The world’s largest shivling, weighing 210 tonnes and measuring 33 feet in height and circumference, has reached Bihar. It will be installed at the upcoming Virat Ramayan Mandir in Kaithwalia, East Champaran, on January 17.
Temple officials confirmed that artisans carved the shivling from a single block of black granite in Mahabalipuram. Moreover, transporting the massive structure was a challenge. A specially designed truck carried it for 45 days, covering nearly 2,500 km across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh before reaching Gopalganj. From there, workers will move it to Kaithwalia for installation.
The installation ceremony will unfold with the chanting of mantras by Vedic scholars. In addition, sacred water from Kailash Mansarovar, Gangotri, Haridwar, Prayagraj, and Sonepur will be offered. To mark the occasion, helicopters will shower flower petals during the rituals.
Currently, the largest shivling stands in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, built by the Chola dynasty king Rajraja. However, the new Shivling at Virat Ramayan Mandir will surpass it, creating a historic milestone.
Spread across 120 acres, the Virat Ramayan Mandir represents the dream project of late Acharya Kishor Kunal, former Mahavir Mandir Trust secretary. He placed the order for the shivling a decade ago. Furthermore, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the temple model in 2013 at Mahavir Mandir in Patna.
The Mahavir Mandir Trust, which also runs hospitals and engages in philanthropic work, has borne the entire cost of construction. According to trust secretary Sayan Kunal, the temple complex will feature 18 towers and 22 temples dedicated to different deities, with the main temple rising to 270 feet. The project is expected to be completed by 2030.
In 2024, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) cleared the project, paving the way for the construction of what will become the largest Hindu temple in the world.
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