Mukhalingam Srimukhalingam | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Srimukhalingam temple | |
 Dynamic map | |
.svg)  Mukhalingam Location in Andhra Pradesh, India | |
| Coordinates:18°36′00″N83°58′00″E / 18.6000°N 83.9667°E /18.6000; 83.9667 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| District | Srikakulam |
| Talukas | Jalumuru |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,204 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 532428 |
| Vehicle Registration | AP30 (Former) AP39 (from 30 January 2019)[1] |
Mukhalingam, also known asSrimukhalingam orMukhalinga, is a village panchayat inJalumuru mandal ofSrikakulam district in the Indian state ofAndhra Pradesh. Historically known as Kalinganagari, Mukhalingam served as the capital of Eastern Ganga Dynasty from 6th century AD to 12th century AD. Emperor Sri Ananthavarma Chodaganga Devara conquered Utkala in 1122 AD and shifted the capital from Kalinganagari to Caudwara kataka.[2]
The village is located on the left bank ofVamsadhara river at a distance of 48 km fromSrikakulam town( nearest rail head ) and 160 km fromVisakhapatnam ( nearest airport).[3]
Mukhalingam is home to a group of three Śiva temples - Madhukeswara, Someswara, Bhimeswara - which have been variously dated by historians from late eighth century to early eleventh century CE.[4][5] Mukhalingam was the erstwhile capital of theEastern Ganga dynasty. The main temple of Sri Mukhalingam was built by Eastern Ganga King Kamaranaba Deva II, great-grand father ofAnantavarman Chodaganga ofKalinga.
Various views by have been put forward for the origin of the name Mukhalingam. It states that "Mukhalingam" is a corruption of "Mohalingam", which is thePrakrit form of "Madhu[ka]linga".[6] Another view states that thelinga at the Madhukeswara shrine is a faceted one and therefore the shrine and the town were termed asMukhalinga with "Mukha" meaning face inSanskrit/Telugu.[7] It as also been posited that "Mukhalingam" is derived from "Mudu-Kalingam" which is the Telugu translation of the Sanskrit word "Tri-kalinga".[8][7] Mukhalingam was the main city in the region ofKalinga, also known in the ancient period as Tri-Kalinga because it was divided into three regions.[7]
Mukhalingam is located at18°35′39″N83°57′49″E / 18.5943°N 83.9635°E /18.5943; 83.9635.[9] It has an average elevation of 28 metres (92 ft).
Srimukhalingam is well connected by road ways. Andhra Pradesh State Highway 106 passes through Srimukhalingam village.[10]
APSRTC operates several buses fromSrikakulam bus stand toSrimukhalingam village. Many of autos, taxis and cabs are also available fromChallavanipeta village to Srimukhalingam village. The village is also very near toParalakhemundi town, district Headquarter ofGajapati District ofOdisha state. Auto, taxi, bus, cabs facilities are there from the town.
Andhra Pradesh SH106 ConnectsJarjangi,Challavanipeta,Jalumuru, Budithi, Komanapalli and Pindruvada villages with Sri Mukhalingam village.
According to the2011 Census of India, the demographic details of Mukhalingam are as follows:[11]
The dating of the temples has been contested among historians. The temples have been variously dated from late eighth century to eleventh century CE.[4][5][12] The earliest among them was constructed in the late eighth or early ninth century and the latest one dates to early eleventh century.[13][14] Later in 17th century Maharaja ofParalakhemundi Estate renovated this temple.[15][16] Every year famous Chakratirtha Snana (holy bath) is taken by pilgrims. Lakhs of pilgrims visit from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on the auspicious day to take the holy bath and take blessings of Lord Shiva. Before 1936 it was under undividedGanjam District.
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