The presiding deity is the svayambhu linga, Hari-Hara Linga, which is half Siva and half Vishnu. He is also named Tribhuvaneswara, the Lord of three worlds. The Linga of Lingaraja, or Kritivsas, is an uncarved block of granite 8 feet in diameter raised 8 inches above the ground. The Siva Linga is bathed daily with water, milk and bhang. There are many other deities in the temple. In the northeast corner of the temple there is a deity of Parvati.
The main tower is 55 meters (180 feet) high. The present temple was built between 1090 to 1104, but parts of the temple are over 1400 years old. Tradition says that one should first visit this temple before going to Puri. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came here before going to Puri.

There is a four-day chariot festival every Mar/April when Lingaraja is drawn on his chariot to the Ramesvara temple.