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Maharashtra Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir Matheran
The Hindus have three main powers which they worship as their Trimurthis and the most important of these Trimurthis is lord Shiva or Mahadev – which means he is the biggest of all Devs. The most common form of Shiva that is found is most temples is the Linga and there are a few places where there is the presence of the Swayambu Linga – which means the Linga was not built by anybody, it just appeared on its own. The Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir is one such Swayambu Linga and so this becomes a very pious place.
History
The shivling in the Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir dates back to a very long time that nobody is able to tell how old it is. The temple itself is in a dense forested area and the location of the temple is as eerie as it is old. The lingam of Shiva here is considered to the family deity of the folks in the village and they come here to offer prayers at times of all ceremonies and functions. The folks of the village consider these prayers as very important and come here to pray at the start of any endeavors or some special occasions in their family.
Architecture
The temple has a simple house like structure constructed in brown stone and the simplicity is so much alike the Mahadev himself, Lord Mahadev is one God who likes simplicity and doesn’t prefer too much of noise and décor both on his persona and in his place of worship. In accordance with that, the temple is a very simple building and it resembles a home for all that its worth. It has a two layer roof structure with the upper roof layer proving to be the tower of the temple. Simplicity is etched all over this temple.
How to Reach
By air
Bombay is about a hundred kilometer away and this is the nearest airport to Matheran. From the airport there are a lot of buses and taxis that can take you to Matheran
By Rail
The nearest station to the temple is Neral and from there you can take taxis up to a certain point in Matheran. After that you only have to ride on horseback or walk up the mountains to get to the temple.
Local Transport
There is a toy train that takes you to the hill station, then there are hand rickshaws that will take passengers up the hill. However, the best thing to do would be to trek up Matheran and then visit the temple.
Important Shrines
The Linga of Lord Shiva is the most important shrine of the Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir. The villagers here still follow a not so modernized culture and they believe that this Shiv Ling is what protects them from all of the trouble and guards them through the day and the night. There is a strong belief about the bad forces that haunt these woods and so, the importance of the shrine becomes multifold as the people come here to pray for their safety from these as well.
Significance of the Temple
The shape of the Shiv Ling here is very different from what is found in other places. This unlike the more common inverted “U” shape has a “L” shape to it and this is quite unlike any of the shiv ling available. While this is considered a rarity, the other thing about the lingam is that it is smeared in sindoor as against ash that is used to decorate the Shiv Ling.
Attractions
Matheran which is afamous hill station is a spot where most of the folks in Mumbai want to spend a quiet weekend. So, this Pisharnath temple is a must visit spot for tourists who come to Matheran.
Timings and other Important Information
Since this temple is in the forest areas, it is very important that you visit this temple before sunset. There are no visitors to this temple after such time as it is unsafe. The monthly days of Shivratri and the annual Shivratri festival are celebrated with great passion here.
Weather and Time to Visit
Since August can be very rainy and slippery it is better to visit during the non-rainy seasons. Other than this month all through the year is good time to visit Matheran.
Accommodation
There are some hotels available in the Matheran market area and if you miss that there are a few resorts and cottages up the hills.
Tips for Devotees
Avoid getting to this temple after it is dark – especially if you have kids and are new to the area, then it is best to visit in the morning times.
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