Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar, Orissa India

The Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneswar is a superb example of Odishan temple architecture at its most mature and fully developed phase. Dating back to the 11th century, the Lingaraja Temple not only dominates the skyline of Bhubaneswar at the height of 55 metres but also dominates the landscape for about a distance of 15kms.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the lingam at the Lingaraja Temple is not stringently a Shiva linga as is the case in most of the Lingam temples across the country. In fact by the time the construction of the Lingaraja Temple was completed, there was a predominance of Jagannath cult throughout Orissa hence the main deity of the temple is Svayambhu linga. The Svayambhu linga is considered as ‘hari-hara’ linga representing half Shiva and half Vishnu.

The Lingaraja Temple although as it stands today can be dated to the 11th century; there are Sanskrit texts available stating that there was a stone temple at the same place where the present temple stands. The stone temple dated back to the seventh century AD and there are remaining fragments of that earlier temple that appear in the present Lingaraja Temple.

Renowned as the most popular tourist attractions in Bhubaneswar, the Lingaraja Temple, unlike other ancient temples, is very much in active worship and non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple compound. However there is a large viewing platform to one side of the complex from where non-Hindus can get a good view of the main temple and other 150 subsidiary shrines that are situated within the huge Lingaraja Temple complex.

The tower of the main temple with its shapely and soaring height of more than 55 metres has been designed in such a way that it has miniature replicas of itself all over it. Adorned with beautiful sculpture of various deities carved on the spire, the Lingaraja Temple also enshrines huge statues of Lord Shiva made up of or the yajna shala, the bhoga mandap or hall of offerings and the natya shala or the hall of dance. On the eastern side of the temple is its sole entry gate known as Simhadwara or the Lion’s Gate, which has Lord Shiva’s Trishul on one side and Lord Vishnu’s Chakra on the other side. The walls of the temple have been constructed using red sandstones and are quite high, which lends the look of a fortress to the Lingaraja Temple complex.

The best time to visit Lingaraja Temple is between October and March after the rainy season is over and the weather is just right to explore the temple complex.