Lord Shiva is one of the holy trinity the other two being Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Shiva is the destroyer and thereby enables creation of the new. Some worship him simply as Shiv Bhagwan while others consider him the supreme Brahman or Atman of the universe; some consider him an ascetic or the founder of yoga, the Lord who bore the brunt of the force of Ganga as she descended to earth; one who consumed poison churned up during the Samudra Manthan and one who is Bholenath, the lord who is easily swayed and grants boons. Bholenath is just one of his names with Rudra, Hara, trilochana, Neelkanth, Nataraja (Lord of Dance), Shankar, Mahesh and Mahadev being the others.
Lord Vishnu is protector and appears in many avatars whenever the world needs his services but Shiva has only a few forms such as Veerbhadra Avatar, Nandi avatar, Sharabha avatar, Grihpati, Yaksha, Brahmachari, Kirat, Sunatnartak (Nataraj), Sureshwar and Ashwathama avatar. Unlike other deities, most of the temples dedicated to Shiva carry a lingam and some are said to Swayambhu or self appeared. Shaivism has its bhakts and most Brahmans worship Shiva across India. In Gujarat too, Lord Shiva has his followers and there are several outstanding Shiva temples in Gujarat worthy of a visit. Each city, each village and each region has a number of Shiv temples but then there are a few that are old and outstanding.
Somnath Shiva Temple
- Located in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat.
- One of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.
- Has a rich history and is a prominent pilgrimage site.
Somnath Shiva Temple is the first that comes to mind when one talks about Shiva temples of Gujarat. Located near Prabhas Patan (not to be confused with Patan near Mehsana) in Veraval, Saurashtra on the western coast of India, it is believed to be among the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas or pillars of light that appeared all across India, making it an important pilgrimage spot for Shaivites. According to legend the Moon was cursed by Daksha and lost the power of light whereupon he meditated on Lord Shiva who restored his light. A grateful Moon built a golden temple for Shiva. It is believed, according to Jagadguru Shankaracharya that the first temple here existed about 9925105 years ago. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt and one of the builders was also Lord Shri Krishna who built it with Sandalwood.
Due to its richness the temple was sacked many times by Muslim invaders and rebuilt by devotees. Nagabhata, a Gurjara Pratihara king constructed the third iteration in 815 CE in red sandstone but a previous version was in place, built by Chalukya King Mularaja around 997 CE. Alauddin Khalji ransacked the temple but Kanhadev, Raja of Jalore defeated him and recovered the booty. Mahipala Deva, the Chudasama King of Saurashtra rebuilt the temple in 1326 AD. Zafar Khan razed the temple in 1395 and Mahmud Begada, Sultan of Gujarat desecrated it in 1451 but each time it was rebuilt anew. There is more about such destruction and reconstruction in history.
The current temple was expanded by Sardar Patel sometime after 1947 and Pran Pratishtha ceremony was conducted in May 1951. The temple is said to be located at the confluence of three holy Rivers, Kapila, Hiran and Saraswati and it was built based on the Chalukya style of architecture. The main spire is 15 metres in height and it has an 8.2 metre high flag post. It is believed there is no land between the flagpole and Antarctica. Devotees throng the temple everyday but during Shivratri there are lakhs of devotees from all over and the temple has some accommodation facility with the town taking care of the rest. Not far from Somnath you will find Shree Golokdham Tirth, where Lord Krishna is believed to have departed for Heaven. You will also find Prachi Tirth and Bhalka tirth where Lord Krishna was hit in the foot by an arrow released by a hunter.
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Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Shiva Temple
- Situated near Dwarka in Gujarat.
- Another of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Known for its religious significance and ancient architecture.
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 self appeared Jyotirlingas in India and as such an important Shiv pilgrimage destination. The temple is located in Jamnagar district of Gujarat, between Dwarka and Bet Dwarka on the coast of Saurashtra. It is an underground temple. On the outside there is a 25 metre high statue of Lord Shiva surrounded by a garden with a pond. One can reach Nageshwar from Dwarka or Jamnagar.
Mallikarjun Shiva Temple
- A revered temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Located in Chikhli, Navsari, South Gujarat.
- Attracts devotees for its spiritual ambience.
The temple here is small and dates back to only 500 years but there could well have been older, smaller temple on this spot. It is another temple with a Swayambhu Shivling or self appeared lingam. The Banjaras are believed to have built this temple.
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Surpaneshwar Shiva Temple, Bharuch
- A historic Shiva temple located in Bharuch, Gujarat.
- Known for its architectural beauty and religious importance.
Surpaneshwar Shiva temple is about 5 km from Bharuch, located on the banks of the Narmada River and surrounded by lush greenery. There is no direct approach road and one has to take a boat to get to the temple. It is a place of peace where one can worship the lord and meditate while some may enjoy it as a picnic spot. While here one can go on to visit the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
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Bavka Shiva Temple, Chandwada, Dahod
- A Shiva temple in Chandwada, Dahod, Gujarat.
- Popular among local worshippers and visitors.
