Information of Bagnath Temple, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand

Bagnath Temple is an ancient Shiva temple located in the Bageshwar City of Uttrakhand District in India. This temple is 564 years old and still standing great at the height of 1004 meters above the mean sea level on the lower hills of the Himalayan Mountain Ranges. It is a very good scenic place to see and is also a great tourist spot. This temple is uniquely surrounded with pasture lands, hill valleys, rivers and forest. Once you visit here you can feel these were the heavenly abode for Hindu Gods.

Bagnath Temple Religious Significance

Bagnath Temple is well known as the sangamam of the Sarayu and the Gomati Rivers. The confluence of rivers is considered to be a holy place in Hinduism. Since water is the elixir of life and this Shiva temple is also built near this river confluence. All devotees take a dip in this river and drink this holy river water before entering to this temple. Many pilgrims come here on the Shravana Masa (July-August) to worship God Shiva. This is mostly seen with the Shivaites or the main followers of Lord Shiva in the Hindu Sects. This temple is visited by all devotes who come to Haridwar pilgrimage. Without Bagnath temple visit their pilgrimage is incomplete is what the puranas says about the Hindu beliefs of the Himalayas.

Bagnath Temple Festival Significance

The Shivarathri and the MaKara Sankranthi are the two major festivals celebrated here. This is also known as the Mela (Fair) where thousands of devotees gather here on these auspicious occasions. The Shivarathi is greatly celebrated with many rituals throughout the day and night of this occasion. The Makara Sankranthi is a weeklong festival celebrated grandly with many cultural events.

Bagnath Temple Mythology & History

There are many ancient scripts found in these temple complexes. It is believed that this place was previously a worship place for the Lord Shiva by the Kumauni tribal's and the Kumaon King later erected this temple is big structure in the year 15th century AD. As per the ancient scripts this place was prominent home for the Yogic sages, they used to meditate for long years by praying its Yogic Guru Lord Shiva. These sages were the initial founder of this temple in the ancient days. As per mythological believes Lord Shiva used to meditate in the Himalayas and his tridents are prominent to see in these mountain ranges. That why there are many Shiva Temples built in the upper Himalayan regions.

Bagnath Temple Architectural Significance

This temple was built by Kumauni King named Lakshmi Chand in the year 1450 AD. It was built in the East-Indian style of temples well known as the Kalinga Architecture. This is a square shaped temple with a beautiful obelisk tiered tower on it. The main beauty of this tower is it has a small mandap (Porch) on the top of it. This temple is totally fenced and there are few other minor temples built within these temple complexes. On the entrance of this temple one can find the Nandhi (Bull) statue, but here two Nandhi are carved on two different single granite stones. These Nandhi's are facing towards the Lord Shiva, who is placed inside the sanctum sanctorum which is directly down of the main tower. There are also two small beautiful idols of Sri Viniyaka placed near the main doors. There is beautiful brass bells hanged in front of this temple. These are hanging from two six feet pillars and these bells are mostly contributed by its devotees. This temple is built out of granite stones and the main deity of Lord Shiva is also carved in the granite stones.