Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar is one of the oldest Hindu shrines in Bhubaneswar and a major pilgrimage center in Odisha. The temple is located in the midst of many ancient monuments and sees a huge number of devotees every year.

Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar is also considered as the quintessence of the Kalinga architecture, a type of Indian architectural style that dates back to the medieval period. Several other Hindu gods and goddesses are also worshipped here in addition to the main deity, Lord Shiva.



History of the Lingaraj Temple

The Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar is the largest and most popular temple in the city of Bhubaneswar, the capital of the Indian state of Odisha. It is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites and sees tens of thousands of visitors each day.

There are various legends surrounding the origin of the Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar. According to the Ekamra Purana, which is a 13th-century Sanskrit text, it was originally built under a mango tree. The present temple was built by king Jajati Keshari of the Somavanshi dynasty.

During the time of its construction, the temple was influenced by the Jagannath cult that was emerging in the region. The Ganga kings of the era contributed to its development, and it came to be called Harihara, meaning confluence of Vishnu and Shiva.

It was a place where the lord of the universe, namely Shiva, and the sun god were worshipped. The temple is a symbol of the harmony of Vaishnavism and Hinduism.

The temple is also famous for its unique rekha deula, or tower that resembles a mountain with a spire. The rekha deula was crafted in red sandstone and stands on an expansive compound wall.

Inside the rekha deula is the temple’s primary icon, a carved image of Shiva. The rekha deula is surrounded by an underground tank that provides water to the temple.

Another important feature of the rekha deula is its entrance gate. The entrance gate is shaped like a lion and stands on the east side of the temple. It is embellished with ancient sculptures of birds, beasts and animals, which are a common theme in temple architecture.

Other than the rekha deula, there are other features that add to the temple’s beauty. The temple is surrounded by an extensive courtyard that contains hundreds of smaller shrines and several other structures.

The rekha deula is topped by a 60-m-tall spire that resembles a pyramidal tower and is decorated with decorative elements. The rekha deula is said to be the culmination of the medieval stages of the Kalinga architecture in Bhubaneswar.

It was constructed by the Somavamsi dynasty, but later it saw some additions from the Ganga rulers as well. The rekha deula was embellished with statues of Jagannath, Lakshmi Narayan, Garuda and the Vaishnava Dwarapalas called Jaya and Prachanda.

Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar was the first of its kind in India to be built in this type of architecture, and it is a landmark in the city’s history. It is a classic example of the classical mix of Shaivism and Vaishnavism, which has remained in practice throughout its 1000-year history.