Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar – Religious Significance

Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar – Religious Significance

Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra). Ekamra Purana, a Sanskrit treatise of the 13^th century mentions that the presiding deity was not seen as lingam (an aniconic form of Shiva) during the Satya and Treta Yugas and only during the Dwapara and Kali Yuga, it emerged as a lingam. The lingam in the temple is a natural unshaped stone that rests on a Sakti. Such a lingam is called Krutibasa or Swayambhu and is found in 64 places in different parts of India.

With the advent of the Ganga dynasty in the early 12^th century, who had Vaishnavite orientation, a new movement started resulting in the synthesis of Saivism and Vaishnavism. The Ekamra was associated with Vaishnavite gods Krishna and Balaram during the period. It is attributed the raising prominence of Jagannath sect that became predominant during the construction of the temple.

The Gangas remodeled the temple and introduced certain Vaishnavite elements like images of Vaishnava Dvarapalas namely Jaya and Prachanda, Jagannatha, Lakshmi Narayan and Garuda were installed. Tulsi leaves, which are favored by Vishnu, was used along with Bilwa leaves for the worship of Lingaraja. Lingaraja was thus came to be known as Harihara, a combination of Shiva and Vishnu. The flag of the temple was fixed to a Pinaka bow instead of trident usually found in Shiva temples. The temple priests also changed the mark in their forehead from horizontal to a "U" sign with a dotted middle line.

The Gangas also introduced certain fairs like Swing festival, Sun worship and mock quarrel between priests after chariot festival, similar to the practices in Jagannath Temple in Puri. The influence of the Ganga dynasty has led to a cosmopolitan culture, that has reduced the status of Lingaraja temple as a distinct Saivite shrine. More than 6000 devotees visit the temple every day. A total of 22 worship services are offered each day. Once a year, an image of Lingaraja is taken to the Jalamandir in the center of the Bindu Sagar lake.