Commissioner of Endowments, Odisha (Odisha Hindu Religious Endowments Commission)
Government department · B.J.B. Nagar, Bhubaneswar
The Commissioner of Endowments administers public Hindu religious institutions across Odisha under the 1951 Act. The Puri Jagannath temple is the one exception, as it has its own Act. Big temples such as the Lingaraj in Bhubaneswar are run by trust boards set up under the Act. The office also appoints executive officers, protects temple land and audits accounts. A state panel recommended a dedicated Lingaraj Temple Act in January 2026. As of April 2026 the Lingaraj temple was still run by a trust board under the 1951 Act.
How it is run
A Commissioner of Endowments with Deputy and Assistant Commissioners and zonal offices. Major temples are run by trust boards (regular or interim) or executive officers appointed under the Act.
Tips for pilgrims
- Each major temple has its own timings and rules. The department's site lists daily hours for featured temples.
- At Lingaraj, only Hindus may enter the sanctum compound. Others can view the temple from a platform outside the north wall.
Temples it runs
- Lingaraj Temple – Old Town, Bhubaneswar
- Biraja Temple – Jajpur
- Chausathi Yogini Temple – Hirapur, Bhubaneswar
- Cuttack Chandi Temple – Cuttack
- Harishankar Temple – Balangir district
- Kapileswar Temple – Bhubaneswar
- Khirachora Gopinatha Temple – Remuna, Balasore district
- Lokanath Temple – Puri
- Maa Mangala Temple – Kakatpur, Puri district
- Maa Sarala Temple – Jagatsinghpur district
- Maa Tarini Temple – Ghatagaon, Keonjhar district
- Nrusinghanath Temple – Bargarh district
- Samaleswari Temple – Sambalpur
- Taratarini Temple – Ganjam district