 Kurukshetra is a small sacred town for the Hindus.
Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple at Thaneswar in Kurukshetra is another
holy center. It is small and distinct. With an air of an ancient
presence, lies the Sthaneshvara Mahadev Temple at Thanesar.
It was here that the Pandavas prayed to Lord Shiva and received
his blessings for victory in the battle of Mahabharata. The
ninth Guru, Shri Tegh Bahadur stayed at a spot near the Sthaneshwar
Tirtha that is marked by a gurdwara.
Legend
Legend has it that the waters of the tank adjoining the temple
are holy. A few drops of water cured the King Ban of leprosy.
And, no pilgrimage of Kurukshetra is believed to be entirely
complete without a visit to this holy Temple. The tank and temple
lie a short distance from Thanesar town, which gets its name
from this temple. The temple of Sthaneswar is the abode of Lord
Shiva say the devote. It once formed an important part of the
kingdom of the King Harsha Vardhan of the Pushyabhuti dynasty.
It isalso believed that Lord Shiva was first worshipped here
in the form of a linga. The ancestor of the Mahabharata heroes,
Kuru, performed penance on the banks of the Yamuna and Parshurama,
the great warrior and sage killed many Kshatriyas (warriors)
here.
About the Deity
The temple of Sthaneshwar is the abode of Lord Shiva. It once
formed an important part of the Kingdom of King Harsha Vardhan
of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. The temple with a domical roof
follows regional type of architecture. The facade of the roof
is shaped like an 'amla' shape along with a tall pinnacle.
The 'Linga' is ancient and worshipped still by the people.
Main attraction
Kamal Nabhi
Adjacent the town of Thanesar lies the temple of Kamal Nabhi.
The Nabhi Kamal is a sacred tank. Mythology has it that the
tank houses a sacred lotus that happens to play abode to Lord
Bramha (one of the Trinity Gods). The Lord is believed to
have manifested from the navel of the lotus. The temple here
has the images of Lord Vishnu and Brhama.
BHISHAM KUND NARKATARI
About one and half miles from Thanesar on Kurukshetra-Pehowa
road lies a tank named Narkatari. It is here say legends,
that Bhishma Pitamah of Mahabharata epic lay on a bed of arrows. |
