Rudraprayag Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Uttarakhand

Address

Rudraprayag Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Koteshwar Chopda Road, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand 246171

Diety

Koteshwar Mahadev

Introduction

The Koteshwar Mahadev Temple is a sacred shrine devoted to Lord Shiva, and it is situated in close proximity to Rudraprayag Town, within the Rudraprayag district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It stands as one of the renowned Shiva temples in Uttarakhand, nestled within a cave, and it draws a significant number of devotees annually. What sets this temple apart is the belief among worshippers that the idols venerated here were naturally formed following Lord Shiva’s meditation in this very location.

Puranic Significance

According to the legend, Bhasmasura, a devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva, performed intense penance to obtain a divine boon from Lord Shiva. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva granted him a boon, in which Bhasmasura received the power that anyone he touched on the head with his hand would immediately burn to ashes (bhasma). To test this newfound power, Bhasmasura attempted to touch Lord Shiva’s head. Fearing for his safety, Lord Shiva fled from Bhasmasura and sought refuge in Koteshwar before proceeding to Kedarnath. With his new destructive power, Bhasmasura wreaked havoc, causing suffering to everyone he encountered.

In their desperation, the Devas (heavenly beings) and sages sought the assistance of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu, taking on the form of Mohini, appeared before Bhasmasura. Mohini was so incredibly beautiful that Bhasmasura immediately fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage. Mohini agreed, but on the condition that Bhasmasura must match her dance moves exactly. As they engaged in a prolonged dance-off, Bhasmasura, while imitating Mohini’s moves, was tricked into touching his own head, causing him to be consumed by the fiery power he had been granted, ultimately turning himself into ashes.

In another part of the legend, during the epic Kurukshetra war, when the Pandavas defeated the Kauravas, a celestial voice advised the Pandavas to seek Lord Shiva’s forgiveness for the violence they had committed. Lord Shiva, unwilling to easily grant absolution, began to move from his cave towards Kedarnath. The demons who lived near the cave implored him to stay, but Lord Shiva continued on his journey. However, he did grant the demons a boon: anyone who visited the cave would have their wishes fulfilled as a sign of his grace.

Beliefs

It is believed that Koteshwar Mahadev is famous for granting boons to the childless couples.

Special Features

The cave temple is located alongside the Alaknanda River and features idols of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Hanuman, Ganesha, and Durga. One of the most distinctive characteristics of this cave temple is that all these idols are believed to have naturally formed. Water droplets from the cave’s ceiling fall onto the Lingam (a symbolic representation of Lord Shiva). In contrast to the usual practice in many other temples in the region, the idols in this temple are not frequently or even annually brought out for public view. Instead, they are taken out in a grand procession only once every four years.