[2][3][4] Shiva's consort and the temple's presiding Goddess, Parvati, is referred to as Annapurna or Girija.

[5] The temple is believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers.

[6] Fergusson believes that the temple might have been initiated by Lalat Indu Keshari who reigned from 615 to 657 CE.

The kings of Ganga dynasty were ardent followers of Vaishnavism, [shaivism] and [shaktism] and built the Jagannath Temple at Puri in the 12th century.

[1] As per some accounts, the temple is believed to have been built by the Somavanshi king Yayati I (1025-1040), during the 11th century CE.

[1] Jajati Keshari shifted his capital from Jajpur to Bhubaneswar which was referred to as Ekamra Kshetra in the Brahma Purana, an ancient scripture.

[8] An inscription from the Saka year 1094 (1172 CE) indicates gifts of gold coins to the temple by Rajaraja II.

[10] Other stone inscriptions in the temple indicate royal grants from Chodaganga to the nearby village people.

The hall has a pyramidal roof made of up several horizontal layers arranged in sets of two with intervening platform.

The water from the tank is thus treated sacred and pilgrims take a holy dip during festive occasions.

Shivaratri is the main festival celebrated annually in Phalgun month when thousands of devotees visit the temple.

The devout usually break their fast after the Mahadipa (a huge lamp) is lit on the spire of the temple.

Thousands of bol bom pilgrims carry water from river Mahanadi and walk all the way to the temple during the month of Shravana every year.

Thousands of devotees follow and pull brightly decorated chariots containing the idols of Lingaraj, Durga And Dolagovind.

After returning to temple promises Maa Parvati to take her during boat festival for 21 days.

[2][6][16] Sanctity of the temple is maintained by disallowing dogs, unbathed visitors, menstruating women and families that encountered birth or death in the preceding 12 days.

[25] In case of a foreign trespass, the temple follows a purification ritual and dumping of prasad (food offering) in a well.

[26][27] King Jajati Keshari, believed to be the founder of the Lingaraja temple, deputed Brahmanas who had migrated to south India as temple priests over the local Brahmins on account of their increased knowledge of Shaivism, due to increasing invasions from Muslim invaders.

[29] The Badu are non-Brahmin servant groups, whose origin is not ascertained due to unavailability of authentic records, while they are described as Vadu in chapter 62 of the Ekamrapurana.

The caste group of Badu is called Niyoga, which elects the officers every year during the Sandalwood festival.

[30] As of 2011, the annual income of Lingaraja temple from hundis (donation boxes) is around ₹1.2 million per annum.

Another ₹4 million is collected annually from other sources like rents from shops, cycle stands and agriculture lands.

Starting 2011, the temple charges an amount for six types of religious worship (special pujas) carried out by the devotees.