Shaivacintamani (analytical study)
by Swati Sucharita Pattanaik | 2022 | 84,311 words
This page relates 鈥楽tory of Lord Lingaraja鈥攊ts Shape and Size鈥� of the English study on the Shaivacintamani鈥攁n unstudied text on Shaiva or Shiva worship by Lakshmidhara Mishra, written in the late 17th century and edited for the first time in 1994 by Shri Dukhisyam Pattanaik from the Orissa State Museum. The present research aims to offer a comprehensive study of the Saivacintamani, filling the knowledge gap by being the first to provide in-depth analysis and commentary.
Part 1.5 - The Story of Lord 尝颈峁単补r膩ja鈥攊ts Shape and Size
The temple dedicated to Lord 尝颈峁単补r膩ja at Bhubaneswar dominates the landscape for miles together. Built in about the middle of the 11th century A.D. it rightly denoted as the best representation of 碍补濒颈峁単补苍 type of Architecture. It consists of a high curvilinear tower (痴颈尘腻苍补), an assembly hall (Jagamohana), a dancing hall (苍腻峁璦 尘补峁囜笉补辫补) and hall of offerings (bhoga 尘补峁囜笉补辫补). Each structure increasing in the height to its predecessor. It has several smaller shrines gathering around.
The 尝颈峁単补 of Lord 尝颈峁単补r膩ja is not like the common vertical column but a huge piece of granite having a ridge at centre. Its diameter is 8 feet. The line at the top separates the black colour of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 and the white colour of 艢颈惫补. The dust colour represents the presence of holy rivers 骋补峁単腻 and 驰补尘耻苍腻. Apopular legend as regards to the formation and present shape of the 尝颈峁単补 is narrated by the temple priests.
Originally there used to be Spha峁璱ka 尝颈峁単补 with inherent power to turn all metal objects into gold or costly jewels. This caused immense scramble for possession among the priests. This caused immense scramble for possession among the priests. When the matter was brought to the notice of the king, he arranged a stone covering over this 尝颈峁単补. This not only preserved the efficacy of the 濒颈峁単补 for a pretty long time but also prevented the greedy 辫奴箩补办补蝉 (priests) from putting everything metal over it to turn in to gold. What we find at present is nothing but the stone covering over it. It is believed that, when 碍补濒腻辫腻丑腻诲补 invaded Odisha and destroyed Hindu Monuments in the entire coastal tract, the priest with a view to save the deity from the hands of this religious bigot covered the 濒颈峁単补 with a large quantity of straw so that 碍补濒腻辫腻丑腻诲补 would think that there is nothing except a huge quantity of paddy stored therein. The trick produced desired results. 碍补濒腻辫腻丑腻诲补 entered the temple, saw the heavy stock of straw and turned his attention from the 骋补谤产丑补驳峁沨补 to the minor deities and 笔腻谤艣惫补诲别惫补迟腻蝉 placed around the main shrine. The infuriated mind of the religious bigot thus caused immense damage to the priceless image of 骋补峁噀艣补, 碍腻谤迟迟颈办别测补 and 笔腻谤惫补迟墨. The minor shrines within the premises and the large number of alasakanyas on the outer faces of the main deity could survive his destructive hands which worked with a feat of vengeance. Thus, 碍补濒腻辫腻丑腻岣峚 left the place leaving the 艢颈惫补濒颈峁単补 covered huge quantity of straw.