Ekling Ji Temple
Har Har Mahadev…. Har Har Mahadev….
Har Har Mahadev…. A war chant used by the warriors just before attacking the enemy means “Every one is Lord Shiva”.
Shiva has been considered “The Destroyer” in the Trimurti which includes Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Shiva has been regarded as the patron God of yoga, meditation and arts. “Eklingji” is one of the many names bestowed upon Shiva. It signifies “Oneness”.
When you visit Udaipur, a visit to this temple is a must. It is famous, not only for its religious connotation but also for its history. The temple of Lord Shiva is considered as the ‘real’ throne of the kingdom of Mewar.
Situated about 20 kms (12 miles) north of Udaipur, Eklingji mandir attracts many visitors throughout the year. The ride to the mandir is peaceful and refreshing. Once you reach, whilst crossing the breathtaking Chirwa Ghat (valley of flowers), you feel rejuvenated.
Built around the 8th century by the great Rajput ruler Bappa Raval, the temple is an architectural marvel. The existing structure is built on the ruins of the destroyed one, which dates back to the 15th century. The double storied edifice spread over 2500 sq ft is built entirely of white marble and houses 108 spots such as muths, mandirs and samdhais. It has a pyramidal roof and a striking carved tower. We are welcomed in the enormous hall with a magnificent idol of “Nandi”, the bull, the gate guardian of Mount Kailasha and Vahana (mount) of Lord Shiva.
The five faced Shivlinga known as “Panchmukhi Murti” is located at the central sanctum of the holy place and is made entirely out of black marble. The sanctum sanctorum has four doors with door steps jutted with gems and statue of Nandi. The faces represents the forms of gods, Lord Brahma in the west (the front), Lord Vishnu in the north, Maheshwar in the south, and Surya (Sun) facing west. On the top side is the fifth face which amalgamates all the aspects. – the “Oneness”. Each face is visible when you circumambulate the deity. Images of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya are encircled around the Linga. Interestingly, if you notice these faces, each one is half male and half female representing the Ardhanarishwara version of the tradition signifying the synergy of Shiva and Shakti, unifying the female and male principles.
Eklingji temple belongs to the Maharanas of Udaipur, in fact the deity is considered the king of Mewar and the Maharanas consider themselves as the caretakers of the kingdom. Major festivals like Maha Shiv Ratri, Pradosham, Makar Sankranti are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Every Monday the royal family of Udaipur visits the temple to offer prayers.
The other deities that abode in the complex are Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, Yamuna and Saraswati. There is also a small temple of Ambamata, Kalka mata in the complex. There is temple called Nathon ka Mandir on which inscriptions date back to 10th century, interestingly no worship is offered there. Two water tanks are situated on the North of temple – Karz Kund and Tulsi Kund. Water from these tanks is utilized for temple services.
The temple services start as early as 4 AM in the morning everyday and are performed in a very elaborate manner. The temple has specific visiting timings;
Darshan Timings
Morning: 4:30 am to 7:00 am & 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Evening: 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Aarti Timings
Morning Aarti: 5:30 am, 8:15 am, 9:15 am & 11:30 am
Afternoon Aarti: 3:30 pm & 4:30 pm
Evening Aarti: 5:00 pm & 6:30 pm
Nearby Locations & Attractions
Apart from the temple, you can indulge in lot of other things in and around Eklingji. The market is just outside the temple; in fact I bet if you can’t resist the delicious Mirchi Wada before offering prayers. You can shop around for artifacts around the temple or visit the Saas-Bahu temple which is one of the rarest temples dating back to the 10th century.
So come and visit and experience the peace.