Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh
May 29, 2008
A temple with patient devotees…a temple with no touts, no one to force you to pay up for a special VIP doorway. A temple where you can take your time and pray without hearing the words “Move Ahead, Keep Moving.”
Does this sound unbelievable? Trust me, I was surprised too.
Nestled on a high mountain top with pristine waters of the holy Ganges below, devotees are invited to seek blessings from Neelkanth Mahadev in Rishikesh.
Neelkanth Mahadev is none other than Lord Shiva. This name befell on him because of a precarious feat he undertook because he could not see his devotees suffer. The Puranas state that during the churning of the ocean-Samudra Manthan, there came out a poison called-Halahal. The venom was exceptionally powerful that it could annihilate mankind. The gods were distressed and didn’t know how to destroy it. Lord Shiva stepped in and decided to drink it.
Mahima (Magnanimous Aura) of Lord Shiva is divine. He surely drank it but did not swallow the poison. He allowed it to remain in his throat. This venom turned his throat blue. Neel defines the color blue, Kanth is throat and Mahadev means Lord of the gods. Lord Shiva came to rest in Rishikesh. The gods tried hard to comfort him and ultimately decided to pour water on his head to cool him off. This is one of the reasons why even today, devotees offer water to Lord Shiva.
After several years of rest and meditation, Lord Shiva removed the poison from his throat and left it on a mountain. He returned to his abode, Mount Kailash in the Himalayas. Later a temple was build around this and now stands as symbol of Lord’s grace at a height of 1675 m.
A drive of 32 km. from Rishikesh via Barrage or an alternate route of 22 km. via Ram Jhoola can get you there with ease. The scenic beauty was breathtaking as on one side was the mountain terrain and the other side was a steep drop into the fast flowing Ganges.
The holy water of Ganga was much cleaner as compared to the water that flows through Haridwar and Varanasi. The current was tremendous and so river rafting was an extremely popular sport here. Tourists worldwide visit this city for this adventurous thrill.
The temple’s car park was lined with stalls selling offerings for the deity. It consisted of coconut, a sealed-plastic glass containing water from the Ganges, Bel leaves, assorted-fresh flowers, fruits like dhatura and jujube, box of incense sticks, small Chunnari (piece of red veil) and a laminated photograph of the Lord Shiva with the backdrop of the temple.
As I walked ahead, I was taken aback by the temple’s architecture. The entire Samudra Manthan was depicted with colorful idols of all the gods and goddess. One look at it and the entire Puranic story flashes in front of your eyes. The architecture is extremely well-maintained and the photographs don’t do enough justice to them. Photography is not allowed inside the temple so I was forced to take as much as I could from the outside.
I stood in line to enter the inner sanctum. A life-sized idol of goddess Parvati was seated near the entrance. Her striking grandeur forced everyone to bow and offer their obeisance. The arena around the lingam was made of marble. There were detailed etchings of guards or Dwarpals on the columns with intricate detailing that showed their weapons. Opposite the lingam was Lord Shiva’s mount Nandi, the bull.
Devotees kept chanting “Om Namah Shivay” and finally it was my turn. I sat in from of the lingam which was encased in silver. It had an opening at the top to see the original form. I poured the water from the Ganges while a priest seated, chanted the Vedic mantras and helped me complete my worship.
At the exit of the sanctum, there was a gigantic Pipal tree. Devotees had tied chunnaris to it. I guessed that it was for their wishes that needed to be fulfilled. But I really didn’t have anything to wish for. Getting a darshan like this was more than what I had dreamt of.
I feel that if you really want solitude with Lord Shiva, you will get it here in Rishikesh. Even the 12 Jyotirlings won’t give you the solace because of the packed crowds and touts.
Jyotirling at Mallikarjun in Sri Sailam, Andhra Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Trymbakeshwar in Nasik, Nageshwar near Dwarka and Somnath in Gujarat do not allow always devotees to touch the Lingam. Security concerns, crowd management and arrival of VIP dignitaries can dampen your spirits.
