KHORDHA, Odisha

Main Attraction: The Lingaraj Temple

Lingaraj Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Harihara, a form of Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the East Indian state of Odisha (formerly Orissa). The temple is the most prominent landmark of the Bhubaneswar city and one of the major tourist attractions of the state. The Lingaraja temple is the largest temple in Bhubaneswar. The central tower of the temple is 180 ft (55 m) tall. The temple represents the quintessence of the Kalinga Architecture and culminating the medieval stages of the architectural tradition at Bhubaneswar. The temple is believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers. The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasing in the height to its predecessor. The temple complex has 50 other shrines and is enclosed by a large compound wall.

Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraj was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13thcentury Sanskrit treatise. The temple is active in worship practises, unlike most other temples in Bhubaneswar and Shiva is worshipped as Harihara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva. The temple has images of Vishnu, possibly because of the rising prominence of Jagannath cult emanating from the Ganga rulers who built the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the 12th century.

Lingaraja temple is maintained by the Temple Trust Board and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The temple has an average of 6,000 visitors per day and receives lakhs of visitors during festivals.

Brief History

Khordha district has a unique place in the history being the last kingdom to be conquered by the British in 1803. Khordha is the Headquarters of the district of the same name and situated on N.H. 5. The local name of the place is Jajarsing which was a small village. Probably the place was formerly known as Kurada which means “foul mouthed”. The old mile stones of the area had the word KURADA which have now been white washed and the word “Khurdha” written on them. The present Khurda area was once heavily populated by the Savaras, who are still to be found in some pockets of the district. In this connection it may be noted that a village and ex-Zamindari in Ganjam district is named as ‘Surada’ which probably means ‘Fair mouthed’ as apposed to Khurdha.

The History of Khordha district is closely associated with the history of Puri district, as Khordha has been brought from Puri district. About the middle of the 10th century A.D. the rule of Bhoumakars was supplanted by that of the Somavamsis. Yayati-2, Mahasiva Gupta was the first Somavamsi king to occupy the eastern Odisha. He and his son Udyot Mahabhava Gupta were great temple builders and the Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar has been attributed to them. The last king of this dynasty was Karnadeva, who was defeated and killed by Chodaganga Deva about 1110 A.D. Other famous temples like Brahmeswar, Mukteswar and Rajarani temples were constructed by the Somavamsi kings at Bhubaneswar.

Khordha came into prominence when the first Raja of Khurda dynasty, Ramachandra Deva made it the capital of his kingdom during the last part of the 16th century A.D. The Bhoi kings lived in a part of the foot of Barunei hill, about 1.6 Km to the south of the town. This site was selected because it was protected on one side by the Barunei hill and on the other by dense jungle. The fort is now completely destroyed. Only a few traces are remaining here and there, which reminds its past glory.

In 1568 A.D. Ramachandra Deva-1 the son of Danai-Bidyadhar, minister of the king Govinda Bidyadhar declared himself as Raja of Khurdha. In 1592 A.D., he was recognized by Manasingh not only as the successor of the former Gajapati but also as the controller of the Jagannath temple at Puri. His successors continued to rule over Khordha kingdom and were honoured as Gajapati kings. During the rule of Birakishore Deva, Odisha was occupied by the Marhattas in 1751 A.D. In 1760 A.D. Narayan Deva, the ruler of Khimidi invaded the Khurda kingdom, but Birakishore Deva was able to defeat him with the help of the Marhattas as a result of which a portion of his territory including Purusottam Kshetra was taken away by the Marhattas. The British occupied Orissa in 1803 A.D. Mukunda Deva-2, Raja of Khurda at the beginning helped the British, but later on became hostile towards them and revolted against the new Govt. with the help of the Rajas of Kanika, Kujanga and other Chiefs. Subsequently the Raja was defeated and his territory was confiscated.

In 1817 A.D. the Paiks of Odisha revolted against the maladministration and economic extortion of the British Govt. The leader of the Paiks was Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar, who was a commander of the forces of the Raja of Khurda. The Paik rebellion was a formidable one and the British Govt. for a time was on its last leg in Odisha, but the Paiks being inferior in number and equipment could not successfully encounter the well disciplined and better arm troupes of the British and the rising was suppressed with strong hands. Raja Mukunda Deva died a captive in November 1817 A.D. He was the last king of Khurda and after him his successors came to be known as the Rajas of Puri.

The capital of Odisha shifted to Bhubaneswar from Cuttack due to the space constraint. It was formally inaugurated on 13th April 1948 and finally shifted from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar in 1959.

Its Bio-climatology is much influenced for the short radial distance from the Bay of Bengal and presence of a huge water body like the Chilika lake.