Lingaraja means king of the Lingam. Shiva is worshipped here as Trishamueshwana (master of three worlds). His consort is called Bhuvaneshvan. Legends indicate that Shiva revealed to Parvati that he favoured Bhubaneswar-or Ekam thartha-to Benares. Parvati disguised herself as a cowherd to go and see the city that had enchanted her consort. Two demons Kritti and Vasa expressed their desire to marry her. She requested them to carry her upon their shoulders and later crushed them under her weight. Shiva then created the Bindu Saras lake to quench her thirst and took abode here as Krittivasas or Lingga.

The temple was first built by the ruler Yayati Kesari in the 7th CE who shifted his capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneswar

Inscriptions from the period of the Kalinga King Anangabhima III in the 13th century are seen here. The temple represents the peak of the Kalinga Pancharatha style of architecture. The Lingaraja Temple is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar, the compound wall measures 520 feet by 465 feet. The wall is 7 feet 6 inches thick. It is located in a spacious courtyard covering over 2.5 lakh sq feet, its tower rises up to 180 feet and is elaborately carved.

The temple compound has three compartments, one each for Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya. In the Garbha Grabe, the presiding deity is a Saujambu Lings (granite block) that is half Shiva and half Vishnu, a unique feature of the temple and it is worshipped as Han-Hara (Shiva and Vishnu). The Shinu Lingam in the sanctum rises to a height of 8 inches above the floor level and is 8 feet in diameter. The temple is without a Trishul (trident, Shiva's weapon) or Clukru (discus, Vishnu's weapon). Instead, it has an arrow, Lord Rama's symbol. Perhaps this is because Rama was a Shiva bhakta.

Sevas and pujas:

The lingam is bathed daily with water, milk and bhang (marijuana). A total of 22 worship services are offered every day. Once a year, an image of Lingaraj is taken to the Jalamandir at the centre of the Bindu Sagar lake.

Utsav

Sharan (Phagun) Bel leaves are offered to Lingaraj. The devout break their fast after the Mahada is lit. Ratha Yatra (Abokathtan): This chariot procession stays for five days. The idols of Lord Lingaraja and his sister Rukmani are taken in a chariot to Rameshwar Deula temple.

Best time to visit: All year round.

Interesting facts

Bhubaneswar, Konarak and Pun are considered Orissa's Golden Triangle

Places nearby:

• Puri Jagannath,
• Konark Sun temple,
• Ananta Vasudeva,
• Raja Rani,
• Makteswara,
• Parasurameswara.
• Kedareswara,
• Siddheswara,