Gopalganj: The world’s largest Shivling, weighing 210 metric tons and standing 33 feet tall, has been stranded in Gopalganj for two days as authorities grapple with transporting it across the dilapidated Dumaria bridge on NH-27. The monument, destined for the newly constructed Virat Ramayana Temple in East Champaran, has already completed a 40-day, 2,178-kilometre journey from Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.
The massive stone, transported on a specially designed 110-wheeled truck, faces logistical hurdles because the Dumaria bridge, weakened by years of heavy vehicle movement, may not safely bear its weight. The district administration, in consultation with the temple trust, is exploring options including reinforcing the bridge with additional jacks or iron girders, or rerouting the vehicle along a longer, but safer, path.
A team of senior engineers from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India has been called to assess the bridge’s load-bearing capacity. Gopalganj District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Sinha said, “Continuous discussions are being held with engineers and technical experts. A final decision will be taken only after considering all aspects – safety, technical feasibility, and alternative arrangements.”
The Shivling, made from a single granite block at a cost of approximately Rs 3 crore, was carved over a decade by sculptor Loknath and his team in Pattikadu village, Mahabalipuram. It was dispatched on November 21 following a puja ceremony attended by local villagers.
Upon arrival in Gopalganj, a large crowd of devotees gathered at the Balathari check post to witness the monumental idol, prompting the district administration to implement strict security and traffic management measures. Superintendent of Police Awadhesh Dixit noted that arrangements had been made to prevent disruptions, anticipating further crowds as the Shivling progresses towards East Champaran.
Preparations are underway for the Shivling’s installation at the Virat Ramayana Temple on January 17, with the formal consecration ceremony expected between January and February 2026. The temple, a project of the Mahavir Mandir Trust Committee, is set to become the largest Shiva temple in the world, spanning 1,080 feet in length and 540 feet in width, with 18 spires and 22 subsidiary temples. The main spire will rise 270 feet, with several others ranging between 90 and 180 feet.
The Virat Ramayana Temple, located approximately 120 km from Patna, is in its final stages of construction. Key elements including the entrance gate, Ganesha shrine, lion gate, Nandi statue, and sanctum piling have been completed. Once finished, the temple will feature four ashrams and house the 33-foot-tall Shivling, cementing its status as a landmark religious site in Bihar.
