Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar – Legends

Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar – Legends

Trident of Lord Shiva:

As per legend, the trident in the temple premises belonged to Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva threw it at Lord Kama Deva (God of Love) to kill him and it got fixed in this spot. It is believed that while brute force cannot move this Trident, the slightest touch by a true devotee can cause a tremor in it. The metal of the trident does not appear to have become weathered by the elements over the century.

Rati penance on Lord Shiva:

As per another legend, when Lord Shiva turned Kamdev into ashes, Rati, the wife of Kamdev, did penance at Gopeshwar. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Shiva appeared at Gopeshwar and blessed her with a boon that her husband will reappear.

Trident of Parshuram:

As per local folklore, when Shiva was annihilating the Kshatriyas, the trident of Parshuram broke into 3 parts while pacifying Lord Shiva. A part of that trident is found in the Gopinath temple.

Cow pouring milk on Shiva Linga:

As per legend, a cow used to pour her milk on the Shiva Linga every day. On seeing this miracle, the king of Katyuri Dynasty constructed the temple at the same site.