Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar – Legends

Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar – Legends

Kirtivasa:

As per another legend, Lord Shiva told his consort Parvati that he liked Bhubaneswar more than even Varanasi. Parvati was eager to visit Bhubaneswar. She took the form of a cowherd woman and wandered into the city. Two demons named Kritti and Vasa were attracted by her. They troubled her to get married to them. She requested them to carry her on their shoulders. When they did so, she crushed them to the ground and killed them. She felt very tired and thirsty after killing them. Shiva created Bindu Sagar lake to quench her thirsty and thus he was named as Krittivasas, which became Kirtivasa. 

Brahma Purana:

Brahma Purana is one of the 18 Maha Puranas. It has reference to Bhubaneswar as Ekamra Kshetra which enshrined one crore Shiva Lingas. 

Bhubaneswar:

Lingaraja is also called as Tribhuvaneswara which means the master of three worlds. Probably, the city was named as Bhubaneswar after him.

Ekamra Kshetra:

As the deity of the temple was originally under a mango tree, the site is called as Ekamra Kshetra. The word 'Ekamra' means a mango tree.  

Bindu Sagar:

As per the legend, an underground river originating from the temple fills the Bindu Sagar tank, the famous tank of Bhubaneswar. Thus, the tank became sacred and got the healing power. 

Different Names:

Lingaraja, literally means the king of Lingam, the iconic form or Shiva. Lord Shiva was originally worshipped as Kirtivasa and later as Harihara and is commonly referred as Tribhuvaneshwara (also called Bhubaneswar), the master of three worlds, namely, heaven, earth and netherworld.