Birupakshya Temple is situated at Chakapada, about 60 km from
Phulbani, in
Kandhamal District,
Orissa. The presiding deity here is
Lord Shiva. Most noteworthy feature is that the
Shivling enshrined here leans towards south. Similarly the trees surrounding the temple also show the tendency of leaning towards the south.
Legend is that, it is the place where Ravana stopped for a while on his way to Lanka with Shivling offered to him by Shiva. Since Shiva had told him not to set the linga on the ground before arriving at home; but on his way Ravana requested an old Brahmin to hold the stone for a moment. But as the linga was too heavy for the old man he fell to the ground. From that moment it could not be removed any more, not even its slightly leaning position towards south could not be corrected.
The temple walls represent beautiful paintings depicting this legendary scene of Ravana requesting Shiva to let him take up the Shivling again and carry it to Lanka which the god declined. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are witnessing the scene.
