Sarveshwar Mahadev Temple, Kurukshetra, Haryana

Sarveshwar Mahadev Temple, Kurukshetra, Haryana

Sarveshwar Mahadev Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Kurukshetra City in Haryana State, India. Sarveshwar Mahadev Temple is also commonly known as Brahma Sarovar Temple. The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns had a mention about this Temple.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/08/sarveshwar-mahadev-temple-kurukshetra-legends.html

History

It is believed that 18 days Kurukshetra war between Pandavas and Kauravas of Mahabharata fame happened in this place. Kurukshetra reached the zenith of its progress during the reign of King Harsha, during which Chinese scholar Xuanzang visited Thanesar. Mughal emperors ruined it during their supremacy and later, Hari Giri Gosai Jee renovated it in the 18^th century.

The Temple

Sarveshwar Mahadev Temple is located within Brahma Sarovar accessible by a small concrete arch bridge. The Temple is constructed with sandstones along with marble in some parts. There are three entrance doors to the temple from the compound with carved floral designs at each door. There are shrines for Lord Hanuman and Lord Garuda in this temple. The temple is viewed best from Krishna Ghat during sunset. Setting sun's reddish golden colour reflects into the pond making the image of the temple in water look saintly. This temple is also the favourite photo shoot spot of visitors at Brahma Sarovar.

Brahma Sarovar:

Brahma Sarovar is an ancient water pool spread over 11 acres. According to stories of myths, Lord Brahma created the universe from the land of Kurukshetra after a huge yajna. The Brahma Sarovar here is believed to be the cradle of civilization. The Sarovar is also mentioned in the eleventh century AD memoirs of Al Beruni, called ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’. The Sarovar also has a mention in Mahabharata citing its use by Duryodhana to hide himself underwater on the concluding day of the war.

According to scriptures, bathing in this Sarovar increases the sanctity of performing the ‘Ashvamedha Yajna’. The pool offers a breath-taking sight during the Gita Jayanti celebrations held each year in the last week of November and early December when a ‘deep daan’ ceremony of floating lamps in water and Aarti occurs. This also happens to be the time when migratory birds from distant places arrive at the Sarovar.

The pools are especially crowded during solar eclipses because it is believed that bathing there during the solar eclipse is an ablution of sin. On 29 March 2006, a solar eclipse was visible in the region and it drew an estimated one million people to the site. Whenever an eclipse is visible from the Sarovar, hundreds of thousands gather in the pools.

Literary Mention

The Temple is considered as Thevara Vaippu Sthalam as Devaram hymns sung by Appar had a mention about this Temple. The Temple is mentioned in 7^th Thirumurai in 78^th Patikam in 6^th Song.

தளிசாலைகள் தவமாவது

தம்மைப்பெறி லன்றே

குளியீருளங் குருக்கேத்திரங்

கோதாவிரி குமரி

தெளியீருளஞ் சீபர்ப்பதந்

தெற்குவடக் காகக்

கிளிவாழையொண் கனிகீறியுண்

கேதாரமெ னீரே

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Birla Mandir Bus Stop, 750 meters from Thanesar City Railway Station, 2.5 Kms from Thanesar Old Bus Stand, 3 Kms from Kurukshetra Junction Railway Station, 5 Kms from Kurukshetra New Bus Stand, 57 Kms from Ambala, 100 Kms from Chandigarh, 177 Kms from New Delhi and 177 Kms from New Delhi Airport. Kurukshetra is situated on New Delhi – Ambala – Chandigarh Route. Kurukshetra is well connected to New Delhi and other parts of Haryana by Road & Railways.

Location