Geparnath Mahadev Temple is a

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

temple dedicated to the deity

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

located near

Kota, Rajasthan Kota (), previously known as ''Kotah'', is the List of cities and towns in Rajasthan, third-largest city of the western Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located about south of the state capital, Jaipur, on the banks of Chambal River. As of 20 ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. The temple is notable for a natural water stream used for the ritual ''

Abhisheka Abhisheka () is a religious rite or method of prayer in which a devotee pours a liquid offering on an image or murti of a deity. This is common to religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Hinduism An abhiṣeka is conducted by pries ...

'' (sacred bathing) of the

lingam A lingam ( , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or Aniconism, aniconic representation of the Hinduism, Hindu Hindu deities, god Shiva in Shaivism. The word ''lingam'' is found in the Up ...

History

The temple was constructed in the 16th century and is traditionally believed to have been commissioned by the Raja Bhoj. It is situated 400 feet deep within a hillside and is accessible via a descent of approximately 350 steps.

Architectural features

The temple is located on the banks of the

Chambal River The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in Central India, Central and North India, Northern India, and thus forms part of the drainage system of the Ganges. The river flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a brie ...

. A distinguishing feature is the continuous flow of water over the Shiva

. Nearby, there is a natural reservoir where devotees often bathe as part of religious practices.

Cultural significance

The temple hosts the annual

Maha Shivaratri Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to worship the deity Shiva, between February and March. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is observed on the fourteenth day of the first half (night start with darkness - ...

pilgrimage fair, which attracts thousands of devotees. The festival is a major religious event in the region.

Conservation

Since 1961, the temple has been under the protection of the

Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander ...

, ensuring the preservation of its historical and architectural heritage.

Tourism

The temple is a popular destination for both pilgrims and

tourists Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

. Local residents have suggested that improved infrastructure could further boost tourism in the area.

Incidents

* 2008 Step Collapse: A portion of the temple’s steps collapsed, trapping approximately 135 visitors. The incident resulted in 3 fatalities. Rescue operations were carried out by the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), with assistance from cranes and helicopters. Among those rescued were 35 children and 30 women. * 2022 Drowning Incident: Two students—one from

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

and the other from

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...

—drowned in the temple’s reservoir.{{Cite web , title=Rajasthan: कोटा के गेपरनाथ महादेव कुंड में दो छात्र डूबे, एक मृतक बिहार और दूसरा मध्यप्रदेश का रहने वाला , url=https://www.amarujala.com/rajasthan/kota/two-students-drowned-in-kota-geparnath-mahadev-kund , access-date=2024-05-30 , website=Amar Ujala , language=hi

References

Kota, Rajasthan Tourist attractions in Kota, Rajasthan Hindu temples in Rajasthan Shiva temples in Rajasthan