The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site. It is surrounded by dense forests and is adjacent to the mountain ranges of Nar-Narayan. It is enveloped between the valleys of Manikoot, Brahmakoot, and Vishnukoot and is located at the confluence of the rivers Pankaja and Madhumati.
Shiva consumed the poison Halahala that originated from the sea during the Samudramanthan (churning of the ocean) ca 1870.
According to Hindu sacred texts, the place where the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple[1] currently stands is the sacred location where Shiva consumed the poison that originated from the sea when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the ocean in order to obtain Amrita. This poison that emanated during the Samudramanthan (churning of the ocean) made his throat blue in color. Thus, Shiva is also known as Neelkanth, literally meaning The Blue Throated One.[2]
As per Shruti-Smriti Puran, Devas and Asuras churned the ocean to obtain Amruta. 14 ratnas were obtained of which one was the "Kalkut" poison capable of destroying the whole world . This was consumed by Lord Shiva making his throat blue. To allay the effect of Kalkut poison, Lord Shiva meditated for 60 thousand years here at the confluence of Pankaja and Madhumati river beneath the Panchpani tree where the current Garbha Gruh of the temple is constructed. After his penance, Lord Shiva installed the current day "throat" shaped shivaling beneath the Panchpani tree.
The Templeedit
The temple has a Gopura or the shikhara as in any Pandya (Tamil) style temple and is raised high in a tiered way in pyramid style. Motifs and Friezes are carved on these towers. The shikhara of the temple is adorned with sculptures of various Devas and Asuras depicting the Samudramanthan. Neelkanth Mahadev in the form of Shivalinga is the presiding deity of the temple. The temple complex also has a natural spring where devotees usually take a holy bath before entering the premises of surrounded by dense forests.[3]
Kawarias walking towards temple
Festivalsedit
Maha Shivaratri is the most prominent festival celebrated in the temple and many devotees flock to the temple during the festival. The devotees who pay a visit to Neelkanth Mahadev make an offering of Bael leaves, coconut, flowers, milk, honey, fruits and water to Lord Shiva. The temple observes two fairs that are held annually on the occasions of Maha Shivratri (Feb-Mar) and Shivratri of Shraavana (month of Hindu calendar) (July-Aug) during which the devotees (Kawarias) trek from Haridwar to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple.[4]
^C K Chandramohan (2 August 2010). . The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 May 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Uttarakhand.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple - Official website of Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand
Shri Neelkanth Mahadev Mandir
April 11, 2024
neelkanth, mahadev, temple, rishikesh, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, neelkanth, mahadev, temple, r. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Rishikesh news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nilkanth an aspect of Lord Shiva The temple is about 32 km from Rishikesh in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand India The temple architecture is very much influenced by the Dravidian style of temple architecture Neelkanth Mahadev TempleReligionAffiliationHinduismDistrictPauri GarhwalDeityNeelkanth Shiva FestivalsMaha ShivaratriLocationLocationNear RishikeshStateUttarakhandCountryIndiaLocation in UttarakhandGeographic coordinates30 04 51 N 78 20 27 E 30 0807 N 78 3409 E 30 0807 78 3409ArchitectureCreatorMekh Chand Shadhu The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site It is surrounded by dense forests and is adjacent to the mountain ranges of Nar Narayan It is enveloped between the valleys of Manikoot Brahmakoot and Vishnukoot and is located at the confluence of the rivers Pankaja and Madhumati Contents 1 Legend 2 The Temple 3 Festivals 4 References 5 External linksLegend edit nbsp Shiva consumed the poison Halahala that originated from the sea during the Samudramanthan churning of the ocean ca 1870 According to Hindu sacred texts the place where the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple 1 currently stands is the sacred location where Shiva consumed the poison that originated from the sea when Devas Gods and Asuras Demons churned the ocean in order to obtain Amrita This poison that emanated during the Samudramanthan churning of the ocean made his throat blue in color Thus Shiva is also known as Neelkanth literally meaning The Blue Throated One 2 As per Shruti Smriti Puran Devas and Asuras churned the ocean to obtain Amruta 14 ratnas were obtained of which one was the Kalkut poison capable of destroying the whole world This was consumed by Lord Shiva making his throat blue To allay the effect of Kalkut poison Lord Shiva meditated for 60 thousand years here at the confluence of Pankaja and Madhumati river beneath the Panchpani tree where the current Garbha Gruh of the temple is constructed After his penance Lord Shiva installed the current day throat shaped shivaling beneath the Panchpani tree The Temple editThe temple has a Gopura or the shikhara as in any Pandya Tamil style temple and is raised high in a tiered way in pyramid style Motifs and Friezes are carved on these towers The shikhara of the temple is adorned with sculptures of various Devas and Asuras depicting the Samudramanthan Neelkanth Mahadev in the form of Shivalinga is the presiding deity of the temple The temple complex also has a natural spring where devotees usually take a holy bath before entering the premises of surrounded by dense forests 3 nbsp Kawarias walking towards templeFestivals editMaha Shivaratri is the most prominent festival celebrated in the temple and many devotees flock to the temple during the festival The devotees who pay a visit to Neelkanth Mahadev make an offering of Bael leaves coconut flowers milk honey fruits and water to Lord Shiva The temple observes two fairs that are held annually on the occasions of Maha Shivratri Feb Mar and Shivratri of Shraavana month of Hindu calendar July Aug during which the devotees Kawarias trek from Haridwar to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple 4 References edit Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Bliss Trip Destination Himanshu Bijalwan Retrieved 23 June 2022 Neelkanth Mahadev Neelkanth Temple C K Chandramohan 2 August 2010 Chanting hymns Kawarias trek to temples The Hindu Archived from the original on 14 May 2006 Retrieved 24 May 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Uttarakhand Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Official website of Pauri Garhwal district Uttarakhand Shri Neelkanth Mahadev Mandir Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neelkanth Mahadev Temple Rishikesh amp oldid 1209136627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
