Moteshwar Mahadev Temple, Kashipur, Uttarakhand

Moteshwar Mahadev Temple, Kashipur, Uttarakhand

Moteshwar Mahadev Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kashipur in Uttarakhand State, India. Presiding Deity is called as Moteshwar Mahadev / Bheem Shankar Mahadev. This place was known as the Dakini State in ancient days. Kashipur is a historic place in Nainital district.

Legends

According to the Shiv Purana, Bhima Shankar Jyotirlinga is in Kamroop. It is believed that this place is Kamroop. In Mahabharata time, this place was also known as Dakini. Adi Shankaracharya has illustrated the place by saying "Dakiniyam Bhimashankaram". Its existence is also described by Kalidas in his Raghuvansh. Dakini was named after Hidimba, which took birth in Dakini Yoni and got married to Bhima.

History

Kashipur was known as Govishan or Govisana during the time of Harsha (606–647 AD), when Xuanzang (631–641 AD) visited this region. The ruins of the large settlement of those days can be seen near the city. Kashipur is named after Kashinath Adhikari, the founder of the township and governor of the pargana, one of the officers of the Chand Kings of Kumaon in the 16^th – 17^th century. Poet Gumani wrote a poem on this town.

The Temple

Presiding Deity is called as Moteshwar Mahadev / Bheem Shankar Mahadev. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. The Lingam of this temple is very large and embracing the whole lingam with two human hands is impossible. This kind of lingam is not present in any other part of the country. It is believed that it rises and till now it has reached second floor.

There are shrines for Bhairava, Kartikeya, Ganesha Hanuman and Kali in the Temple premises. Teertha of this Temple is Shiva Ganga Kund. Kosi River flows near this Temple. There is a Temple dedicated to Goddess, Jagadamba Bhagwati Balasundari, situated to the west of Moteshwar Mahadev Temple.

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 6:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri, Chaiti Mela and Shrawan Mela are the festivals celebrated here.

Religious Significance

Moteshwar (Bheema Shankar) Mahadev is regarded as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. There is a Bhimshankar Temple near Pune in Maharashtra, which was also referred to as Dakini country and considered as one of the Jyotirlinga. Bhimshankar temple near Guwahati, Assam is the jyotirlinga according to Sivapuran. According to "Linga Purana", Bhimshankar Temple at Bhimpur near Gunupur of Rayagada District in South Orissa is debated as one of the Jyotirlinga, which is at the western part of the holy Mahendragiri mountains and at the river.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 3 Kms from Kashipur Bus Station, 3 Kms from Kashipur Railway Junction, 28 Kms from Jim Corbett National Park, 60 Kms from Pantnagar Airport, 176 Kms from Dehradun Airport, 190 Kms from Dehradun and 252 Kms from New Delhi Airport. The Temple is situated in the Ujjanak area of Kashipur. Kashipur is well connected by road with all major cities of North India and is linked to Delhi, Lucknow, Moradabad, Ramnagar and Varanasi by train. Nearest Airports are located at Pantnagar and Dehradun.

Location