Eklingji Temple, Kailashpuri (Udaipur)

The Eklingji Temple, located in Kailashpuri, Udaipur, traces its ancient Indian origins to the 8th century CE, establishing its place within India's millennia-spanning cultural heritage as a continuous center of Shaivite worship . The original temple was constructed around 734 CE by Bappa Rawal, the legendary founder of the Guhilot dynasty of Mewar, who established the tradition of ruling as the Dewan (Minister) of Lord Eklingji, the tutelary deity of the Mewar princely state [10]. This foundational act cemented the temple's role as a symbol of the political and spiritual authority of the Mewar kings, a legacy that endured until 1947 [10]. The historical narrative of Eklingji is extensively documented in the 15th-century Sanskrit text, Ekalinga Mahatmya, which recounts Bappa Rawal's spiritual initiation by the saint Harit Rashi and his subsequent establishment of the temple . Throughout its long history, the temple complex has undergone numerous reconstructions and modifications due to invasions and periods of destruction . The original temple and its idol were damaged during invasions by the Delhi Sultanate rulers . In the 14th century, Hamir Singh installed the earliest extant idol and undertook extensive renovations to the main temple . A significant phase of rebuilding occurred under Rana Kumbha (r. 1433–1468) in the 15th century, who not only renovated the main temple but also added a Vishnu temple within the complex . An inscription from 1460 CE describes Rana Kumbha as "the personal servant of Ekling," highlighting the deep devotion of the Mewar rulers to the deity . Later in the 15th century, the temple suffered another attack by Ghiyath Shah of the Malwa Sultanate . Rana Raimal (r. 1473–1509), son of Rana Kumbha, defeated and captured Shah, using the ransom obtained for his release to fund the final major rebuilding of the temple complex and install the present four-faced black marble idol of Eklingji . This idol replaced an earlier lingakar (capsule-shaped Shivlinga) during Raimal's reign . Archaeological findings and epigraphic evidence, such as the Eklinga inscription of 971 CE, confirm the site's strong connection to the Pashupata sect, an ancient Shaivite ascetic tradition, indicating its prominence as a spiritual hub long before its royal association [9]. The temple was initially associated with the Pashupata sect, then the Nath sect, and by the 16th century, it came under the control of the Ramanandis . The patronage of various ruling dynasties, including the Guhilas, Chahamanas, and Pratiharas, strengthened Shaivism in the region, with inscriptions at Harsa, Eklinga, and Kaman proving the popularity of the Pashupata sect [9]. Conservation efforts have been continuous, with the Mewar royal family, through the Eklingji Trust, actively involved in the restoration and preservation of the temples and traditional religious ceremonies, a practice documented in historical records like a letter from Maharana Bheem Singh (1778-1829 CE) detailing allocations for worship and construction [9]. The temple's enduring legacy is further reflected in court paintings from Udaipur, which depict Maharanas performing rituals and processions to Eklingji, underscoring its central role in the cultural and spiritual life of Mewar across centuries [9].