Rare and Unique Lingaraj Temple ( Orissa )

Built in the 11century, the Lingaraj temple is dedicated to Shiva, locally known as Harihara and is the oldest temple in Bhubaneshwar. A perfect specimen of Kalinga architecture, a sub category, it follows the Deula style in its constitution with the Vimana, the Jagamohana, Natamandira and the Bhoga Mandapa. Unlike the Dravidian style, where the highest point is the Gopuram, the highest point of this temple is the Vimana, the superstructure above the main deity and  the other convex Shikaras all follow in increasing order to lead the eyeline to the singular peak of the Vimana; like hills progressively leading to the summit, giving the temple its famously beautiful outline in the fading evening light.

As much as the temple is beautiful, the stories that surround the temple too are quite interesting. Legend has it that once Shiva told Parvati about his liking for this place, liking it even better than Benaras, making Parvati curious about the location. So disguised as a cowherd, Parvati was reconnoitering the location when she met Kritti and Vasa, two demons, who taken in by Parvati’s looks at once expressed their desire to marry her.

Being the clever woman that she was, Parvati asked them to carry her as she was tired from walking and told them that she would consider their proposal if they carried her on their shoulders. The two demons hoisted Parvati onto their shoulders only to be crushed to oblivion. Shiva, on seeing how tired Parvati was from all that travel and exertion, created the Bindu Sagar lake to quench her thirst and then grandly declared that he would settle down here as Lingaraja. Locally this version of Shiva is also known as Krittvasa, after the two crushed demons.

There is also an oddity that adds to the fame of this  temple.  It is here that Shiva as Harihara is worshipped by both the Shaivites and the Vaishnavites; for the devotees, he is both Shiva and Vishnu. Someone who understands the division will understand the significance of this dual existence.

The Lingaraj Temple in addition to being one of the finest examples of Kalinga style, and one of the last remaining examples of Nagara architecture, that stands in strong contrast to the rough shod buildings that are built now, is also a full fledged temple that conducts daily worship ceremonies even today. Open from 6 am in the morning to 9 pm in the evening, it attracts crowds of devotees from all over the world and remains busy throughout the year. If you are a Hindu and in Odisha, you cannot be without going to the temple at least once… such is the popularity and pull of the famous Lingaraj Temple.