Koteshwar Mahadev Temple



Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

Information of Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand


Koteshwar Mahadev Cave Temple is a naturally formed cave since the ancient times. This is one of the places of Lord Shiva who meditated here in the Vedic times. This cave temple is beautifully situated in the Georges of the Alaknanda River at an altitude of 2,904 meters above the sea level. It is an amazing place to visit and see the holiness of these natural cave temples in the Himalayas. This is an important pilgrim place in the Himalayan temple circuit taken by the Hindus. Many people have including the foreigners come here to meditate here nearby this caves and scared river. The caves and the flow of river water sounds like bliss can be experienced here. It is a special place for having some natural powers that can be felt from here only. It is sacredly located in Bela Gaon, Koteshwar, Rudraprayag District of Uttrakhand State in India.

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple Religious Significance

Koteshwar Mahadev Cave Temple is the abode of lord Shiva in the Shivalinga form. It is in the one of the main cave among many other caves found on the Aalaknanda Georges. This is also a Hindu pilgrimage center since the ancient times. The most important feature of this cave temple is a few drops of spring waters falls from the ceilings of this cave directly on the Shivalinga. It is believed that any childless couples come here and pray for a child are blessed with children's in a few months. The lingam worship is also considered as the symbol of fertility and it is very important to women's. Pilgrims who come here experience divine powers in these cave temple areas.

Festival at Koteshwar Mahadev Temple

The Shivarathir is the main important festival celebrated at Koteshwar Mahadev Cave Temple. This is witnessed by thousands of devotees from its surroundings villages as well as by pilgrims under taking the char dham temple visit. Here we can do offering and prayers by our self.

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple Mythology & History

Koteshwar Mahadev Cave Temple has many legends for its origin. It is said that the Lord Shiva was on his way to Kedarnath, and he meditated here for a while. Hence this place is considered to be a holy place by the Hindus. As per mythology, the pandava's came here to get blessed by Lord Shiva and forgive the sins they caused in the Kurukshetra battle. But Lord Shiva was unwilling to forgive there since and went away from here. At the time a demon named Bhramasura was nearby and requested him to grant salvation for them. But Lord Shiva instead said him that whoever comes here with a wish will be blessed by him and their wishes will be fulfilled.

Koteshwar Mahadev Temple Architectural Significance

Koteshwar Mahadev Cave Temple is a naturally formed cave. There is no special creator for this temple. But in the medieval times there were many rock cut steps and pathways made here to access this cave temple by the Gharwal rulers. These are really looking very beautiful with granite carvings along with river Georges. This beauty can be felt by visiting here only. Rest of the caves is naturally formed since the ancient times. The main idol is considered to be the self manifested one. It is a thick black stone in the Linga form. The peculiarity of this cave is a spring flows down from the upper parts of this cave and it falls over the Shivalinga making it more divine. This water dropping from the caves is a nonstop occurrence. In the monsoon season the caves are covered with waterfalls and look really amazing to see. Such naturally formed cave along with a natural George is very rear to see with a perennial river flowing along these caves.