Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar
– The Temple
The Lingaraja Temple is the
largest temple in Bhubaneswar. The Temple covers an area of about 250,000
sq. feet. The entire temple complex is enclosed within a spacious compound wall
of laterite measuring
520 ft (160 m) by 465 ft (142 m). The wall is 7.5 ft
(2.3 m) thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping. Alongside the inner
face of the boundary wall, there is a terrace to protect the compound wall
against outside aggression. The tower over the sanctum is 45.11 m
(148.0 ft) high and the complex has 150 smaller shrines in its spacious
courtyard. The door in the gate of the entrance porch is made of
sandalwood. A trident can be seen at the entrance of the temple, which consists
of a statue of Lord Shiva and two statues of Lord Vishnu on both the sides of
the entrance gate.
The Lingaraja temple faces east
and is built of sandstone and laterite.
The main entrance is located in the east, while there are small entrances in
the north and south. The temple is built in the Deula style
that has four components namely, vimana (structure
containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), Natamandira (festival
hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), with all four in axial
alignment with descending height. The dance hall was associated with the
raising prominence of the devadasi
system that existed during the time. The various units
from the Hall of offering to the tower of the sanctum increase in height.
Bhoga Mandapa:
The bhogamandapa (Hall
of offering) measures 42 ft (13 m) X 42 ft (13 m) from the
inside, 56.25 ft (17.15 m) X 56.25 ft (17.15 m) from the
outside and has four doors in each of the sides. The exterior walls of the hall
has decorative sculptures of men and beast. The hall has a pyramidal roof made
of up several horizontal layers arranged in sets of two with intervening
platform. It bears an inverted bell and a kalasa in
the top.
Natamandira:
The Natamandira (festival
hall) measures 38 ft (12 m) X 38 ft (12 m) from the inside,
50 ft (15 m) X 50 ft (15 m) from the outside, has one main
entrance and two side entrances. The side walls of the hall has decorative
sculptures displaying women and couples. It has a flat roof sloping in stages.
There are thick pylons inside the hall.
Jagamohana:
The jagamohana (assembly
hall) measures 35 ft (11 m) X 30 ft (9.1 m) from the
inside, 55 ft (17 m) X 50 ft (15 m) from the outside,
entrances from south and north and has a 30 metres (98 ft) tall roof. The
hall has a pyramidal roof made of up several horizontal layers arranged in sets
of two with intervening platform as in the Hall of offering. The facade to the
entrances are decorated with perforated windows with lion sitting on hind legs.
The inverted bell above second unit is adorned by kalasa and
lions.
Sanctum:
The Lingaraja temple is a rekha
deula planned in the Pancharatha style without a Pistha (platform) having
Panchangabada. The rekha deula has a 45.11 m (148.0 ft)
tall pyramidal tower over the sanctum and measures 22 ft (6.7 m) X 22 ft
(6.7 m) from the inside, 52 ft (16 m) X 52 ft (16 m)
from the outside over the sanctum. It is covered with decorative design and
seated lion projecting from the walls. The sanctum is square in shape from the
inside. The tower walls are sculpted with female figures in different poses. Presiding
Deity is called as Lingaraja / Kirtivasa / Bhubaneswar / Tribhuvaneshwara /
Harihara. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. Lord is a Swaymbhu
Moorthy.
The Shiva Linga idol is big, and
it is around 8 feet in diameter. This temple worships Lord Shiva as Harihara,
which is a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva. The priests worship the deity
daily with water, milk and bhang (marijuana). The Varandah of the temple
contains 10 mouldings beautifully carved. The Janghas are richly decorated and
the lower Jangha is ornamented with Khakaramundis. The Mastaka, Khapuri and
Kalasha of the temple have been arranged very nicely and trisula is the finial
in the temple. The beauty of the deula and Mukhasala is very much artistic in
nature.
Mother Shrine:
Mother is called as Bhuvaneswari.
She is housed in a separate shrine. Similar to sanctum, it is also built in
Deula style and has four components namely Vimana, Jagamohana, Nata Mandir and
Bhoga Mandapa. The Shrine was built by Gangas in 13th Century CE. The
shrine enshrines the beautiful idol of Parvati in the standing posture.
Although there are niches found in the exterior wall, only one Parsvadevta
namely Parvati is present and the other niche idols are missing. The
exterior wall of the shrine is full of designs and sculptures such as scroll
works, Naga stambhas, Naga and Naginis, dancing girls, erotic
figures, perforated windows, lions, miniature shrines, etc. The Vimana is
of rekha type and the Jagamohana is of Pidha type.
Other Shrines:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Sculptures:
The Jagamohana of the Lingaraja
temple is decorated with various sculptures. It had also balustrated windows in
the north and south. The images of Parvati, Ganesa and Kartikeya appear in the
northern, southern and western niches of the sanctum respectively. The
life-size images of the Parsva-devatas are made of chlorite. The three distinct
Puranic episodes are found on the walls of the sanctum and of the Jagamohana.
On the southern door of the
Jagmohana, the marriage scene of Lord Siva has been depicted where Siva wears
the crown of a bride groom but appears perfectly naked. The images of Bhrikuti,
Brahma and Parvati are associated with the scene. On the southern facade of the
sanctum, a scene is found where Yasoda churns curd and Srikrishna, as a child,
disturbs her. The image of Nanda is also associated with it. The third episode
on the western side of the Vimana is represented with a simple form of Lord
Siva’s marriage.
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