Eklingji — Iṣṭa-devī of Mewar

Eklingji — Iṣṭa-devī of Mewar

Tradition

Hindu / Shaiva / Rajput

Location

• Eklingji, Rajsamand, Rajasthan (24.7167°N, 73.75°E)

Sacred Narrative

Eklingji — Shiva in 4-faced form — has been the kul-devata of the Mewar (Udaipur) royal family since the 8th c. CE. The Mewar kings ruled as Diwān-ji (stewards/ministers) of Eklingji; the actual king of Mewar was always Eklingji. Adi Shankara is said to have consecrated the temple. The 4-faced liṅga represents Shiva as Surya, Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu in 4 directions.