Valsad Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Gujarat

Address

Valsad Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Sonanagar, Abrama, Gujarat 396002

Diety

Tadkeshwar Mahadev Amman: Parvati

Introduction

Tadkeshwar Mahadev temple is located near Abrama town in Valsad district of the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple is on the bank of the Wanki river. The Tadkeshwar Mahadev Mandir has different types of Shivalingas and is one of the famous temples in Valsad city. The temple is known as Tadkeshwar because of the absence of a roof and also as constant sunlight falls on the Shivalinga. The temple is more than 1000 years old, one of the oldest in Valsad District. It was designed to allow the sun to shine on the Shivlinga inside and has no ceiling. Therefore, it is known as “Tadkeshwar”. The length of the Shivlinga is approximately 6 to 8 ft.

Puranic Significance

A 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) semi-circuler Shivlinga type stone was seen in the bushes of the north bank of Wanki river. During that time, this stone was taken by the local people who partially broke it down. Poisonous wasps swarmed from the stone and stung around 60 people within a 1500 ft radius of the temple. All 60 died and were buried on the temple site. The Dargah was created on the site. One day Shiva appeared in the dreams of a devotee of Abrama and commanded: “Take the linga from the bank of Wanki river. Two of Lord Shiva’s devotees can pick it up easily. When the linga becomes too heavy, set it down and create the linga on that place.” The temple ceiling was built twice. After the first time the ceiling was destroyed in a fire. The second time, the ceiling collapsed. Lord Shiva appeared in the dreams of one devotee and said: ” I am Tadkeshwar Mahadev. I need the Rays of Sun. Therefore, do not reconstruct the ceiling of the temple.”. From that day on, Shivlinga of Tadkeshwar Mahadev was kept safe in the temple. The peak of the temple remains open to the sky, featuring a hole about 22 feet (6.7 m) in diameter. At noon, the rays of the Sun shine directly on the Shivlinga. Another Legend, This temple is located in valsad since 800 years or may be older than. The Shivling was found when one person who was villager and he went with his cows and buffalows into the jungle that were located at the shore of river vanki.At that one cow became alone from thier groups and went inside the jungle.When the cow went there inside the jungle,cow suddenly stop and start giving milk autometically.The villager was saw this scene and he was shocked. One day he went there with some other people and start dugging there.After sometime,one noise came from that place.Everybody who were there,were shocked to see one big stone at that place.After this,one night one old man saw a dream in which god shiva said that the stone that they found is Shivling and also said that if he try to take it out then it will be light in weight like a flower.That man remove the shivling alone .Afterwards all the villagers pray to the Shivling. Afterwards they decided to built a wall of height of 2 to 3 feet around Shivling and ceiling with glass,but one day fire took place and the ceiling was completely burned though there was no such thing which can cause fire. So since 10 years the ceiling of the temple is not built and only side walls were constructed.The radius of ceiling which is opened is around 20 feet. The shivling that was found has the length of 6 to 8 feet and is famous in India.So from the history of this temple many people say that “One who worship in this temple with his heart will surely get whatever he/she wants”.

Special Features

This is the only mahadev temple may be in whole world who doesn’t have a peak on temple. It is believed that many times people had tried to construct peak(Top Celling) but automatically it gets dissolve. As tadkeshwar mahadev wants peak to stay open so direct sun rays, rain falls on Tadkeshwar Mahadev Shivlingam is unique Feature in this temple.