Bavka Shiva temple in Chandwada village, about 14 km from Dahod in Panchmahal district of Gujarat is truly ancient with carved stone facades and pillars. The walls bear impressive carvings of celestial deities and some are erotic in nature. The spire and dome have collapsed but the walls are still upright.
Shiva Temple, Polo, Idar
- Located in Polo, Idar, Sabarkantha, Gujarat.
- A serene and spiritually significant Shiva temple.
Another equally ancient temple of Gujarat is located in Polo, about 70 kilometers from Idar city in Sabarkantha district. It resembles the ancient Shiva temples found in North India with attractive sandstone carved walls.
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Galteshwar Mahadev, Dakor, Kheda
- Situated in Dakor, Kheda, Gujarat.
- Devotees visit this temple to seek blessings from Lord Shiva.
Travel down south from Idar and you come to Kheda district. On the way to Dakor, another pilgrimage spot for Krishna devotees you will come across an unspoilt place known as Galteshwar. It is a popular picnic spot with a river and on the banks of the river Galti is an ancient Shiva Temple. IT is like the Bavka and Shiv temple in appearance with richly carved sandstone walls. It is said that Gallav Muni worshipped Shiva and a lingam appeared here. He prayed to Ganga to come and wash the lingam and she appeared in the form of river Galti, named after the sage Gallav. The river flows underground and the Linga is also underground, reached by descending a few steps.
Hatkeshwar Shiva Temple
- A Shiva temple located in Vadnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat.
- Part of the rich religious heritage of the region.
Like the Bavka and Galteshwar Shiva temple, the Hatkeshwar Shiv temple located in Vadnagar in Mehsana district in North Gujarat is built with richly carved sandstone dating back to the 17th century. The temple has a tall spire and three domes with the walls depicting scenes from mythologies.
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Utkanteshwar Mahadev
- Found in Kapadvanj, Kheda, Gujarat.
- A place of worship for those seeking Lord Shiva’s blessings.
Talk of picnic spots in Kheda and you will find that Utkanteshwar is well known. The picnic spot is marked by an ancient Shiv temple, Utkanteshwar Mahadev as it is known locally. It is located in Kapadvanj Taluka and it has a 2000 year old Shiv Lingam. It is said to have been the home of Sage Jabali. The Lingam is ball shaped. People flock here to bathe in the river Vatrak on whose banks the temple is located.
Rudra Mahalaya, Sidhpur
- Located in Sidhpur, Patan, Gujarat.
- An ancient site with historical and architectural significance.
Patan is known for the Rani ki Vav and Sidhpur is known for the Matru-Shradh/Tarpan in the Saraswati river. However, Sidhpur is also home to Rudra Mahalaya, a shiv temple now in ruines but with stunningly beautiful carvings. It is believed that King Mulraj started its construction in the 1-0th century and King Siddhraj of Sidhpur completed it in the 12th century. The temple had three storyed tower and about 16000 pillars with 12 entrances and a central assembly. It is surely worth a visit for its splendid architecture.
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Karnamukteshwar Mahadev Temple, Ahmedabad
- Situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
- A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, offering spiritual solace to devotees.
Ahmedabad has dozens of Shiva temples but the Karna Mukteshwar Mahadev temple has special significance. It dates back to the 11th century. According to history, King Karna Dev Solanki of Patan anointed his son Siddhraj Solanki as king of Ahmedabad and named the city Karnavati. It is believed he vanquished the local Bhil king Asapali and founded Karnavati. It is said that the King also was responsible for construction of Kankaria Lake, then known as Karnasagar Sarovar. He also built the Karna Mukteshwar Mahadev temple here located near the busy railway station area. The temple compound has carvings of Lakshmi and Tilak Kanya dating back 900 years. In olden times the place was a pilgrimage spot and was linked with Ahmedabad’s progress.
Tarnetar Temple, Than, Surendranagar
- Found in Than, Surendranagar, Gujarat.
- Known for its cultural and religious importance.
Tarnetar is known for its Tarnetar Mela, a unique fair during August-September where grooms throng to seek brides during a three day festival and the Tarnetar Mahadev temple about 9 km from Than in Surendranagar. The temple here dates back to the 10th century but it was damaged and rebuilt. Tarnetar in local language is derived from Triniteshwar or three eyed God Shiva. It is believed the temple was built by Pratihara Kings during the Solanki dynasty and the large complex also has a clear water pond where devotees bathe and wash away their sins.
Bhavnath Mahadev Temple, Girnar
- Located on Mount Girnar in Junagadh, Gujarat.
- Part of the sacred Girnar mountain pilgrimage, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Girnar is home to the Naga Sadhus, devotees of Lord Shiva and it is also home to Bhavnath Mahadev temple surrounded by greenery and said to have miraculous powers of fulfilling wishes of devotees. It is worth visiting during Shivratri when a fair is held here.
There are hundreds of Shiva temples dotting villages, towns and cities of Ahmedabad but these are a few you must visit should you tour Gujarat.
