal tiers arranged in sets of two with an intermediate platform. Perforated windows with lions seated on their hind legs adorn the entrances' facades. Kalasa and lions adorn the inverted bell above the second portion. Over the sanctum, the rekhadeula has a 60 m (200 ft) tall pyramidal tower that measures 22 ft (6.7 m)*22 ft (6.7 m) on the inside and 52 ft (16 m)*52 ft (16 m) on the outside. It has a beautiful design on the walls and a seated lion extending from the ceiling. From the interior, the sanctuary has a square shape. Female figurines in various attitudes are sculpted into the tower walls.A large courtyard surrounds the temple, which is cluttered with hundreds of tiny shrines.

Religious significance

The temple's flag is tied to a Pinaka bow.
Since Lingaraja's deity was initially under a mango tree, Bhubaneswar is known as the EkamraKshetra (Ekamra). The ruling god was not seen as a lingam (aniconic form of Shiva) throughout the Satya and Treta yugas, according to the Ekamra Purana, a Sanskrit work from the 13th century. It was only during the Dvapara and Kali yugas that it became a lingam. The temple's lingam is an unshaped natural stone that rests on a Sakti. Krutibasa or Swayambhu is a type of lingam that may be found at 64 locations in India.With the coming of the Ganga Dynasty in the early 12th century, which was based on Vaisnava, the synthesis of saivism and vaisnavism began with a new movement. During this time, the Ekamra was associated with the Vaishanavite gods Krishna and Balaram.
It is related to the rising importance of the Jagannath sect, which became dominant during the temple's construction. The Gangas remodelled the temple and added Vaishnavite elements such as images of the Vaishnava Dwarapalas Jaya and Prachanda, Jagannatha, Lakshmi Narayan, and Garuda. Tulsi leaves, which are associated with Vishnu, were combined with Bela leaves to worship Lingaraja.As a result, Lingaraja was given the name Harihara, which is a mix of Shiva and Vishnu. Instead of the trident found in Shiva temples, the temple's flag was attached to a Pinaka bow. The horizontal symbol on the temple priests' foreheads was replaced with a "U" sign with a dotted middle line. Following the chariot celebration, the Gangas added some celebrations, such as the Swing Festival, Sun Worship, and a pretend quarrel between priests, comparable to the practises at Jagannath Temple in Puri. The Ganga dynasty's influence has resulted in cosmopolitan culture, reducing the significance of Lingaraja temple as a separate Saivite temple.

Worship practises

According to Hindu folklore, an underground river that originates at the Lingaraja temple fills the Bindusagar Tank (meaning ocean drop), and the water is said to cure physical and spiritual illnesses. The water from the tank is consequently considered sacred, and pilgrims bathe in it on certain occasions. Lingaraja, the temple's principal deity, is worshipped as both Shiva and Vishnu. In this temple, the god is worshipped as Harihara, a united form of Vishnu and Shiva, demonstrating the peace between the two Hindu religions of Shaivism and Vaishanvism.
Temple staff and administration
Due to rising assaults from Muslim invaders, King JajatiKeshari, who is thought to be the founder of the Lingaraja temple, appointed Brahmins who had relocated to south India as temple priests over local Brahmins due to their enhanced knowledge of Shaivism. The goal was to improve temple practises, which ranged from tribal rites to Sanskritic. While the actual number of castes engaging in the nijogas (practises) is uncertain, Brahmins, tribal worshippers, and Untouchable caste inmates are thought to be part of the arrangement. Bose (1958) listed 41 caste-based services, whereas Mahaptra (1978) listed 30 caste-based services.According to the archives, kings and temple managers initiated or stopped particular services, fairs, offerings, and caste-centered core services at various times during their administration. The temple offered 36 different services as of 2012. (nijogas).
In recent times, the priests of the Lingaraja temple come from three different communities: PujapandaNijog, Brahman Nijog, and Badu Nijog. The Badu are non-Brahmin servant groups whose origins are unknown due to a lack of reliable records, but being referred to as Vadu in Chapter 62 of the Ekamrapurana. Niyoga is Badu's caste group, which appoints officers every year during the Sandalwood festival.Ear piercing, marriage, and god-touching are the three rites that every Badu must go through. In the past, the Badus were responsible for five separate temple duties: Paliabadu and Pharaka, which were seen as important, and Pochha, Pahada, and Khataseja, which were regarded as inferior. Since 1962, only Paliabadu and Pharaka practices have been followed, with the rest being abandoned. The Badus also perform cleansing and dressing of Siddhaganesh and Gopalini's pictures. The Temple Trust Board and the Archaeological Survey of India care after the temple (ASI).Security officers authorized by the Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner and security guards recruited by the temple administration guard the temple. Every day, the temple receives an average of 6,000 visitors, with lakhs more visitors during festivals. 200,000 people attended the Shivaratri event in 2012. Lingaraja temple earns approximately rupees 1.2 million dollars per year via hundis (donation boxes) as of 2011. Other sources of revenue, such as rents from businesses, bike stalls, and agricultural lands, bring in another $4 million every year.Since 2011, the temple has charged a fee for six different types of religious worship (special pujas) performed by devotees.

