As the sun rose over the sprawling grounds of the Virat Ramayan Mandir in East Champaran district’s Motihari Saturday, workers and engineers prepared for a long-awaited moment. Two cranes, each with a capacity of around 750 tonnes, carefully lifted a colossal black-granite monolith weighing about 210 metric tonnes and inched it towards a nearby pedestal. Guided by engineers, the 33-foot structure was lowered inch by inch onto a base nearly twice its height.
As the Shivling settled into place, the grounds reverberated with chants of “Har Har Mahadev.” Moments later, a helicopter showered flower petals on the newly installed symbol of Lord Shiva, drawing cheers from thousands of onlookers.
The installation of the Sahasralingam—described as the world’s largest Shivling—in Motihari took place at the under-construction temple complex in Kathwalia village of Kalyanpur block on Magh Krishna Chaturdashi, an auspicious date in the Hindu calendar, amid Vedic chants. Carved from a single piece of black granite, the monolith was crafted over nearly a decade in Pattikadu village near Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu by artisans overseen by Vinayak Venkatraman and his mother Hemlata Devi. With a 33-foot circumference, it bears 1,008 smaller lingams on its surface, reportedly cost around Rs 3 crore to produce, and has been designed for structural stability over centuries.
Installation of 33-foot shivling at the Virat Ramayan Mandir in East Champaran district’s Motihari. (Express photo)
At the base of the platform, a large hoarding displayed a photograph of the project’s visionary, late Acharya Kishor Kunal—IPS officer and former chairman of the Bihar State Religious Trust Board—alongside an image of the under-construction complex. A small architectural scale model nearby offered a glimpse of the project’s eventual scale.
By early morning, the precincts were already crowded with people from across Bihar. Many from nearby villages walked several kilometres through fields and bylanes, undeterred by traffic queues. Police personnel were deployed across the area, while members and volunteers of the Mahavir Mandir Trust coordinated crowd movement and assisted visitors.
For many devotees, the moment went beyond architecture or ceremony—it was deeply personal. Ramesh Verma, who travelled from Patna with his family, said they “had rescheduled their plans beforehand” to ensure they did not miss it. “I never thought I’d witness something like this in my lifetime. The Shivling being lifted, the chanting, it all feels spiritual beyond words,” he said.
Others began their journey before sunrise. Kamla Devi, from a nearby village, walked nearly five kilometres with her family. “When the cranes lifted the Shivling and we started chanting, I felt a mix of awe and peace. It was an unforgettable moment,” she said.
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Elderly pilgrim Jai Singh called the installation “a moment of blessing”. “I’ve been to many temples, but never thought seeing such a massive Shivling being installed in my own village,” he said. “I prayed for peace and strength for everyone.”
Younger visitors were equally struck by the scale. Priya Sharma, who attended with friends, said, “The energy here is incredible. It’s not just a religious event, it feels like being part of something that will be remembered for years.”
Priests and Vedic scholars from centres including Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Haridwar conducted rituals that lasted several hours. Sacred water from Gangotri, Yamunotri, Prayagraj, Ganga Sagar and Sonpur was used for abhishek. Flowers were sourced from outside Bihar and even Cambodia, and an 18-foot garland of marigolds, roses, belpatra and dhatura was specially prepared.
Samastipur MP Shambhavi Choudhary and her husband Sayan Kunal, secretary of the Mahavir Mandir Trust and son of Acharya Kishor Kunal, served as yajmans and performed the installation rituals. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also visited the ceremony before heading to Motihari for engagements under the state government’s Samridhi Yatra, accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. Temporary LED screens across the grounds screened the proceedings.
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Sahasralingam’s journey to Bihar was itself remarkable. After nearly ten years of carving, the monolith began its overland trip from Tamil Nadu on November 21, 2025, travelling over 2,500 km through Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh before entering Bihar. Arun, the truck driver who transported it, said the journey took nearly 50 days. “I am proud to have been part of this,” he said.
Expected to be completed by 2030, the foundation stone of the Virat Ramayan Mandir was laid on June 20, 2023. Once completed, the 125-acre complex—planned near Kesariya, home to the world’s largest Buddhist stupa—will be the world’s largest temple, featuring 22 temples and 18 spires, with the main structure rising to a projected height of 270 feet.
Temple authorities and officials believe the site will draw devotees from India and abroad, boosting local tourism and economic activity in hospitality, transport and allied services.
Installation of 33-foot shivling at the Virat Ramayan Mandir in East Champaran district’s Motihari. (Express photo)
