Eklingji Temples
The temple is situated 20km from
Udaipur Eklingji is famous for its 108 temples complex. Built on a
shore of a small lake surrounded by hills it is also known as
Kailashpuri or the abode of Shiva.
*It was built by Bappa Rawal on the side of 72 roomed jain temple
which had a four faced idol of Adinathji , the first Jain saint.
*First built in 728AD , the main temple is made in white marble. Made
of black marble , the four faced image of Mahadev (an icon of Lord
Shiva) is worshipped as Eklingji.
¤ Picturesque Location of the Temple
Eklingji is built on the shore of a small lake bounded by the
surrounding hills. A religious place from every angle it is also well
known as Kailashpuri or the abode of Shiva, the family deity of the
ruling Mewar dynasty. Even today the maharana of Udaipur visits this
marble temple every Monday. The Lord is regarded as the real ruler of
the state who functions through his representative on earth, the
Maharana of Udaipur.
¤ The Construction of The Temple
Bappa Rawal, who is said to have received religious discourses here
from a sage called Harita Rishi, built the Eklinga Temple. The temple
had to be repaired thrice, the last time by Rana Raimal (ruled
1473-1509). It is believed that the Eklingji temple was built on the
site of a 72-roomed Jain temple that had a four-faced idol of
Adinathji, the first Jain saint. The temple complex has 108 Shiva
temples and is enclosed by a wall.
First built around 728AD, the main temple is supported by columns and
is made of white marble. The temple has a uniquely designed double
storeyed porch and an altar – all made of white marble. The porch
is covered by a flat pyramidal roof and has hundreds of circular knobs
while the altar has a lofty towered roof. The interior is breathtaking
with an ornamented silver doorway and screen, silver lamps add to the
elegance and grandeur of the temple. Made of black marble, the
four-faced image of Mahadev (an icon of Lord Shiva) is worshipped as
Eklingji or ‘with one lingam’. A small silver Nandi (bull of
Lord Shiva) faces the idol of Mahadev. Other Nandi icons are found in
the courtyard. According to a legend in the late 13th century Alauddin
Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, had attacked the temple and hit the Nandi
idol with his mace. and out came a swarm of angry bees and attacked
the high and mighty Sultan, who had no other choice but to leave his
endeavour midway and fly for his life.
The underground pool in a corner of the temple has a small shrine.
Nowhere in India is Lord Shiva worshipped with so much care and
indulgence. The walls of the temple also act as an information bank on
the history of Mewar. The walls have an inscription of a hundred
couplets, engraved by Rana Raimal, that gives an insight into the
history of the region as well as of the temple.
¤ Lakulisha Temple
The Lakulisha Temple built in 972 AD also lies within the temple
complex. The temple is quite large but otherwise simple in structure.
It has a shrine, a mandapa (columned prayer hall) and a porch in the
front. The mandapa has pierced windows in its side edges, but the
basement and the wall alcoves are plain except for two – one
inset with an image of Goddess Saraswati, and the other with an
inscribed slab. The structure over the mandapa and the shrine are fast
eroding. The shrine has the idol of a seated Lakulisha and the doorway
to the altar has a similar image engraved on the lintel. Alcoves
containing various deities again surmount this engraving. The mandapa
(columned prayer hall) is square in plan but the columns are laid out
in an octagonal manner. The outer wall alcoves contain images of
various goddesses.
¤ Meera Bai Temple
A beautiful lake lies at a little distance from the temple alongwith
a few other temples for company. Among these temples, the one built by
Meera Bai in the 16th century is quite an elegant one. The temple has
several 16th century sculptures mostly damaged and an eagle headed
garuda (half man and half bird on which Lord Vishnu rides). The
exterior of the shrine has a flying Kicaka or bracket figure playing a
flute, and not Lord Krishna, as was previously believed. The most
surprising fact is that the temple has no deity of Meera Bai, a Mewari
princess. Meera was a poetess, saint and the daughter-in-law of
Maharana Sangram Singh more popularly called Rana Sanga.
¤ Bappa Rawal- Chhatri Attraction
This is neither a town nor a historical site. This place has only the
chhatri (cenotaph) of Bappa Rawal in a jungle. The cenotaph contains
the figure of Bappa Rawal and an image of Lord Vishnu. Bappa Rawal was
the eighth descendent of Guhil, founder of the kingdom of Mewar. Bappa
was brought up at the Shiva Temple at Eklingji and reigned during the
7th and 8th century. He defeated the Mauryas and took over the
Chittaurgarh fort in 677 AD.
A small stream from a kund (tank) runs through the place and lends a
romantic feel to it. The cenotaph, the jungle and the stream all
together make up the place called Bappa Rawal. |
