Tadkeshwar Mahadev temple is a Hindu temple. It is located near
Abrama
Abrama is a census town in the Navsari district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Demographics
As of the India census, Abrama had a population of 21,035. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. The average literacy rate was 78%, ...
town in
Valsad district
Valsad district (previously Bulsar district) is one of the 34 Districts of Gujarat, districts in the West India, Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Nashik district of Maharashtra state to the east, and ...
of the
Indian state
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, for a total of 36 subnational entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into 800 districts and smaller administrative divisions by the respe ...
of
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
. The temple is on the bank of the Wanki river.
The temple is more than 800 years old, one of the oldest in
Valsad District
Valsad district (previously Bulsar district) is one of the 34 Districts of Gujarat, districts in the West India, Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Nashik district of Maharashtra state to the east, and ...
. 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.
On the occasions of
the Maha Shivaratri festival and
Shravan Month
Śrāvaṇa () is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the year, typically beginning in mid to late July and ending in late August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as ...
, a fair take place nearby.
History
A semi-circuler Shivlinga type stone was seen in the bushes of the north bank of Wanki river in May 1215. 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
A Sufi shrine or dargah ( ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargāh'' दरगाह درگاہ, ''dôrgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint or dervi ...
was created on the site.
One day
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 ...
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 in diameter. At noon, the rays of the Sun shine directly on the Shivlinga.
[History of Tadkeshwar Mahadev Temple: Image]
References
Tourist attractions in Valsad district
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