Tarnetar Trinetreshwar Temple- Gujarat

Address

Tarnetar Trinetreshwar Temple- Taranetar, Near Thangadh, Surendrangar, Gujarat 363530

Diety

Trinetreshwar

Introduction

Trineteshwar temple is a Lord Shiva temple of Gurjar Pratihar style, located in the Tarnetar village of Surendranagar district, Gujarat. It was built by Mihir Bhoj, in 8th century. Tarnetar Temple also famous as Trinetreshwar Temple at Tarnetar.

Puranic Significance

The history of this beautiful temple festival which is attended by more than 50000 people every year. The legend is related to Draupadi’s swayamavar, an episode from the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Arjun, one of the main characters, and a Pandava, had participated in the swayamvar. In order to marry Draupadi, he pierced the eye of a rotating fish by just looking at the fish’s reflection in the water. Also, Arjun was a brilliant and undefeatable archer! It is said that this traditional fair, celebrating Draupadi’s swayamvar, began some 200 to 250 years ago. The festival and fair is organised at the Trinetreshwar Mahadev temple (the three-eye-god), which was constructed back in the 19th century. This temple is the focal point of the fair, and this is where all the festivities are held. It dates back to the Solanki era, and celebrates the three-day festival with much enthusiasm. Inside the temple, there is a Brahma Kund, a Shiva Kund, and a Vishnu Kund and it is believed that taking a plunge in these three water reservoirs is equivalent to taking a dip in the waters of the holy Ganges. It is believed that Tarnetar Temple was built in Solanki Era, around in 10th century by King Pratihara, great devotee of Lord Shiva. The name of the Temple Trinetreshwar is derived from the three eyed Shiva. This temple is surrounded by three Holy Kunds, Vishnu Kund, Brahm Kund and Shiv Kund and it is believed that dip in this water is as holy as dip in River Ganga and also as per the folklore, River Ganga used to flow here. Thus devote and tourist must take holy dip in this Kund. The original temple complex was dismantle in 1898 and replaced by the present monument.

Special Features

Trinetreshwar Shiva Temple is best known for its annual fair of Trinetreshwar Mahadev Mela and the temple is surrounded by three Kunds the Vishnu Kund, the Bhrahma Kund and the Shiv Kund.

Festivals

Tarnetar is popular for its annual fair, “Tarnetar no Melo” or Trinetreshwar Mahadev Mela, which is held near the Trinetreshwar Mahadev temple. Villagers from all over the region as well as tourists across the India and even from abroad attend and enjoy the fair. Shravan Month, Maha Shivratri and Tarnetar Fair. This is one of the most popular religious festival of Gujarat.