Pathankot Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple Punjab

Address

Pathankot Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple Doongh, Pathankot District, Punjab 145029 Phone: 094173 24685

Diety

Mukteshwar Mahadev AMMAN: Parvati

Introduction

Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, also known as Mukesaran Mandir, is a popular shrine to Shiva and man-made cave complex located near Pathankot City on Shahpur Kandi Dam road. It is a temple containing representations of Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu, Hanuman, and Parvati. It is considered to be one of the most sacred places around Pathankot. According to legend, the Pandavas stayed in the caves for a night during their exile (Agayatwas), and it is said that some of the caves date to the time of the Mahabharata. The Mukteshwar temple has a white marble Shivling, with a copper Yoni and is surrounded by the idols of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Parvati, Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha.

Puranic Significance

History of this historical ancient temple says, it is 5500years old temple, whose existence is known from the time of Mahabharata. According to Mythology, Shakuni “the maternal uncle of Duryodhana”, devises a scheme to rob Yudhisthira (The Eldest from Pandavas) of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a game of dice, which Shakuni cannot lose in due to his special dice. Unable to resist the challenge, Yudhisthira gambles away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. So Pandavas lost their kingdom and get the exile (Vanvas) of 12 years and 1 year (Agayatwas) – in which they have to be live unrecognized. During this 1 year Incognito, All five pandavas with their wife Draupadi stayed in the form of sage, Brahmins and Hermits and visited unrecognized at different places. During the time of incognito, they reached coast of ravi river in a state of five rivers (Punjab). Here they built the four caves and one lord shiva temple at the hilltop. They stayed here in this temple for six months. They crafted the Shivlingam present in the temple and worshipped the lord shiva here. The Havan Kund made by them, is still present there in temple. The Shivling at the Mukteshwar Mahadev temple is surrounded by the idols of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Paravati, Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesha. These are 5500 year old caves & a temple built by Pandavas. Pandvas stayed here for six months, in that time period they built four caves and a shiv temple. They crafted the Shivlingam present in the temple and worshiped the lord shiva here. The Havan Kund made by them, is still present there in temple. This place is also known as mini (small) haridwar. Those people who cannot do ash immersion of their kin at haridwar, they flow it in Ravi River at Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple.

Special Features

This temple and the caves hold a significant cultural, religious and spiritual value in the lives of many locals living in and around this area. These caves date back to the time of Mahabharata and served as home to the pandavas as they took respite and shelter during their exile. The Pandavas stayed here for six months during their Agyatvas and it was in that period of time when they built a Shiv temple and worshipped the Lord. The Havan Kund made by them is still present at the temple. This place also holds a significant importance in the immersion of ashes of their kin, that usually happens in Haridwar. Hence, this place is also known as the mini-Haridwar as people do the ash immersion here and flow it in the Ravi River at the Mukteshwar Temple.

Festivals

Daily rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva are performed. A Fair, called the Mukesran Da Mela, is held anually at this place, in April, to mark Baisakhi festival. Also every year big festival on day of Shivratri and after one month of shivratri there is three day festival Chaitra Chodiya and also Navratri festival. Somvati Amavasya is another big fair temple committee organizes. Lots of pilgrim from all over the Punjab and nearby state Himachal, J & K comes here for to worship God every year mainly on Mukesran mela and Shiv Ratri.