I hope my travel experiences give you a clear idea how to get personal one on one time with Lord Shiva.
©Nayna, 2007-2008. All Rights Reserved.
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16 Responses to “Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh”
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Blessed you are to have witnessed this wonderful temple and gotten Lord Shiva’s Darshan! Hara Hara Mahadev! Jai Ma! Thank you for the pics and one day by the grace of the most wonderful, merciful and compassionate father, I will be able to visit India and see this place. Because after everything else has arrived & departed, Bholenath Baba is there now and forever. Hold on to his merciful feet and never let go. Pray everyday with your heart and soul. Om Namaha Shivaya. You don’t have to say anything else………….
Sita Ram.
Excellent article about wonderful sit and a place of worship.There however a small error at the end . I have done poojasat Mahakaala Ujjain, Mallicaarjun Shrishailam , Nagesh near Dwarka and at all these places we did touch the lingam while doing the poojaas
Then you must be amongst the lucky ones to have got this opportunity. Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain do not allow everyone to take part in the first morning abhishek pooja- the bhasm puja. You have to make bookings in advance and males only. They have to wear prescribed dhotis to be a part of the abhishek. Rest of the day it is allowed. But the special mangala aarti time, all are not allowed. My article is based on my personal experiences. Lord Nageshwar also, you can hand over the pooja thali to the priest and the same goes for Somnath. The security is very strict in Somnath. Which year have you visited these places?
Thanks for your mail. I visited Mahakaal in April08 and Shrisaiam in Jan 97.
It is truely devine and out of the world exp.I was there Feb 2008. Thanks for article .
we want to see arti of neelkant mahadev live on net
Photography inside the temple premises is forbidden. If someone sneeks in and does it, that’s their choice. We won’t be doing so. So Samridhi your wish will take time to be fulfilled. Or the easy way is to get there and do the aarti yourself.
Hi,
the same of feelign i also got when i have been to rishikesh. nilkanth mahadev is powrfull and when u start frm the rishikesh, the path is not at all easy one.. the road and when u go up and frm there if u see the down portion, its looks realy gr8.
i have seen there and had darshan of baba.. and then i got the prasadam,. in the temple only i have seen one place, there if you want to perfrom any kind of havan, they will do it.. 24 hrs agni kund is burning there…
Hi Guddu,
Thanks for writing in and sharing your experience. It is truly a divine place and I feel very fortunate to experience Shivji’s mahima.
I really appreciate your hard work with which you wrote such a nice article on Shree Nilkanth Mahadev temple. My son had been to that place and after narrating about that temple that i got interested.Many many thanks for your informative article.
i want to perform a puja at nageshwar mahadev mandir ,Nashik.
how can i book for that puja with a genunine person?
please guide me for that
Dear Shashank,
There is no Nageshwar temple in Nasik. If you are talking about the jyotirling temple of Lord Nageshwar that is close to Dwarka. There is Trymbakeshwar in Nasik which is a Jyotirling as well. Most of these places have qualified Pandit/Guruji/Maharaj who help out.
They are affiliated with the temple authorities so they do perform all rituals as per Shastras.
Best Wishes.
Nayna,
Great, what an excellent delivery of expession you have given in ur article. Just mind blowing! You have so beautifully described the temple, that a person can imagine the entire scene through the words. Thanks for updating all of us on the divine temple, the true story behind, and the holy culture free from political pollution. May Bhole Shankar always bless u.
Om Namah Shivay. . .
Regards,
Sadhvi
New Delhi
Dear Sadhvi,
Thank you for your encouragement and kind words of praise. It is all His Kripa.
Jai Bholay
i love this temple.the beautiful view and scene everywhere.big mountains and big holy river look so beautiful.big peace here everywhere.thanks for your view and pictures for us.
om namah shivay…
regards,
Vivek Sharma.(ginni)
panipat.
thanks for motivating me… i am starting for the temple now… more when i return…
it would have been better if u had narrated the feeling experienced there… afterall the Lord saved mankind from the effects of the poison….