Lakshmaneswar Temple, Kharod – The Temple

Lakshmaneswar Temple, Kharod – The Temple

This is a west facing temple enclosed by compound walls. The Temple is situated on a raised platform. The Sabha Mandapa can be found immediately after the entrance. The front portion of the Sabha mandapa consists of the Satyanarayana Mandapa, the Nandi Mandapa and the Bhogashala and rear consists of Sanctum. Idols of Ganga & Yamuna can be found at the entrance of the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Lakshmaneswar. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam.

It is a distinctive laterite Linga with 1.25 lakh (125000) holes. Hence, the Linga came to be called as Laksha Linga / Lakalinga. It is believed that when water is poured in these holes, it gets absorbed in it whereas one hole is a renewable reservoir, it always has water in it. The water offered on Lakalinga goes to the Kund situated behind the temple because of this Kund never dries. The Linga is situated at about 30 feet above the ground.

The pillars in the Mandapa are carved with various sculptures like Ravana trying to lift Kailash, Ardhanariswara form of Shiva, Ram-Sugriva meeting, killing of Bali in Ramayana, Shiva Tandava, sculptures of men and women, a husband and wife standing with their child, a fierce looking person who is allowed to punish people and Jaya and Vijaya (the guards of Vaikuntha).

There is an inscription in Sabha Mandapa dated to Isana Deva, an early king of the Panduvamshi dynasty. The inscription is damaged however mention of an Indrabala and his son Isanadeva is readable. There is another inscription in the Sabha Mandapa dated to Ratnadeva III, a Kalachuri King (1181 CE). This inscription gives a genealogical list of the Kalchuri Kings and their history. There was an idol of a Pandit in the Temple premises. His name was engraved as Pandit Damodara in the idol. It is believed that this idol was kept outside the village and later got moved into the temple premises.