Other than the wealthiest temples, India is known for some of the tallest, largest and grandest structures in the world. Now, India is home to the world’s tallest Shiva lingam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Eclipsing the tallest Shiva Lingam temples across the country, the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal near Thiruvananthapuram has entered the Limca Book of Records and the Guinness Book of Records for its astounding 111.2 feet height and and 50-feet diameter in breadth.
Unveiled in February 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shiva lingam of Kerala’s Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple is adjudged as the tallest Shiva lingam in India. It has already entered the India Book of Records for not only its height but also its unique cylindrical structure. Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, shares some interesting facts about the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple and the tallest lingam of Chenkal in Kerala.
Surprising facts about India’s tallest Shiva lingam
Since it was unveiled, the Shiva Lingam – which is equal to a 10-storey building in height – has been fetching attention from all quarters to the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Kerala. The Shiva lingam is neither hollow nor stuffed a piece of sculpture like the erstwhile tallest shivlings in India. Rather, it is a piece of architecture in the form of cylindrical structure.
“The top of India’s tallest Shiva lingam in Kerala is accessible to pilgrims through eight floors inside the cave-like structure. Six of the 8 floors represent six energy centers in the human body. The top of the lingam features a larger-than-life replica of Mount Kailash (the Himalayan abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi) with snow-clad idols of the presiding deities. The inside of the lingam features several marvels,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor of Travel Beats.
The pathway from the base to the top of the tallest Shiva lingam in Kerala is decked with eye-catching murals and statutes of meditating monks in a cave-like environment. The passage is designed and constructed in such a way so as to symbolize seven hills of Himalayas. The first floor of the lingam is consecrated to 108 Shiva lingams, where devotees can offer ‘abhishekam.’
India’s tallest Shiva lingam is a seat of meditation
India’s tallest Shiva Lingam at Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple has become popular as a haven of peace and meditation. The cave-like inside of the lingam houses six meditation halls for pilgrims, devotees and tourists to meditate on human body’s energy centers. The topmost floor features a grand lotus with 1000 petals symbolizing ‘sahasrara chakra’ or pure bliss in terms of yoga.
The construction of Kerala‘s Sivaparvathi temple lingam began in 2012. It went on for 6 years. Water, sand, and soil from various holy places like Kashi, Gangotri, Rishikesh, Rameswaram, Badrinath, Gomukh, and Kailash were mixed with the construction materials. The 108-feet-high Shiva lingam at Kotilingeshwara Temple in Karnataka was the tallest in the country until the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal unveiled the 111.2-ft-tall lingam in February 2020.
Reportedly, the temple authorities have approached the central government to confer the status of a national pilgrim center upon the temple where India’s tallest Shiva lingam represents spiritual energy preservation.
Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal is just a 45-minute drive from Thiruvananthapuram and a 6-hour road trip from Kochi. IndianEagle.com, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indian Diaspora, books cheap flight tickets to Kochi from USA. Indian Eagle’s phone-only budget flight deals (available at +1800-615-3969 from USA) keep NRIs flying to and from India.