Deity

Lord Shiva

Religious Activities

Daily Routine

Open throughout the week: 5 AM to 9 PM

Days Parts of the DayTemple Darshan Timings

Mon to Sun Temple Opening Timings 02:00

Mon to Sun Morning Hours 02:00 to 12:00

Mon to Sun Evening Hours 15:00 to 22:30

Mon to Sun Temple Closing Timings Hours 22:30

Aarti

Aarti 17:00 to 18:00

Celebration/Festivals

Shivaratri which is held in February/March is a holiday in which a female fasts and prays for her husband's long life, and RukunaRatha Yatra, performed on Ashokastami (about April), is a festival in which Lord Lingaraja's representative, Lord Chandrashekhara, pays a visit to the maternal aunts' home. RukunaRatha Yatra translates to "chariot that does not turn around." Both of these events attract large audiences to the temple.

Prasad

Bhog Prasad Ticket Cost: Rs.20

Visitor Guide

A visit to the temple will need a layover in the city of Bhubaneshwara, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, both for a fantastic vacation and a religious journey to the state. All three routes to the Lingaraj temple are available, including rail, road, and air.

AIRWAYS:

The Biju Patnaik airport is located in the city's heart, and it specialises in domestic flights. There are also a number of flights that travel back and forth from the country's major cities to Bubaneshawara.

ROADWAYS:

In the city, there are several buses, both public and private, that run all along highways.

RAILWAYS:

Bhubaneswara is a location to the East Coast Railway Division's headquarters, hence the city is obviously well connected to other railway stations. Aside from that, the city is served by a variety of passenger trains.

Nearby Temples

Nearby Tourist Places

Bindu Sarovara, Bhubaneswar

The Bindu Sarovar, also known as Bindu Sagar, is a Hindu water tank that is considered sacred. This tank is located near the Lingaraj Temple and is surrounded by a number of temples.
The Bindu Sagar's water is said to contain drops from all of India's holy rivers and ponds.
Ananta Vasudev Temple, Bhubaneswar
Ananta Vasudev Temple, a stunning 13th-century shrine, was established by Queen Chandrika. Lord Krishna is the ruling god. The temple is similar to the Lingaraj temple, but the elaborate carvings and Vaishnavite sculptures are no less beautiful and attract a significant number of visitors.

VaitalDeul Temple, Bhubaneswar

VaitalDeul Temple is an 8th-century Khakara-style monument dedicated to Goddess Chamunda. The three spires on top of the shrine are a unique feature of the construction. TiniMundeaDeula is another name for it. The architecture has spectacular stone sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, as well as elaborate decorative carvings.

Parasurameswara Temple, Bhubaneswar

This temple, constructed in 650 A.D., is a one-of-a-kind example of Oriyan architecture. The presence of a thousand lingas in the complex's northwest corner is the temple's most unique feature.
It also has wonderful carvings of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Parvati on it. The creative opulence with which the sculptures and carvings are detailed depicts the greatness of a previous period.

Kedar Gauri Temple, Bhubaneswar

Kedar Gauri Temple is one of the eight Asthasambhu Temples devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Gauri. According to some locals, the temple is dedicated to a couple named Kedar and Gauri. The yearly procession to honour Shiva and Parvati's marriage is, however, a highlight of the site. This process begins with Lingaraja and continues until Kedar Gauri Temple.

Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar

The Raja Rani Temple is a popular 11th-century Hindu temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha's capital. It is known locally as the 'love temple' because it features some sensuous carvings of ladies and couples. Because there are no images inside the shrine, the temple is not linked with anyone Hindu group. This is perhaps where the temple's allure comes from: it belongs to no particular sect and is available to all people, regardless of the deity they worship and admire. The carved sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on the temple walls, on the other hand, strongly suggest that the temple is related to Shaivism.