Chinese Illustrator Cai Gao Received Hans Christian Andersen Award

The film 'Ramayana' directed by Nitish Tiwari is generating significant interest among viewers, especially after the trailer was released on social media. The project features actor Ajinkya Dev, who plays the role of Guru Vishwamitra. This character plays an important role as it was Guru Vishwamitra who taught Lord Rama and Lakshmana the art of archery and weaponry during Balakanda.

In a recent interview with Zoom, Ajinkya openly discussed his appearance for the first time. He mentioned that the makeup for the Guru Vishwamitra look took over two hours. The actor noted that preparing for the role was not easy; initially, creating the full look with a beard, makeup, and wig took about two hours. Later, he found a way to speed up this process.

Ajinkya also shared difficulties related to eating while wearing a full beard during filming. Even if he removed the beard, reapplying it took two hours. As a result, his makeup artist devised a simple solution: dividing the beard into three parts. This allowed Ajinkya to temporarily remove one part during lunch to eat and then easily restore it.

Ajinkya also discussed his role in 'Ramayana'. He highly praised Ranbir Kapoor's work, stating that no one could play the role of Rama better than him, and that Ranbir is perfect for the role. Furthermore, he complimented Yash for the role of Ravana, noting that Yash's facial expressions are very good, and believes the actor looks impressive in the role of Ravana.

In 'Ramayana', the main roles are played by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The film will be released in theaters for Diwali on November 8, 2026, and on November 6 abroad. The second part of 'Ramayana' is planned for release at the next Diwali.

Today is the second Monday of the month of Savan, and people perform Jalabisheka (water bathing) in honor of Lord Shiva to receive his blessings. There are countless temples dedicated to the God Shiva across India, many of which are known. However, this article presents five mysterious Shiva temples that you may not have heard of before. The myths and beliefs associated with these shrines might surprise you.

Stambheshwara Mahadeva Temple

This temple is located on the banks of the Camba in the state of Gujarat, amidst the Arabian Sea. The temple, discovered about 150 years ago, is also mentioned in the Rudra Samhita Shiva Purana. Its most striking feature is that it disappears for a short time during the day and then reappears. This occurs due to tides, when the seawater completely covers the Shivling, submerging the temple underwater. After the tide recedes, the temple becomes visible again. Pilgrims pay special attention to the times of high and low tide when visiting this place. According to legend, after the killing of the demon Tarkasura, Lord Kartikeya installed the Shivling here.

Nishkalank Mahadeva Temple

Located approximately 3 kilometers from the coast of Koliak in the Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, this temple is situated in the sea. Here, the sea waves wash over the Shivling daily. During high tide, the temple sinks completely, remaining visible only by one flag. Pilgrims reach it on foot when the tide goes out. There is a belief that the Pandavas came here to cleanse themselves of sins after the battle in the Mahabharata. Following the advice of Lord Krishna, they performed penance here and installed the Shivling, hence it is called 'Nishkalank' Mahadeva.

Achleshwara Mahadeva Temple

This temple, located among the Chambal canyons in Dhaulpur, Rajasthan, is known for its unique miracle. Here, the Shivling changes color three times a day: red in the morning, saffron in the afternoon, and black in the evening. To this day, no one has been able to explain this mystery. Another feature is that the depth of this Shivling is still unknown. It is said that excavations were conducted to determine this, but no bottom was found.

Lakshmeshwara Mahadeva Temple

There is a legend that this temple was founded by Lord Rama at the request of Lakshmana after defeating Har-Dushana. The sacred object located here is called the 'Lakshalinga' and has thousands of small holes. One of these holes is considered a Patalagam (leading to the underworld), where water is completely absorbed, while in another hole, water always remains, forming an Akshaya Kund (eternal spring). It is said that the water offered to this Shivling reaches a kund located behind the temple that never dries up.

Bijli Mahadeva Temple

This temple, located in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, is known for its amazing phenomenon. It is situated on a high mountain near the confluence of the Beas and Parvati rivers. Every 12 years, lightning strikes the Shivling, causing it to shatter into pieces. Then, priests glue the fragments of the Shivling with oil, and after some time, it takes a solid form again.

The unique characteristics and associated beliefs make all these temples extremely mysterious. This is why millions of pilgrims arrive here every year to perform the pilgrimage.