4.lingaraja Temple

LINGARAJA TEMPLE,
BHUBANESHWAR
[DGCOAR/S1S2(2012-2017)/HOA/Module 4]
Building
INTRODUCTION
: Lingaraja Temple
Location : Bubhaneswar,
Orissa
Diety : Harihara (Shiva,

Vishnu)
Built by : king Yayati Keshari

of Somavanshi Dynasty (No historical
authentication)
Built in : 617 to 657 A D
Architecture : Kalinga School of

Architecture
Significance
This temple is not only a revered
pilgrimage site but also as one of the
architectural splendors of the state.
Biggest temple of Orissa
The Lingaraja temple overlooks the city
and dominates the landscape
One of the oldest temples in Orissa.
Structurally,
The Parasurameswara temple at
Bhubaneshwar is the oldest, dating
back to the middle of the 8th century,
and the Lingaraja is temple is assigned
to the 10th century
The temple complex
The vast Bindu Sagar lake is the center around which
are located the multitude of temples of Bhubaneshwar.
The Lingaraj Temple of Orissa is surrounded by a

number of other Hindu temples, though they are
smaller in size.
All these small temples along with the Lingaraj Temple
are together termed a temple complex.
There are as many as 65 other temples near the
Lingaraj Temple.
The site
The temple is located within a spacious compound of over 2,50,000
sq.ft and is bounded by fortified walls of laterite .
The compound is 142 m X 158 m in size.
The massive walls are lavishly decorated with beautiful sculptures.
Alongside the inner face of the boundary wall there runs a terrace
probably meant to protect the compound wall against outside
aggression.
The temple dominates the landscape with 150 smaller shrines.
Almost all the Hindu gods and
goddesses are represented here.
The Bhagawati temple is located in the
northwest corner of the courtyard.
The temple
Erected in red sandstone, Lingraj Temple has the stone of the darkest
shade
Laid out on the panchratha plan with five divisions to the temple and five
richly engraved mouldings
the temple is divided into four parts
1. the Garbh Griha,
2. the Yajna Shala,
3. Natya Shala
4. the Bhoga Mandap
The 'nata mandapa' (dance hall) and 'bhoga mandapa' (offering hall) were later
added to the temple
The total height of the Lingaraj Temple is 180 feet. 55 metres high
The wall is 7 feet 6 inches thick and surmounted by a plain slant coping
Entry
The temple has gates in three different directions with a main
entrance on the east, and secondary gates on the North and
South
One can enter the temple complex through 'Simha Dwara'
(the Lion's Gate), where lions flank both the sides, crushing
elephants under their feet
Tower
The most attractive feature of this
temple is the great tower of the deul or
Sri Mandir.
It is entered through a pyramidal jag
mohan, or ante room.
The vimana is squarish in plan.
Made of Limestone.
Its base measures 17m side but due to
projecting faces does not seem
square.
Wrapped in clustered bands that
vertically bend inward to make an
overall tapered profile.
rises to a height of 180 feet
The tall spire of the temple literally,
dominates the skyline of
Bhubaneshwar
Over the curve s a necking or beki above which rests the melon
shaped fluted disc or amalaka and crowned with kalasa.
The bada or lower storey is vertical 1/3rd of
its height and above, it has a parabolic
curve.
An optical effect is produced with the deep
cut warped lines that run perpendicularly on
the spire.
The outer surface is exuberantly carved
with gods, goddesses, nymphs.
Due to this, the temple looks much larger
than what actually it is. Moreover,
the spire of the temple has replicas of itself
in the steeples that are incorporated
perfectly in the entire structure of the
temple.
The enormous height of the spire, 5 times
the height of the Rajarani, dominates the
entire surroundings by its soaring loftiness
and volume.
The strata in the vimana are enriched at
every sixth tier.
THE MAIN SHRINE
This temple was built at a time when the Jagannath cult was at its
peak. By the time Ligaraja temple was built, the Jagannath cult has
gained immense popularity all over India. This is exemplified by the
fact, that Swayambhu Linga - half vishnu, half shiva, is the presiding
diety here.
The Shivalingam in the sanctum of the Lingaraja temple rises to a
height of 8 inches above the floor level, and is 8 feet in diameter.
This massive image of 'Linga' appears to be of granite stone.
The "lingam", measuring 2.5 metres wide is one of the 12 jyotirlingas
in India, and is revered as Hari-Hara, the embodiment of Vishnu and
Shiva.
On the main entrance, one can see a trident (Lord Shiva) and
Chakra (Lord Vishnu) on the either side of the door.

JAGMOHAN
The Jagamohana and the spire match each other
29m high pyramid of the "jagamohana" is richly adorned with
carvings.
The Jagmohan is 22m X 17m.
The lower storey bada rises to a height of 10m and its pida a
pyramidal tower attaining a height of 30m from the ground.
The nine lower roof and seven upper roofs of the Jagamohana are
exquisitely adorned with sculpted friezes representing a procession
of infantry, cavalry, elephants and miscellaneous other scenes that
break the monotony.
There are undercutting of
layers throughout, to create
shadow lines and keep
monsoon rains off the walls
the layers of the jagamohan
diminish in thickness as they
rise
FEATURES
Shivaratri is the main festival celebrated
annually.
The devout usually break their fast after
the Mahadipa (a huge lamp) is lit on the spire of
the temple
Every year a chariot festival (Ratha-Yatra) of
Lingaraj is celebrated
FEATURES
One of the noticeable features of
the Lingaraj temple is its degrading
architectural beauty, as one retreats
from the deul (the Sanctum
Sanctorum), away towards the
bhogamandir (the hall of offerings).
This is so, because the Lingaraja
temple was built by the rulers of
three dynasties, over a huge span
of time.
The deul was built by the
prosperous Kesari dyanasty.
The Muslim invasion, after that, left
the Ganga dynasty in a position,
that they built the bhogamandir at
the cost of its architectural beauty.
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LINGARAJA TEMPLE,

Diety : Harihara (Shiva,

Built by : king Yayati Keshari

Built in : 617 to 657 A D

Architecture : Kalinga School of

The Lingaraj Temple of Orissa is surrounded by a

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