Mandleshwar Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Address

Mandleshwar Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple, Madhya Pradesh

Mandleshwar,

Madhya Pradesh 451221

Moolavar

Gupteshwar Mahadev

Introduction

The world’s first Adi Shiva Linga is found in the Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple in Mandleshwar on the banks of the Rewa River. This temple is considered to be the oldest Shiva temple in the world and has been described in detail in the Puranas.

Puranic Significance

Legend has it that a pindi (upper part of the Shiva Linga) fell at this spot due to the curse of a Rishi. Parvati Devi carried this divine embodiment of Lord Shiva and consecrated it in the cave as Gupteshwar Mahadev. This ancient temple has existed since antiquity. For many years, a stream of the sacrosanct Narmada used to fall continuously on the Shiva Linga, but this stream has since been closed. This cave temple was largely unknown for thousands of years.

It is in this place that the legendary debate between Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and Mandana Mishra took place in the presence of the latter’s wife who also engaged in a lengthy discussion on the quintessence of the Vedas with Adi Shankara. After Jagadguru defeated the both of them, they begged to be accepted as his disciples. This temple has been mentioned in the exemplary book Shankara Digvijaya written by Vidyaranya.