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 India, the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal near Thiruvananthapuram is looking to enter 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.
Recently unveiled, the Shiva lingam of Maheswaram’s Sri Sivaparvathi Temple has been recognized 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, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, shares some interesting facts about the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal in Kerala.
Surprising Facts about India’s Tallest Shiva Lingam
Attention from all quarters has been pouring in for the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Kerala because of the Shiva lingam, which is equal to a 10-storey building in terms of height. The Shiva lingam is neither hollow nor stuffed a piece of sculpture like the erstwhile tallest shiva lingams in India. Rather, it is a piece of architecture in the form of cylindrical structure.
The top of India’s tallest Shiva lingam at Kerala’s Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple is accessible to pilgrims through eight floors inside the structure. Six of the 8 floors represent six energy centers in the human body. The top of the lingam features Kailasam (the Himalayan abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi in Hindu scriptures) with snow-clad idols of the presiding deities. The inside of the lingam features several marvels.
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 is expected to become 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 India’s tallest Shiva Lingam in Kerala began in 2012. It went on for 6 years. Water, sand and soil from various holy places including Kashi, Gangotri, Rishikesh, Rameswaram, Badrinath, Gomukh, and Kailash across the country 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-high lingam recently.
Reportedly, the temple authorities are planning to approach 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.
The Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal in Kerala is just a 45-minute drive from Thiruvananthapuram. Trivandrum International Airport has good connectivity with the rest of India, the neighboring countries and the Middle East.
