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Pilgrim Centres in Rajasthan

Eklingji Temple, Udaipur

24 kms north of Udaipur is the temple of Eklingji, the tutelary deity of the rulers of Mewar. It is a complex of 108 temples enclosed by high walls with bathing terraces leading down to the water.

The atmosphere excludes the fragrance of incense material such as dhoop, deep and sandalwood. The fifty feet high Eklingji temple has a multi- faced image of Lord Shiva made of black stone.

The various faces of Shiva can be seen in the four directions - the sun is east, Brahma in the west, Vishnu in the north and the Rudra in the south. In the centre of three images is the Shivlinga which is encircled by a silver snake. In this temple, Shiva is depicted with his family, Parvati and the elephant god Ganesh.

Images of Yamuna and Saraswati are also present. Specially attractive are the doors of silver which show Lord Ganesh and Kartikya. Near the temple, as we move up are the temples of Ambamata, Ganeshji and Kalika. The trunk of Ganeshji is towards the right although generally it is found to be facing the left. The brackets show nymphs in erotic dance postures, while the life size image of Bapparawal is a piece of art.

One of the legends relating to Ekilngil is that after killing Vrakshasur, Indra had meditated and prayed toeklingji in repentance and to be free of the curse.According to another legend, Bapparawa had seen the Shivlinga in his dream when he was in trouble and when the problem was solved, he constructed the tample and later build Mewar. The ruler of Mewar regards Eklangji as the real kingdom. There are around a hundred more temples, big and small, around the Eklagji temple.