Khatima/Kashipur: On the last Monday of Sawan, immense devotion of people was seen in all Shivalayas and temples. Shivalayas were bustling with chants of Bholenath. There was a rush of devotees since morning in the ancient Vankhandi Mahadev temple located in Chakarpur, Khatima. There was a queue of devotees to perform Jalabhishek and Rudrabhishek. At the same time, there was a queue of devotees in Bhimashankar Moteshwar Mahadev temple of Kashipur.
A large number of devotees from various places including Khatima, Tanakpur, Banbasa, Nepal reached the ancient Vankhandi Mahadev temple Chakarpur to have darshan and Jalabhishek of Bhole Nath. In the month of Sawan, the devotion of hundreds of Shiva devotees was seen in Vankhandi Mahadev temple in the court of Bhole. Apart from this, Shiva devotees brought Kanwad from various places including Haridwar and asked for their wishes from Bholenath by performing Jalabhishek in the Shivling of Vankhandi Mahadev temple.
Vankhandi Mahadev Temple was famous as Tharu tribal temple: Devotees worshiped the Shivalinga of ancient Vankhandi Mahadev with Bel Patra, flowers, Ganga water, milk, honey, Dhatura etc. If we talk about its recognition, then the ancient Pandava period temple Vankhandi Mahadev Temple described in the history of Kumaon was formerly famous as Tharu tribal temple settled in the Terai. With time, now the faith of all the society is seen in this temple.
CM Dhami has immense faith in Vankhandi Mahadev Temple: At the same time, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also has immense faith in Vankhandi Mahadev Temple. He has been continuously inaugurating the ten-day Shivratri fair held every year on the occasion of Shivratri. Currently, the ancient Vankhandi Mahadev temple is being rebuilt with an amount of about one crore. The 110 feet long statue of Lord Shiva is the center of attraction in the temple premises.
Devotees reaching Vankhandi Mahadev Temple to perform Jalabhishek in Sawan say that Lord Shiva fulfills everyone’s wishes. Pandit Chandra Shekhar Joshi of Vankhandi Mahadev Temple says that Lord Bholenath resides in Mount Kailash during the month of Sawan. It is believed that by performing Jalabhishek on Monday of Sawan, Bholenath gets pleased quickly and fulfills the wishes of the devotees.
Long queue of devotees at Bhimashankar Moteshwar Mahadev Temple of Kashipur: Even rain could not shake the faith of Shiva devotees in all the Shiva temples including Moteshwar Mahadev Temple of Kashipur. On the last Monday, devotees performed Jalabhishek and worshiped in Shiva temples. There has been a long queue of people offering water to the Shivling since early morning.
This temple is from the Pandava period. It was established by Bhima out of the five Pandavas. The special thing about this Shivling is that it does not fit in both hands. Apart from Uttarakhand, Shiva devotees from far-off places like Rampur, Moradabad, Amroha, Bijnor of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Delhi are coming to visit Moteshwar Mahadev Temple today. – Krishnadas Sarang Nagar, Priest, Bhimashankar Moteshwar Mahadev Temple
