Bhojpur, Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh: Bhojeshwar Temple - Dedicated to Lord Shiva Bhavani Bhojeshwar Temple dedicated to Shiva was built during the reign of Parmara ruler Bhoja in the village of Bhojpur, Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh in 11th Century CE. It however remained incomplete. It has one of the largest Shiva lingam in India. As per legends, the original temple in this place dates back to the Mahabharata era. Raja Bhoja rebuilt and expanded it. Bhoja was a great patron of art, architecture and literature. He is also credited with foundation of the city of Bhojpal now called Bhopal, the present capital of Madhya Pradesh. The massive Bhojeshwar Shiva temple was commissioned on the banks of a man made lake with a massive Shiva lingam measuring 7.5 feet (2.3 m) in height and 17.8 feet (5.4 m) in circumference. It is set on a square platform, whose sides measure 21.5 feet (6.6 m). The total height of the lingam, including the platform is over 40 feet (12 m)! This makes it the tallest in the country. It appears that the construction work stopped abruptly. The reasons are not known, but historians speculate that the abandonment may have been triggered by a sudden natural disaster, a lack of resources, or a war. Because the temple was never completed, it lacks a dedicatory inscription. A TO Z INDIA NOVEMBER 2022 PAGE 9