The Eklingji temple, Rajasthan is devoted to Lord Shiva, the tutelary deity of the former Mewar rulers. Temple is situated approximately 24 km to the north of Udaipur. Eklingji Shiva temple is a huge complex consisting of 108 temples. Enclosing the temple are high walls with bathing terraces leading down to the water. Filling the temple with fragrance all the time are the lighted incense materials.
Eklingji temple houses a 50 feet high multi-faced black stone statue of Lord Shiva. There are four faces of the statue, depicting Lord Shiva in his four forms. In the east is Surya (sun), in the west is Brahma, in the north is Vishnu and in the south is Rudra. In the center of these images is the Shivlinga, encircled by a silver snake. The temple houses the whole family of Lord Shiva, including Parvatiji (wife of Shiva) and Ganeshji (son of Shiva).
Eklingji temple of Udaipur also contains the statues of Yamuna and Saraswati. The temple has silver doors depicting Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya. Located nearby Eklingji Shiva temple, are the temples of Amba Mata, Ganeshji and Kalika. Also shown in the brackets are nymphs in erotic dance postures and a life size image of Bapparawal.
History of Eklingji Temple Udaipur
The history of Eklingji Temple is recorded in the Ekalinga Mahatmya, a historical text written in the 15th century. According to the text, the original temple was built in 734 A.D. by ruler Bappa Rawal. The temple has been a victim of loot and plunders during the rule of Delhi Sultanate. The original temple and its idols were physically damaged.
In the late years, the temple was renovated and modified by many kings to preserve the glory and faith of people in Shri Eklingji. The temple originally belonged to Pashupata sect, then Nath sect and post 16th century it is managed and controlled by Ramanandis.
Architecture of Eklingji Temple
The two-storied Eklingji Temple in Udaipur flaunts pyramid shaped roof and an elegant tower. There is a huge complex with large pillared halls. Once you enter the premises, you can see a beautiful silver idol of Nandi. You can also spot other Nandi images in the temple. They are made of two materials i.e. black stone and brass. The main idol in the temple is of Eklingji or Lord Shiva. The image has four faces carved in black marble. The four faces represent the four different forms of the Deity. The face in the east is a representation of Surya and in west it depicts Lord Brahma. The south facing figure stands for Rudra and north facing one is a symbol of Lord Vishnu.
A combination of all the four forms of the idol symbolizes ultimate truth or 'Yantra'. Tourists from various parts of the world come to this temple to take in the peaceful views of the Shivlinga which is adorned with a silver snake. Shivlinga is the phallic shape of the Lord Shiva. Height of the image is around 50 feet.
Around this symbol, you can see the images of Goddess Parvati, Lord Kartikay and Lord Ganesha. Idols of Goddess Yamuna and Goddess Saraswati are also housed in the temple complex. In addition, on a visit to Eklingji temple in Udaipur, you will come across huge silver doors and two tanks. The tanks are named as Tulsi Kund and Karz Kund.
Main Attraction at Eklingji Temple
Udaipur Eklingji Temple is largely visited during Hindu festival called Shivratri. On this occasion, the Lord Shiva image is beautifully bejeweled.
How to reach Eklingji Temple Udaipur
The Eklingji temple is located at a distance of 22 km from Udaipur. It is easily accessible from airways, railways, and roadways. Public transit is readily available from the main city center. You can hire a cab and reach the temple within 35 to 45 minutes.
By Airways- Dabok airport is located 21 Km away from the main city center. There are five major cities, namely- Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Aurangabad, which are connected to Udaipur. If you are short of time then taking flight is a suitable option.
By Railways- Udaipur is connected to many places via rail network. The railway is located just 3 km away from the City center. You can find a direct train from Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Chittaur, Ajmer, and Ahmedabad to the City of Lakes, Udaipur. The train journeys can be really fun when you are traveling with your family or friends, so don’t forget to ask them to tag along.
By Roadways- Udaipur is connected to National Highway 8. NH 8 is a major Delhi- Mumbai link road. You can take advantage of public transport like cabs, taxis, and buses. The four states(i.e., Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh) transport corporation run their buses to and from Udaipur offering affordable, safe and comfortable journey. We recommend taking public transport like a bus as you get to meet different people and spend more time witnessing the astonishing views.
