The largest Shivalinga in the world passed through the Gopalganj district in Bihar, on its route to the Virat Ramayana Temple at East Champaran. The giant idol of Shiva, also sculpted of a block of granite, is 33 feet in height, and has a weight of about 210 tonnes, and is considered to be the tallest Shivalinga in the world. The religious object was met at the numerous rituals and prayers of the devotees and temple officials on its way.
The Shivalinga was carefully made in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu and started its round trip to various states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and arrived at Bihar. To deliver so a huge item, a special multi-axle transportation trailer, planning, and collaboration with the authorities were necessary in order to achieve a safe journey. The pilgrimage has attracted a lot of attention, both culturally and logistically.
The Dumaria Bridge, which spanned the Gandak River at Gopalganj, was one of the most difficult paths along the route. Since the weight of the Shivalinga is enormous and that of the transport vehicle is also weighty, engineers and local officials paid close attention to the crossing to guarantee the structural safety of the bridge. It is reported that the crossing across the bridge had taken almost five hours, with the teams being very careful not to run the idol over the river.
When they arrived in Gopalganj, thousands of devotees could be found on the path, falling on their knees and chanting, Har Har Mahadev. Prior rituals were done by Temple authorities and Bihar state officials in order to honour the Shivalinga before its continuation journey to the Virat Ramayana Temple in Kesaria.
The Shivalinga will be installed on January 17, 2026, at the Virat Ramayana Temple that is being constructed as an extensive spiritual and cultural monument. It will be anointed with water of five holy rivers, Gangotri, Kailash Mansarovar, Haridwar, Prayagraj and Sonepur as a part of the consecration ceremony. The purification and the blessings of the divine powers make this ritual even more religious.
According to religious scholars, the erection of the tallest Shivalinga in the world will enhance the cultural and religious significance of the Virat Ramayana Temple. The temple is set to be a big religious hub and an attractive site for pilgrims both in India and internationally.
Its transportation of the Shivalinga has been hailed as a miracle of religion, engineering and village contribution and an important moment in the religious history of Bihar and an assertion of the newly established place of the temple as an important pilgrimage location.
