World’s Tallest Monolithic Shivalinga To Be Consecrated In Bihar

Photo: Instagram

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – In the quiet workshops near the coastal town of Mahabalipuram, a single block of “diamond granite” has spent the last few years undergoing a slow, rhythmic transformation. What began as a massive 300-tonne slab from the quarries of Tirunelveli has been refined into a 33-foot-tall Sahasra Shivlingam.

This monolith is a rarity; unlike many of India’s tallest statues that are built in sections, this one is an unbroken piece of earth, carved from a single stone.

The level of detail on the surface is a testament to the patience of the artisans. The base is etched with 1,008 miniature shivlingas arranged in fourteen rows. The structure also follows a traditional geometric flow, transitioning from a square base to an octagonal middle and finally a smooth, rounded top. It is a work of art that balances ancient spiritual symbolism with the raw strength of the granite.

The project was a long time in the making. Although the contract was awarded in 2015, the actual carving didn’t start until 2022. The intervening years were spent searching for the perfect stone and securing the right permissions.

With prayers and submission to the divine, the work has been led by Vinayak Venkatraman, his 73-year-old mother Hemlata, and senior sculptor Loknath. A team of twenty-four artisans used a mix of traditional hand tools and modern machinery to shape the 210-tonne finished piece, the Organizer reported.

After the carving, the linga embarked on a remarkable 1,350 mile journey to East Champaran, Bihar. Moving something this heavy across India is a massive logistical challenge, requiring a specialized 96-wheel trailer usually meant for industrial engines or reactors. After several weeks, during which people in villages along the route gathered to see the giant monolith pass by, the Shivalinga has reached Bihar.

Its final home will be the Virat Ramayan Mandir, a temple complex designed on a grand scale with eighteen spires and walls depicting scenes from the Ramayana.

Once it arrives and is settled into place, the focus will turn toward the consecration ceremony in early 2026 with holy rites.