Temple Profile: Mandir Shri Ekling Ji
Location: Kailash Puri God Worshipped: Shri Ekling Ji
District: Udaipur Road Distance from Jaipur: 390 Kms
Built in the year: 8th Century Nearest Airport: Dabok (40 kms)
By Bapa Rawal Nearest Rly. Station: Udaipur (25 kms)
       

Cause of Establishment: The Maharana were the devotees of Lord Shiva. Owing to an inner urge and compelled by the devotional sentiments, this temple was established.

       
Brief of the Diety:

The Shiva lingam is five faced and of the deity it is made of black stone and an inscription of the south wall of the temple shows that the idol was established and its pratistha bestowal of life  was performed by the then Maharana Raimal ji (1473-1509) . The west wars face is that of Lord Brahma. Northward is that of Lord Vishnu, Eastward is of Lord Surya the Son god, southward is face of Rudra and the upraised top is Shiva lingam, which is an embodiment of Sadashiva with Amba his consort.

Religious sect to which the temple belongs:

Hindu Shiva Hindu

Architecture of the Temple:
Important Architectural Characteristics:

The Temple is very grand and magnificent in conception and perfect in execution. The 50 ft. high Shikhar of the temple has a circumference of 60 ft. The sanctum sanctorum has four doors in all the four directions and the door steps are jutted with gems. On each gate there is Nandi (bull) statue facing the idol.

Important Architectural Characteristics:

 This fourteenth century shrine has been rebuilt, renovated and expanded from time to time. The campus

In the Western and southern gate the door frames are silver covered. On one side above the door is Shri Ganesh. The dispeller of all disturbances and on the other side is Shri Kartikeya ji. They hold a chowry in hands. Right towards the east, there is a drainge which joints the indrasrarova, at the extreme end of which is a Gomukha (burgoyle). Eastern gate has stone lattices to laid the fresh air and light in  the west gate of the sanctum sanctorum. Sabha Mandap since the Maharana's of Mewar are Suryavanshi (of the sun clan), hence above the western gate of the sanctum sanctorum is a sliver made image of Lord Surya. This Image id extremely beautiful and its jutted with  stones. Out of the Sabha Mandap towards the west, there is a big statute of black stone Nandi behind which on a high platform is seated another Nandi made of Asthadhatu (eight Metals).The body of the Nandi is covered with a brass layer. On this very platform the statue of the  king of Mewar Bapa Rawal stands facing the east. This man size statue of Bapa Rawal with joint hands seems to be looking efforts in  void as though, he were praying. This statute was established Maharana Bhagwat Singh , the statute is so constructed that its gaze is fixedon Maharshi Harit who is engraved  the main entrance hall of the Sabha Mandap. Maharshi Harit is Seated on an aerial car. It so appears as though  Bapa Rawal were receiving the blessings of the Safe Harit by paying him obeisance.

Material of Construction:

White Marble

Total Construction Time:  
Religious aspects of temple:

The Glorious narrative of Shri Eklingji tells us that Shri Eklingaji has been in existence since Sat yuga. In that age Indra , the King of Goddess Nandini worshiped Eklingaji. In the Treta age, the  Kamdhenu came running to Shri Eklingji as she was afraid of Vishwamitra. She Prayed to Eklingji and the armies of Vishwamitra were defeated to the delight of Guru Vashistha. In the Dwapar age when Janamejaya performed the sacrifice of snakes, the Takshaka serpent was mortally afraid and he came to the shoulder

Unique features of the temple:

This Place is spiritual capital of Mewar. Perhaps in the world history, this is a rare example that the ultimate power of rule was vested with the powerful God Shiva. The Maharanas of Udaipur have ruled as a representative of Shri Eklingji. Presently the royal family has established a private trust known as Eklingji trust Shivaratri is the main festival on which thousands of devotees come here for Darshan. During the year every Monday this temlpe is croweded with devotees of Lord Shiva. The main festivals other than Shirvaratri are Pradosh, Makar Sankaranti etc. During the months of Vaishakh & Shravan special manooraths are preformed here.The chief trustee of this trust is Shri Arvind Singh Mewar , the ex-Maharana of Udaipur. In his supervision dozens of officers and workers of the trust are engaged in the management of the temple and its properties.

Festivals & Fairs in Temple (Main Events):

Navratras, both of Chaitra and Ashwin attract multitudes of people here. Throughout the year on every Saturday night and Sunday, the faithful devotees visit the temple for removal of their distress.

Timings:
Morning Time: 4.30 am to 7.00 am and 10.30 am to 1.30 pm

Evening Time:

5.00 pm to 7.30 pm
Custom & Traditions of Temple:

It has been said above that Shri Ekling Ji is the god of the Maharanas. This temple belongs to the Maharanas and it is not a public temple. Over the centuries, the pooja of this temple is performed in a royal way and no change is possible. According to this , only the Maharana of Mewar land can perform the Pooja of Shri Ekling ji. Daily Pooja, however, is performed by the Pujaries appointed by the Maharanas.  Even these Pujaries first make a voluntary declaration that they are performing the Pooja in the name of Maharana and at the end of the Pooja , the Pujari receives the deities Aashirwad for the Maharana. The Maharana meet all the expenses of the temple.

No gifts or monetary help can be accepted there, However , if any devotee out of his emotional sentiments wants to give a donation, it is dropped in to the safe maintained by Mewar Shiva Shakti Peetha. This Money is not spent for the temple of Shri Eklingaji but for other religious and charitable activities. The Poor and Needy are also helped with this amount. A separate account of this is maintained.

Details of Temple:
Sanctrum:(Sanctorum) 1
Garbh Grah: 1
Others: Om we venerate Lord Eklingaji. We also venerate all Lingas. Let the Lingas inspire us.
Vandana (If any particular) in text:
The Pooja of the deity is performed as per Shiva Tradition.
Issues requiring global attention for conservation, protection and improvement of the temple:

This ancient temple, 1300 years old has a wide sprawling campus. There are as many as 72 holy spots such as Samadhis, muth and temples. Today crores of rupees are required to renovate the temple for keeping its architecture ant structures intact. Eklingaji trust in the past year has spent a big amount despite its limited resources. Presently in order to highlight the entire architectural grandeur, documentation of a project city within a city is in progress and lack of rupees may be spent on this.



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