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Top 10 Interesting Facts about Lingaraja Temple Complex

Lingaraj_temple_Bhubaneswar photo by G.-U. Tolkiehn —

The temple complex is a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Shiva and is one of the oldest temples located in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the Indian state of Odisha.

Lingaraja means a king of lingnam, an iconic form of Shiva. The temple dates back to the last decade of the 11^th century. The temple is believed to be built by kings, with the embodiment of the Kalinga architecture.

The temple itself is built in the Duela style comprising four components the festival hall, hall of offering, structure containing sanctum, and assembly hall. Learn more about the ancient temple in this top 10 Interesting Facts about Lingaraja Temple Complex.

1. The temple was built by diverse kings reigning in their eras

The temple is renowned as the largest in Bhubaneswar. There is evidence showing that part of the temple was built in the 6^th century, with the evidence pulled from 7^th century Sanskrit texts.

Its believed that the temple might have been initiated by Lalat Indu Keshari, who ruled from 615 to 657CE. The assembly hall and temple towers were built during the 12^th century.

The festival hall was built during the 11^th century while the hall of the offering was built during the 12^th century. This hall was initiated by the wife of Salini between 1099 and 1104CE.

Many accounts direct to the temple been built by the Somavanshi king Yayati during the eleventh century.

During the reign of the Ganga rulers, the deity present at Lingaraja temple was worshiped as Harihara representing both Shiva and Vishnu.

2. The waters of the Bindusagar tank are believed to be holy

Bhubaneshwar,_Bindu_sagar_photo by Oo91  

The local tradition has a legend associated with the Bindusagar lake which is located near the Lingaraja temple. It’s said to consist of drops of water from all the major rivers of India.

The lake is also known as an ocean drop tank and a sacred lake located to the north of the Lingaraja temple complex. It consists of tiny islands which have several shrines in the middle.

The tank has embankments on all four sides, and the rituals that are carried at lord Lingaraja temple are closely associated with the Bindusagar tank.

According to the tradition of the locals, the lake was created by Lord Shiva by bringing water from all the holy places to quench the thirst of the goddess parvah.

The holy water is believed to be capable of healing all physical and spiritual illnesses, it’s used by and distributed among devotees as well as monks in the temple.

3. The  temple has one of the finest architecture in the history of Hindu temples

The Lingaraja temple is built out of sandstone and laterite and faces east. The temple is built in the Duela style which consists of four structures that are vimana (structure containing the sanctum), Jaganmoha (assembly hall), Nata Mandira (festival hall), and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings).

The four structures align axially with descending height. The various units increase in height from the hall of the offering tower to the tower of the sanctum.

The hall of the offering measures  42 feet from the inside. There are decorative sculptures of beasts and men on the exterior wall of the hall.

The roof of the hall is pyramidally made of several horizontal layers in two intertwining sets of platforms.

The festival hall has decorative sculptures displaying women and couples. The shape of the sanctum is square from the interior, the tower walls are sculpted with female figures all posing differently.

4. There is a massive courtyard existing in the temple complex

Lingaraj_Temple_Complex_-_Odisha_-_II photo by Rajashree Talukdar —

There is a spacious courtyard at Lingaraja temple standing majestically to a height of about 180feet amidst scores of smaller structures. It’s enclosed by a massive boundary wall measuring 520 feet lengthwise and 465feet breadth wise.

The courtyard has minor shrines clustering around the great temple. Many of the shrines found their way into the Lingaraja temple after the destruction of the earlier temples to which they had belonged to.

5. The Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at Lingaraja temple complex

Rukuna_Ratha_festival photo by Prateek Pattanaik —

The festival of the Maha Shivaratri is annually celebrated in Phalguna month when thousands of believers visit the temple.

The celebration takes place at night, where devotees pray throughout the night. There is also a full day dedicated to fasting and bel leaves are offered to Lingaraja on this special day.

The believers break their fast after a huge lamp known as mahadipa is lit on the sphere of the temple

This festival honors the Lingaraja slaying of a demon. Water is carried from the river Mahanadi and devotees walk to the temple during the month of Shraavana each year.

6. The temple complex has the image of Lingaraja that is delicately maintained

The image of Lingaraja is ablated with water known as mahasnana many times a day and is decorated with flowers, sandal paste, and cloth. The leaves of bilva and Tulasi are used in daily prayers.

Other offerings left at the hall of the offering are curries, sweets, and cooked rice. Chanting of Sanskrit texts is invoked for the divinity to accept them.

 7. There are ancient sculptures decorated at the temple complex

The temple encloses sculptures that depict kings and queens, dancing girls’ hunters, the royal court, and musicians playing musical instruments among others.

The god of the temple Lingaraja is represented as a black stone or linga, which is 8 feet in diameter. The representation is referred to as Swayambhu, a, a natural linga.

 8. Lingaraja temple priests hail from three distinct communities

The temple priests are known to come from the communities of Pujapanda Nijog, Brahman Nijog, and Badu Nijog.

The caste group of Badu is called Niyoga, and they elect their officers every year during the sandalwood festival in which every Badu is required to undergo three special rites; ear piercing, marriage, and god—touching.

9. The temple complex is closed during the food ceremony of the deities

The Lingaraja temple complex is closed from about 12 noon to 3.30 pm, a ceremony referred to as Mahasnana and it commences once the doors are closed.

Its followed by pouring a mixture of milk, curdled milk, honey, and clarified butter upon the deity purification.

10. The temple is maintained by two different administration

Bhubaneshwar photo by G41rn8 —

The temple is in the hands of the Temple Trust Board and the archaeological survey of India. The security guards are appointed by the temple administration.