THE HISTORICAL (LINGARAJ) TEMPLE IN ODISHA, INDIA
Lingaraj Temple ::- Lingaraj Temple Is A Hindu Temple Dedicated To Lord Shiva And Is One Of The Oldest Temple In Bhubaneswar, The Capital Of Odisha State, India. The Temple Is The Most Prominent Land Mark Of Bhubaneswar City And One Of The Major Tourist Attractions Of The State. The Lingaraj Temple Is The Largest Temple In Bhubaneswar. The Central Tower Of The Temple Is 180 Feet (55 m) Tall.
The Temple Represents The Quintessence Of The Kalinga Architecture And Culminating The Medieval Stages Of The Architectural Tradition At Bhubaneswar. The Temple Is Believed To Be Built By The Kings From The Somavamshi Dynasty, With Later Additions From The Ganga Rules. The Temple Is Built In The Deula Style That Has Four Components Namely Vimana (Structure Containing The Sanctum), Jagamohan (Assembly Hall), Natamandira (Festival Hall) And Bhoga Mandap (Hall Of Offerings) Each Increasing In The Hight To Its Predecessor. The Temple Complex Has 50 Other Shrines And Is Enclosed By A Large Compound Wall.
Bhubaneswar Is Called The Ekamra Khetras The Deity Of Lingaraj Was Originally Under A Mango Tree (Ekamra) As Noted In Ekamra Purana. A 13th Century Sanskrit Treatise. Lingaral, Literally Means The King Of Lingam, The Iconic From Of Lord Shiva. Shiva Was Originally Worshipped As Kritivasa And Later As Harihara. The Temple In Its Present From Dates Back To The Last decade Of The Eleventh Century. There Is Evidence That Part Of Temple Was Built During The Sixth Century CE As Mentioned In Some Of The Seventh Century Sanskrit Texts.
Ferguson Believes That The Temple Might Have Been Initiated By Lalat Indu Keshari Who Reigned From 615 To 657 CE. The Lingarj Temple Faces East And Is Built Of Sandstone And Laterite. The Main Entrance Is Located In The East, While There Are Small Entrance In The North And South. As Per Hindu Legend, An Underground River Originating From The Lingarj Temple Fills The Bindusagar Tank ( Meaning Ocean Drop) And The Water Is Believed To Heal Physical And Spiritual Illness. The Water From The Tank Is Thus Treated Sacred And Pilgrims Take A Holy Dip During Festival Occasions.
Shivaratri Is The Main Festival Celebrated Annually In Phalgun Month When Thousands Of Devotees Visit The Temple. Candan Yatra (Sandalwood Ceremony) Is A 22 Days Festival Celebrated In The Temple When Servants Of The Temple Disport Themselves In A Specially Made Barge In Bindu Sagar Tank. Every Year The Chariot Festival ( Rath Yatra) Of Lingaraj Is Celebrated On Asokshtami.
0 Comments