Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, Thanesar, Haryana

Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, Thanesar, Haryana

Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thanesar Town in Kurukshetra District in the Indian State of Haryana. The temple is considered as one of the oldest temples of Kurukshetra. It is the central and the most important place in the 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra. It is believed that Kurukshetra pilgrimage visit is incomplete without visiting this temple.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2022/02/sthaneshwar-mahadev-temple-thanesar-legends.html

History

The Temple is believed to be built by Pushyabhuti dynasty. Pushyabhuti, the founder of the Pushyabhuti dynasty named the capital of his kingdom after the presiding deity of this temple, Sthaneshwar. The temple played an important part of the kingdom of King Harsh Vardhana of Pushyabhuti dynasty. The present temple is said to be constructed by Sadashivrao Bhau, the Commander-in-Chief of Maratha forces, to commemorate his victory over Ahmed Shah Abdali at Kunjpura before the third battle of Panipat. The ninth Guru, Shri Tegh Bahadur stayed at a spot near the Sthaneshwar Tirtha that is marked by a gurdwara just besides this temple.

The Temple

The temple is provided with a dome-shaped roof. The facade of the roof is shaped like an amla along with a tall pinnacle. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Sthaneshwar, in the form of Shiva Lingam. There are ancient paintings carved on the interior of the roof. It has a shrine dedicated to Lakshmi Narayan to the left side of the sanctum. There are shrines for Bhairava, Hanuman, Rama and Durga in the temple premises. There is a small pond in front of the temple.

Festivals

Shivaratri is the most famous festival celebrated here.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 2 Kms from Thanesar Old Bus Stand, 2 Kms from Thanesar City Railway Station, 5 Kms from Kurukshetra New Bus Stand, 5 Kms from Kurukshetra Junction Railway Station, 26 Kms from Pehowa, 50 Kms from Yamuna Nagar, 53 Kms from Ambala, 93 Kms from Chandigarh Airport, 98 Kms from Chandigarh and 178 Kms from New Delhi. The temple is situated on the Kurukshetra to Pehowa road.

Location

Dehra Temple, Bhond, Haryana

Dehra Temple, Bhond, Haryana

Dehra Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Bhond Village in Nuh District in the Indian State of Haryana. The temple is situated on the foot hills of a hillock in Bhond village. The temple once housed a Shiva Linga in its sanctum, later got removed and placed in in the Jaina Temple at Firozpur Jhirka. This temple complex is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 3 Kms from Firozpur Jhirka, 3 Kms from Firozpur Jhirka Bus Stand, 43 Kms from Nuh, 53 Kms from Alwar, 58 Kms from Bhiwadi, 63 Kms from Sohna, 106 Kms from New Delhi Airport and 113 Kms from New Delhi. The Temple is situated at about 3 Kms from Firozpur Jhirka on the Nuh to Alwar route.

Location

Kalayat Ancient Bricks Temple Complex, Haryana

Kalayat Ancient Bricks Temple Complex, Haryana

Kalayat Ancient Bricks Temple Complex is a Hindu Temple Complex dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kalayat City in Kaithal District in the Indian State of Haryana. This temple constitutes an important point in the series of 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra. This temple complex is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

As per legend, King Salivahana, the ruler of Kaithal, was cursed to death and was terrified by the danger coming on his way. He touched the soil of this place and was relieved from his curse. He realized the sacredness of the place. In gratitude, he built five brick temples here.

History

The temples are believed to be built in 7^th century CE. It is said that five brick temples existed in the temple complex and were built in Gurjara Pratihara style. Only two temples survived to this date. One temple remains better preserved whereas the other temple underwent extensive modifications. These temples are the best surviving specimens of north Indian temple in this region belonging to pre-Muslim era. Kalayat was known as Kapilayat and Kapilayatana in ancient times, named after the sage Kapila, the preacher of Sankhya darshan of Indian philosophy.

The Temple Complex

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2021/11/kalayat-ancient-bricks-temple-complex.html

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 1 Km from Kalayat Bus Stand, 3 Kms from Kalayat Railway Station, 20 Kms from Narwana, 25 Kms from Kaithal, 50 Kms from Jind, 76 Kms from Kurukshetra, 153 Kms from Chandigarh, 196 Kms from New Delhi Airport and 199 Kms from New Delhi. The temple is situated on Narwana to Kaithal route.

Location

Devikoop Bhadrakali Temple, Thanesar, Haryana

Devikoop Bhadrakali Temple, Thanesar, Haryana

Devikoop Bhadrakali Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi located in Thanesar Town in Kurukshetra District in Haryana State, India. This Sakthi Peeth is situated on the banks of Saraswathi River. The Temple is also known as Savitri Peeth, Devi Peeth, Kalika Peeth or Aadi Peeth. The Temple is considered as one of the 51 Shakthi Peethas. Being one of Shakti Peethas of Hindu Mythology, this temple is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shakti sect of Hinduism.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/devikoop-bhadrakali-temple-thanesar-legends.html

The Temple

This is a newly built temple. There is a big lotus idol immediately after the entrance. It has the impression of left leg of Goddess Sati. This structure is built of white marble. There are horse idols facing the lotus idol. Presiding Deity is called as Bhadra Kaali. She is housed in the sanctum. Bhairava associated with this Shakthi Peeth is called as Sthanu. There is a right ankle made of metal has been placed in front of the main deity in the sanctum. The Shikara over the sanctum is about 80 feet high.

There is an open hall to the right side of sanctum for performing Satsang /  kirtans in front of Shri Hari, Radha Krishna and Siya Ram. There is a stair on the left side of the sanctum which takes one to first floor. Idols of Lord Shiva carrying Sati, Shiva Lingam and Lord Vishnu riding his Garuda with his Sudarshan Chakra depicting the event of the legend associated to the Shaktipeethas can be found in this floor. There are shrines for Ganapathi, Saraswathi and Gayatri in the temple premises.

Festivals

Durga Puja and Navratri are the famous festivals celebrated here.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Thanesar Old Bus Stand, 2 Kms from Thanesar City Railway Station, 3 Kms from Kurukshetra Junction Railway Station, 4 Kms from Thanesar New Bus Stand, 7 Kms from Kurukshetra, 75 Kms from Patiala Airport, 94 Kms from Chandigarh Airport, 96 Kms from Chandigarh and 176 Kms from New Delhi. The Temple is situated on Delhi to Jammu Route.

Location

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