About the Temple
The ancient Sthanesvara Mahadev temple devoted to Lord Shiva is nestled in Thanesar town of Kurukshetra district of Haryana. The Pandavas along with Lord Krishna visited this temple, prayed to Lord Shiva and received his blessings for victory in the Mahabharata war. Shri Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Shikh guru stayed in the Sthaneshwar Tirtha. This was the reason that a Sikh Gurudwara was built adjacent to this temple. The temple houses a Shiva Linga which is ancient and still worshiped by locals. The temple has been renovated in recent times. Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple has a white Amla dome-shaped roof along with a tall pinnacle which follows a regional type of architecture. A huge pond or lake is seen in front of the temple. A unique feature of the Sthanshwar Mahadev is that the temple kitchen provides free lunch for the pilgrims. The temple provides free food for the hospital patients as well.
Temple History and Temple Legend
Shthaneshwar Mahadev Temple is more than 5000 years old. It holds an immense mythological, religious and historical importance. The ancestors of Kuru performed penance at this place on the banks of the Yamuna river. Parshuram, the great warrior, and sage killed many warriors here. Vaman Puran has a special mention of the importance of Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple. As per the legend, Lord Brahma himself established the first Shiva Linga at this temple. The temple of Sthaneshwar is the abode of Lord Shiva. In ancient times, Sthaneshwar town has served as the capital of Emperor Harshavardhana of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. It is also believed that Lord Shiva was first worshiped here in the form of a linga. There is a beautiful pond in the premises of the temple. Locals believe that its holy water has healing powers. A few drops of water can cure any ailments including leprosy. A huge blue beautiful idol of Lord Shiva resting on a stone slab stands in the center of the pond. It is said that no pilgrimage of Kurukshetra is believed to be complete without a visit to this holy temple.
Festivals and Celebrations
The festivals of Maha Shivratri, Makar Sankranti, Kartik Purnima, Dussehra, and Diwali are celebrated with great devotion at Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple.
How To Reach
By Air: Indira Gandhi International Airport and Chandigarh airports are the closest airports to the temple.
By Train: Kurukshetra railway station is the closest railhead that connects the adjacent areas and states.
By Road: Buses and taxis are available to access the temple. The place has well built and well-connected road network.