Bhojpur Temple, Bhopal

Bhojpur Temple Known as Somnath of the East, Bhojpur Temple, Bhopal is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated on the banks of Kaliyasot river, which is later called Betwa, in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, this temple was built by Raja Bhoj, the Chakravarti king of the Parmar dynasty, hence the name of this temple is Bhojpur (Bhojeshwar). This Shiva temple is also known as Bhojeshwar Temple, it was constructed on a rocky hill on the banks of a river, and with time a village settled here named Bhojpur.

History of Construction of the Temple:

The ancient temple, constructed by King Bhoj in the 10th century, remained incomplete. Various historians have different opinions on why, but the most popular belief is that it was supposed to be built in a single night, yet morning arrived before completion.

World’s Largest Shivalinga Made Of Single Stone:

This ancient temple contains the world’s largest single stone Shivalinga, resting on a rock measuring approximately 7.5 feet in height and 18 feet in circumference. The Shivalinga is positioned on a 21-foot-high platform, with stairs provided for devotees to access it during ritual performances.

Importance of the Temple:

The presence of the world’s largest and most ancient Shivalinga here boosts the importance of this temple. The maintenance of this temple comes under the Archaeological Survey of India.

The Oldest Domes and Carvings:

The numerous statues, masks, and huge pillars in this temple add to the beauty of the temple.
The dome of this temple also has the credit of being the first dome in the world. Additionally, there is no evidence anywhere in history of the existence of a dome older than this temple, which would conclusively prove that dome construction began here.

Giant Pillar:

The temple rests on four huge stone pillars which bear the weight of its dome. There are eight corners in the lower part of the temple. Very beautiful and attractive statues are made at the entrance of the temple.

In addition, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple features idols of pairs of gods such as Shiva-Parvati, Brahma-Saraswati, Ram-Sita, and Vishnu-Lakshmi crafted on the towering pillars. Additionally, statues of Yakshas adorn the walls in the outer premises of the temple.

The Architecture of Temple Construction:

This beautiful ancient temple showcases remarkable architecture, constructed according to the principles of Vastushastra. Its external design takes on a square shape, adorned with intricately carved stone sculptures of various Hindu gods and goddesses at the entrance.

A complete architectural plan of the construction of this temple, completely depicted with architectural drawings, can still be seen engraved on some of the rocks around the temple.

Mystery of Incomplete Temple Construction:

The architectural drawings have been studied in detail by many scholars and experts to find out the reason why some parts of this temple remain incomplete. However, to date, no concrete evidence has been found to prove this fact.

If the construction of the temple was completed, the temple would have been truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, incomparable to any other in the world. Even today the inside is incomplete but to date, no reduction has been seen in its pride and people’s faith.

Other Places Around the Temple

Ancient reservoir

This is an ancient giant dam near the temple. The dam has now ceased to exist but the stones used in its construction can still be seen.

2. Parvati Cave
3. Ancient Jain temple

This is a good place for those who have faith in Lord Shiva. Whenever the opportunity arises, they should visit and become worthy of the blessings of Bhole Nath.

About Author

Nature WorldWide

See author's posts