Lingaraj Worship in Ekamra Kshetra
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Orissa Review Lingaraj Worship in Ekamra Kshetra Dr. Saroj Kumar Panda The name Ekamra is mentioned in the Gauda king Sasanka, a staunch devotee of Lord Anantavasudeva Inscription of Paramarddi Siva, built the first temple on this site of Tri- (1200-1278 A.D.) which praises “the province Bhubaneswar in the first quarter of 7th Century of Utkala where lies the holy place of Ekamra A.D.6 Due to the vigorous activities of the Yogies ….. adorned with hundreds of mango-groves, of the Pasupat sect, Siva worship reached its wherein exists a single Devakula (temple) height. This sect gave an impetus to the temple surrounded by numerous temples. This epigraph building for the image of Siva Lingam. By the 5th describes "the holy place (kshetra) of Ekamra as century A.D. this sect established itself in very dear1 to god Krittivasa, well known for Bhubaneswar region and had to compete with bestowing divine achievements and always Buddhism and Jainism which have been prevailing decorated with flowers of every season”. The faith in that region.7 Brahmeswar Inscription of Udyotakesari Mahabhavagupta IV also describes Ekamra as The Saiva cult in Ekamra Kshetra Siddhakshetra.2 developed with Lingaraj (Lingam) as the presiding deity in the temple. The Lingam is a natural During early period ‘Ekamra Kshetra’ unshaped stone that rests on a Sakti which has (Old Bhubaneswar) bordered by Khandagiri in been carefully and traditionally shaped. Therefore west, Kundalesvara temple in the village named Lingaraj is otherwise known as ‘Krutibasa’ means Tankapani in the east, Bahirangesvara temple on natural born or self established (Swayambhu) the river bank of Daya near Dhauli in the south Lingam. Such Lingams are found in sixty-eight and the Varahi temple in the north.3 This sacred kshetra was a Panchakrosa (10 miles) in places in different parts of India of which circumference with the temple of Lingaraj at the Bhubaneswar is one. Ekamra Purana indicates centre. The shape of the Kshetra as described in that the Deity was originally under a mango sacred texts is circular in nature.4 Medieval (Ekamra) tree and was not seen as Lingam in Sanskrit texts like Ekamra Purana complied during Satya and Treta. In the Dwapara and Kali ages it 8 13th century A.D. and Ekamra Chandrika, revealed itself as Lingam. describe that the inner circle of this holy Kshetra With the advent of Ganges who were was bounded by Meghesvara temple in the east devout Vaishnavas, a new movement started and Sundaresvara temple in the south. It was resulting in the synthesis of Saivism and divided into astayatana or eight wards and 45 Vaishnavism. The Ganga kings are described as villages were included within the boundary of the versed in the tantric schools of Saivism and 5 Sacred Site (Kshetra). Vaishnavism. Therefore the place Ekamra is In ‘Ekamra Chandrika’, the Sanskrit text associated with Krishna and Balaram, though it dealing with Lingaraj, it has been stated that the is described as eminently dear to Krittivasa.9 April - 2011 61 Orissa Review During this period, the religious sphere in representing Lingaraj and Parbati because during Bhubaneswar underwent a radical change. The the Car Festival, the former had taken with him Ganges while remodeling the Lingaraj Temple Laxmi (Rukmini) wife of Vishnu and not Parbati.12 introduced certain Vaishnavite elements which are This tradition is the replica of Laxmi-Jagannath not usually found in other Saiva Shrines. In the quarrel, which occurs at Puri during Car Festival Southern doorjambs of the Natamandir of Lingaraj days. Temple, the images of the Vaishnava Dwarapalas, The cumulative effect of the influence of Jaya Vijaya were placed instead of Chanda the Jagannath cult on the Lingaraj temple has been Prachanda. On the western side of the main that it has lost its distinctive character of a Saiva temple of Lingaraj and on the northern side of its shrine and has adopted the cosmopolitanism of Bhogamandap the images of Jagannath and the Jagannath at Puri. The Priest, known as Badus, Laxmi-Narayan were enshrined, so that a devotee who have been described as the descendants of while making Parikrama around the main temple 10 a Savar mother by a Saiva Saint known as could first meet these Vaishnavite deities. Siddhabuti are like the Daitapaties of the Thereafter he could enter into the main temple to Jagannath temple. The custom of partaking pay homage to Lord Lingaraj. It is during this time cooked rice offered to Lingaraj by all caste Hindus that a Vaishnavite image of Garuda (eagle) was is also seen here. It is analogous to the one placed on the Garuda pillar to the left side of the prevalent in Jagannath Temple, Puri. Nandi bull of Siva. Tulsi leaves were also presented to Lord Lingaraj along with Bela leaves Reference : with are favorites to Vishnu and Siva respectively. 1. OHRJ – 1, 1952, P.- 282. Lingaraj was hence called as Harihara, 2. JASB – XIII, 1947, p.- 70. Combination of Vishnu and Siva. The flag on the 3. OHRJ – XLVI, No.- 3, p.- 59. Lingaraj temple was fixed to a Pinaka bow instead 4. OHRJ– XXIV, XXV, XXVI, 1980, p.149. of a trident usually found in the Siva Temples. This 5. Mahapatra, M. – “The Lingaraj Temple, its change was not only confined to the Lingaraj Structures and Change (1900-1936)” Ph.D. Thesis, Temple but also had its repercussion among the Utkal University. temple priests. After Lingaraj was conceived to 6. Kedaranath Gaveshana Pratisthana, Ekamra be the synthesis of Hari and Hara, the Sacred Chandrika (Oriya), Bhubaneswar, 1995. P-72. marks of the priests serving the Deity also 7. OHRJ – XXIV, XXV, XXVI, 1980, p.- 149. changed. The Saivites who marked their forehead 8. Panigrahi K.C., Archaeological remains at with Sandal wood paste in horizontal lines with a Bhubaneswar, 2nd Edition, Cuttack – 1981, p.- 219. big dot in the middle afterwards added a big ‘U’ 9. OHRJ – VII, No.-1, 1958, p.- 50. with the dot in the middle on the horizontal lines. 10. Senapati Nilamani, (Ed.), Puri District Gazetter, It signified the sacred mark of both Siva and Bhubaneswar, 1977, p.-727 Vishnu.11 11. OHRJ – XXIV, XXV, XXVI, 1980, p.- 149. The Ganga also added many Vaishnavite 12. Senapati Nilamani, op.cit. fairs, which were foreign to Siva Cult. The Swing Festival (Dola) and Sun worship (Surya Puja) performed in Vishnu temples were observed in Lingaraj Temple. Besides, on the day Lord Lingaraj’s return to the temple after completion of Car Festival of Asokastami, a mock quarrel Dr. Saroj Kumar Panda is the Principal, Gadibrahma was staged between two parties of priests College, Delang, Puri. 62 April - 2011.