Sthaneshwar
Mahadev Temple at Thaneswar in Kurukshetra is another holy
center. Kurukshetra is a small sacred town for the Hindus.
It is small and distinct. With an air of an ancient presence,
lies the Sthaneshvara Mahadev Temple at Thanesar. It was here
that the Pandavas prayed to Lord Shiva and received his blessings
for victory in the battle of Mahabharata. The ninth Guru,
Shri Tegh Bahadur stayed at a spot near the Sthaneshwar Tirtha
that is marked by a gurdwara. The temple of Sthaneswar is
the abode of Lord Shiva say the devote. It once formed an
important part of the kingdom of the King Harsha Vardhan of
the Pushyabhuti dynasty. It isalso believed that Lord Shiva
was first worshipped here in the form of a linga. The ancestor
of the Mahabharata heroes, Kuru, performed penance on the
banks of the Yamuna and Parshurama, the great warrior and
sage killed many Kshatriyas (warriors) here. Legend has it
that the waters of the tank adjoining the temple are holy.
A few drops of water cured the King Ban of leprosy. And, no
pilgrimage of Kurukshetra is believed to be entirely complete
without a visit to this holy Temple. The tank and temple lie
a short distance from Thanesar town, which gets its name from
this temple..
About the Deity
The temple of Sthaneshwar is the abode of Lord Shiva. It once
formed an important part of the Kingdom of King Harsha Vardhan
of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. The temple with a domical roof
follows regional type of architecture. The facade of the roof
is shaped like an 'amla' shape along with a tall pinnacle.
The 'Linga' is ancient and worshipped still by the people.
Main Attractions
Bhisham Kund Narkatari: About one and half miles from Thanesar
on Kurukshetra-Pehowa road lies a tank named Narkatari. It
is here say legends, that Bhishma Pitamah of Mahabharata epic
lay on a bed of arrows.
Kamal Nabhi: Adjacent the town of Thanesar lies the temple
of Kamal Nabhi. The Nabhi Kamal is a sacred tank. Mythology
has it that the tank houses a sacred lotus that happens to
play abode to Lord Bramha (one of the Trinity Gods). The Lord
is believed to have manifested from the navel of the lotus.
The temple here has the images of Lord Vishnu and Brhama.
