[Advaita-l] Some noteworthy aspects of the Lingaraja Temple, Bhuvaneshwar

[V Subrahmanian]

Some noteworthy aspects of the Lingaraja Temple, Bhuvaneshwar

In this article on the very ancient Lingaraja Temple in Bhuvaneshwar,
Orissa,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingaraja_Temple

there are several noteworthy aspects:

1.  // With the advent of the Ganga dynasty in the early 12th century, who
had Vaishnavaite orientation, a new movement started resulting in the
*synthesis
of *Saivism <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saivism> and Vaishnavism
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism>*.* //

2. Harihareshwara, Harihara: //  The temple is active in worship practices,
unlike most other temples in Bhubaneswar and Shiva is worshipped as Harihara
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harihara>, a combined form of Vishnu and
Shiva. //

See also Badami caves:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badami_cave_temples
    Harihara as fused image of Hari and Hara.  discovered in 6 CE.

4. // here is evidence that part of the temple was built during the sixth
century CE as mentioned in some of the seventh century Sanskrit texts.[5]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingaraja_Temple#cite_note-Bhubaneswar_Lingaraj_Temple-5>
 Fergusson <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Fergusson_(architect)> believes
that the temple might have been initiated by Lalat Indu Keshari who reigned
from 615 to 657 CE.

// Although the temple as it now exists can be dated to the eleventh
century, Sanskrit texts hold that there was a stone temple here as early as
the seventh century AD, and fragments of this earlier structure do seem to
appear in the extant building.//

5. //  Tulsi leaves, which are favoured by Vishnu
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu>, was used along with Bela leaves for
the worship of Lingaraj. Lingaraja was thus came to be known as Harihara, a
combination of Shiva and Vishnu.//

6. Tripundra to Urdhvapundra: // The temple priests also changed the mark
in their forehead from horizontal to a "U" sign with a dotted middle line.
 //

7.  // The central deity of the temple, Lingaraj, is worshipped both as
Shiva and Vishnu. //

8. // Thousands of devotees follow and pull brightly decorated chariots
containing the idols of Lingaraj and his* sister *Rukmani.//

regards
subbu