Lingaraj Temple
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
There is also a railway station named after it, called Lingaraj Temple Road
.
”, 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. 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.
. 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.
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.
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.
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
dedicated to Harihara
Harihara
Harihara is the name of a combined deity form of both Vishnu and Shiva from the Hindu tradition. Also known as Shankaranarayana , Harihara is thus worshipped by both Vaishnavites and Shaivities as a form of the Supreme God, as well as being a figure of worship for other Hindu traditions in general...
, another name for Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
, a revered pilgrimage center and the capital of the state of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The temple of Lingaraja, the biggest of all at Bhubaneswar, is located within a spacious compound wall of laterite
Laterite
Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock...
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.
As observed by Ramesh Prasad Mohapatra
Ramesh Prasad Mohapatra
Ramesh Prasad Mohapatra was an archaeologist and scholar on Orissan Studies. He served as curator for archaeology at the Orissa State Museum from 1963 to 1989 and made important contributions to historical research especially in the fields of archaeology, art history, religion, and other aspects...
, the temple of Lingaraja is by far the most notable monument of Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
. 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.
There is also a railway station named after it, called Lingaraj Temple Road
Lingaraj Temple Road
Lingaraj Temple Road is halt station located in Bhubaneswar city. Only ordinary trains stop at that station and express trains do not stop....
.
History
Lingaraaj means “the king of lingamLingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
”, the symbol of Shaivism
Shaivism
Shaivism is one of the four major sects of Hinduism, the others being Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. Followers of Shaivism, called "Shaivas," and also "Saivas" or "Saivites," revere Shiva as the Supreme Being. Shaivas believe that Shiva is All and in all, the creator, preserver, destroyer,...
. 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. By the time the Lingaraj temple was constructed, the Jagannath
Jagannath
Jagannath is a transcendental non-anthropotheistic Hindu god worshiped primarily by the people of Indian state of Orissa, and, to a great extent, West Bengal...
(form of Vishnu) cult had been growing, which historians believe is evidenced by the co-existence of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
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
Brahma Purana
The Brahma Purana is one of the major eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts. The extant text comprises 246 chapters. It is divided into two parts, namely the Purvabhaga and the Uttarabhaga . The first part narrates the story behind the creation of the cosmos, details the life and...
, an ancient scripture.
Temple complex
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 SilaSila (murti)
Shila, Shila, Shila, (शिला in Devanagari, in IAST refers to a Vaishnava (Hindu) aniconic representation of Vishnu, in the form of a spherical, usually black-coloured stone found in the sacred river Gandaki....
. The Shiva idols surround the Vishnu idol. Even the temple on the top has neither Shiva's trishula
Trishula
A trishula is a type of Indian trident but also found in Southeast Asia. It is commonly used as a Hindu-Buddhist religious symbol. The word means "three spear" in Sanskrit and Pali....
nor Vishnu's chakram
Chakram
The chakram , sometimes called a war quoit, is a throwing weapon from India. Its shape is of a flat metal hoop with a sharp outer edge from in diameter...
. It has only Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
's arrow symbol, probably because Rama was a worshipper of Shiva.
Sculpture and Temple Traditions
This magnificent temple, dedicated to Shiva, represents the type of HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
architecture. Swayambhu
Swayambhu
Swayambhu means Self-manifested or that which is created by its own accord.-Vaishnavism:Based on details in Bhagavata Purana and Matsya Purana, Narayana or Krishna is said to be the Self-manifested Swayambhu form of Brahman as the first cause of creation...
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
Harihara
Harihara is the name of a combined deity form of both Vishnu and Shiva from the Hindu tradition. Also known as Shankaranarayana , Harihara is thus worshipped by both Vaishnavites and Shaivities as a form of the Supreme God, as well as being a figure of worship for other Hindu traditions in general...
, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva.
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
Bhang
Bhang is a preparation from the leaves and flowers of the female cannabis plant, smoked or consumed as a beverage in the Indian subcontinent.- India:...
(marijuana). Almost all the Hindu gods and goddesses are represented here, reflecting the innate element of harmony within the religion.