Thiruvananthapuram: The 111.2 feet Shivalingam at Maheshwaram Sri Shiva Parvathi Temple at Chenkal in Thiruvananthapuram was opened for the public on November 10, 2019.
The dedication ceremony was held by Matadhipathi (head), Maheswarananda Swamy in which various Hindu nobles and great personalities participated in the function.
It is India's tallest structure of such kind and has become the tallest Shiva lingam in the country, with recognition from the India Book of Records. Soil and water from the holy places of Kashi, Badrinath, Gangotri, Gomukh, Gaimukh, Rameswaram, Dhanushkodi and Kailasam was used for the construction of the idol.
The Shiva lingam, which has a height equivalent to that of a 10-storey building, is constructed in such a way that pilgrims can reach a model 'Kailasam' on the top of the structure. There are the snow-clad Himalayas with idols of Shiva and Parvathy. The pathway is constructed in such a way that it represents seven hills of Himalayas.
The pathway also features murals and statues. The first floor has 108 Shiva Lingams, where the pilgrims can offer 'abhishekham'. There are eight floors inside the cylindrical structure, of which six represent six chakras or energy in the human body.
The construction began on May 3, 2012. Head of mutt, Maheswarananda Saraswathy designed the structure after visiting various Shiva temples in the country.
The Shivalingam situated on the premises of the Maheswaram Sri Shiva Parvathi Temple is not just a massive structure that provides visitors with a great spiritual experience, but it also is an architectural marvel, noted for its daring design and exquisite carvings.
