Context: Recently, the Odisha government announced that it will give a facelift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple, akin to its pre-350-year structural status.

Lingaraj Temple

• Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar, Odisha is an 11th-century temple.
• It is a symbol of Kalinga style architecture.
• Lingaraj Temple was built by the King Jajati Keshari, who belonged to Soma Vansh.
• The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• The balance and proportions of the various parts of the temple and the elegance of its surface treatment make it one of the crowning achievements of the Kalinga Style of Architecture.
• The Lingaraja temple faces east and is built of sandstone and laterite. It is believed that the original deity of the Lingaraj temple was under a Mango tree (Ekamra) and that is why is location was called Ekamra Khestra. 
• The present temple was probably built by the rulers of the Somavamshi dynasty as a Shaiva temple but with the arrival of the Vaishnavite Ganga dynasty, the temple was remodelled and elements of Vaishnavism were inculcated in it. 
• Thus, the temple deity came to be known of Harihara (Hari=Vishnu, Hara=Shiv), a mixed form of Shiva and Vishnu. The consort of HariHara is Bhubneshari.
• The main entrance is located in the east, while there are small entrances in the north and south. 
• The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). 
• The dance hall was associated with the raising prominence of the devadasi system that existed during those times. The various units from the Hall of offering to the tower of the sanctum increase in height.