LINGARAJ TEMPLE

LINGARAJ TEMPLE

Subject : Culture

Context :The ASI came across the stone structure engraved with arts while undertaking the excavation drive being done under the EkamraKshetra heritage project for beautification of the Lingaraj temple and its surroundings.

Concept :

About Lingaraj Temple

• It is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated in the city of Bhubaneswar.
• The temple was built in the 7th century by the King JajatiKeshari.
• Lingaraj is referred to as “Swayambhu” i.e. self-originated Shivling.
• The temple marks the culmination of the temple architecture in Bhubaneswar which was the cradle of the Kalinga School of Temple Architecture.
• The temple can broadly be divided into four main halls i.e.
• GarbaGriha(Sanctum Sanctorum),
• YajanaMandapa (the hall for prayers)’
• NatyaMandapa(dance and music hall) and
• BhogaMandapa (where devotees can have the Prasad (offering) of the Lord).
• It signifies the syncretisation of Shaivism and Vaishnavism sects in Odisha.
• Bhubaneswar is called the EkamraKshetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in EkamraPurana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise.
• Bindusagar is the sacred pond near the temple which is the second most attractive place after the temple.
• Bindusagar is considered as the union of drops of water from various sacred rivers of India.

Additional Information Kalinga School of Temple Architecture

• An inscription in the Amrtesvara Temple at Holal in Karnataka refers to four styles of Hindu temple architecture i.e. Nagara, Kalinga, Dravida and Vesara.
• Kalinga style is identified as a sub-class under the Nagara category.
• Bhuvanapradipa primarily defines three kinds of Kalinga temple styles i.e. Rekha, Khakhara and Bhadra.
• Rekha-deul (temple) is distinguished with its square plan topped with a curvilinear tower.
• A Pidha-deul, also referred as Bhadradeul, also has a square plan topped with a pyramidal tower composed of horizontal tiers arranged in receding manner.
• A Khakharadeul is surmounted with a barrel-shaped (vault-shape) tower over a rectangular plan.
• Silpaprakasha is the most famous text describing the Odishan temple architecture which was authored by Ramachandra Kaulachara who belonged to the reign of king Viravarman.
• A typical Kalinga (Odishan) temple consists two parts, a sanctuary where an idol or linga is placed and a hall where pilgrims can view the lord installed in the sanctuary.
• The sanctuary is referred as deul while the hall is known as jagamohana. The other components under Kalinga style temple are:

Pitha is the platform over which the entire structure of the temple stands.

Bada is the vertical wall over which tower is supported.

Gandi is the lower part of the tower while mastaka is the upper part of the tower.