Shivling made of khichdi discovered in Kashi temple; visit brings merits comparable to Kedarnath

In the Dudheshwarnath temple located in Ghaziabad, a large number of pilgrims visit and perform the jalabhishek ritual during the month of Sawan. A queue of about a kilometer forms in front of the temple. This temple is considered a siddha place with a self-manifested lingam.

There is a belief that Ravana's father regularly came here to worship Lord Shiva, and there was also a tunnel connecting the temple to the nearby village of Bisarh. It is because of this religious faith that a huge number of devotees gather here during the month of Sawan.

The Dudheshwarnath temple is revered as a siddha-kshetra of Shiva. According to legends, Ravana's father, being a devout follower of Lord Shiva, often performed regular worship at this place. It is said that a direct tunnel led from the neighboring village of Bisarh to the temple, through which he would come daily to offer water to Lord Shiva. Because of this, the temple is considered to have a special connection with Ravana and his family.

The self-manifested lingam in the temple attracts the most attention from pilgrims. According to legend, this lingam was not installed by a human but appeared on its own. Therefore, devotees consider this place extremely miraculous and a siddha-sthal. During the month of Sawan, pilgrims travel from afar to visit and perform jalabhishek.

During the sacred month of Sawan, a huge crowd of pilgrims is observed in and outside the Dudheshwarnath temple complex. On particularly busy days, the queue from the main entrance to the temple extends almost a kilometer. Regardless of the intense heat, rain, or humidity, pilgrims wait in line with full enthusiasm and reverence. Despite the weather difficulties, the faith of the pilgrims remains unwavering. Recently, the veneration of this temple has significantly increased, and pilgrims are arriving here from different parts of the country and the world.

There is a widely circulated legend associated with Dudheshwar Mahadev and cows. It is said that cows from the nearby village of Kaila grazed on a hill, and milk began to drip spontaneously from their udders. Surprised by this phenomenon, local residents excavated the hill, after which they discovered the lingam. Since Mahadev was bathed with cow's milk here, he was given the name Dudheshwar or Dugdheshwar Mahadev.

The city of Kashi, known as a center of religion and faith, is also revered as the abode of Baba Bholenath. Numerous forms of Baba Vishwanatha's Shivling are installed here, the existence of which is mentioned even from the Dwapara and Treta Yugas. There is a belief that the Shivling of the ancient temple of Kashi increases in thickness by the size of a pea over the course of a year. It is also believed that most of the Shivling is underground, exceeding what is visible above the surface.

Previously, the temple was subjected to attempts at damage by Aurangzeb, but attacks by bees prevented Aurangzeb's schemes.

In the Pande Haveli area of Varanasi, there is a self-manifested Shivling known as Tilabhandeswar Mahadev. According to legends, it grows by the thickness of a pea on the day of Makar Sankranti, which led to its current enormous size. Pilgrims come here to receive the blessings of Lord Shiva, offering milk, water, and bel leaves. Visitors include not only residents of Varanasi but also pilgrims from South India and other countries.

The Tilabhandeswar Mahadev temple is a center of unwavering faith for pilgrims. During the month of Sawan and every Monday, a huge number of people gather here for visits and worship. According to the temple administrators, this self-manifested Shivling has been continuously increasing in size since time immemorial. It is believed that in the Dwapara era, this Shivling grew by the thickness of a pea daily, whereas in the Kali Yuga, such growth occurs only on the day of Makar Sankranti. The visible part of the Shivling rises about 60 feet above the ground, while its base is believed to be located inside the earth.

It is believed that worshipping Tilabhandeswar Mahadev helps to pacify troublesome influences related to the nine planets (Navagraha) and 27 constellations. There is also a belief that people whose natal charts contain planetary defects will benefit greatly if they regularly perform the jalabhishek ritual and visit the temple on Mondays. Pilgrims are convinced that worshipping this Shivling, located in Kedarkhand, brings the grace of Lord Shiva and removes life's adversities.

According to mythological history, the sage Vibhanda used to perform rigorous worship of Lord Shiva at this place. He would daily offer chickpeas and water from the Ganges to Lord Shiva. One day, all the chickpeas in his vessel scattered on the ground, and it was in that spot that Lord Shiva manifested himself. Since the appearance of the Shivling occurred due to the chickpeas, it received the name Tilabhandeswar Mahadev. Since then, the belief exists that the Shivling increases by the thickness of a pea every year.

In the Ramgarh area of Jharkhand state, there is an ancient temple considered highly mysterious. The main feature of this sanctuary is that the Shivling is continuously washed for 12 months and 24 hours a day. Notably, the Shivling does not require the presence of pilgrims for watering; instead, a constant flow of water runs onto it naturally.

Discovery of the Temple During Excavations in 1925

The history of this temple dates back to 1925. At that time, during British rule, earthworks were being conducted in the area to search for water sources. During these works, a dome-shaped structure was discovered underground. After continuing the excavations, the temple buried beneath the ground was completely extracted.

Inside the temple, a Shivling was installed, and directly above it, a white statue of Mother Ganga was found. The most astonishing aspect of this statue is that a stream of water constantly flows from her navel.

Water Flowing from the Statue of Mother Ganga

According to beliefs, the water flowing from the navel of the statue of Mother Ganga passes through both her palms and lands directly on the Shivling situated below. Thus, the Shivling undergoes continuous ablution. To this day, it remains unknown when and from what natural source this stream of water originates.

It is claimed that scientific studies were conducted to determine the nature of this water flow, but the true source has not been established to date. This is why the continuous bathing in the temple remains a subject of both religious reverence and mystery for pilgrims.

Hand Pumps Operating Without Power

The mystery of this temple is not limited to the water flow onto the Shivling. Two hand pumps are installed on the temple complex grounds that continue to supply water without needing to be switched on. Despite the drying up of the nearby river and intense heat, water continues to come from these pumps.

For people connected to the temple and for pilgrims, this is a miracle in itself. Many questions remain open regarding where the source of the constantly flowing water is located and how it relates to underground water currents.

Pilgrims Consider the Water as Prasadam

The religious beliefs associated with this temple are also very significant. Pilgrims accept the water that constantly flows onto the Shivling as prasadam. There is a belief that if one appeals to the god Shiva with a sincere heart, their wish will be granted. This is why pilgrims travel from afar to visit and worship here. The natural water flow, the statue of Mother Ganga, and the power-free operating pumps make this ancient temple unique among other Shiva temples, attracting people through a combination of faith and mystery.