The temple of Shree Hatkeshver Mahadev(Lord
Shiva) is situated in the village of Vadnagar in Gujarat. This temple is said to
be around 1800 years old. It is said that the Linga of Shree Hatkeshver Mahadev
goes till the bottom of the earth. Lord Hatkeshver is 'Ishta Dev' of the people
of 'Nagar-Brahmin'caste of Hindu religion. The temple is a national heritage
having artistic carvings in-side and out-side the temple
The Linga of Lord Hatkeshver is said to be
of pure gold. The "Linga" of Shri Hatkeshver is situated from the surface from
we see it, till the "PATAL"(the lowermost of the seven mythological subterranean
regions)
How this Shivling became Golden.??
When Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva to introduce her to Shree Ramchandra,as
Lord Shiva bowed down to Him. As an answer, Shivji said, "I bowed to all the
souls considering (believing) them as "Ram". But Goddess Parvati did not believe
to what Lord Shiva said. Then Lord Shiva showed Goddess Parvati, Lord Ram. But
during that Lord Ram showed thousand of the incarnations of Brahma,
Vishnu,Shivji and "Devis" Brahmani, Ravdani and Indrani and thus did not show
His real form to Goddess Parvati.
Thereafter Parvati changed her appearance as "Goddess Sita"(wife of Lord Ram)
and went to Ram test Lord Ram. But Lord Ram recognized that it was Goddess
Parvati and asked her, "Mother why have you come alone, where is Lord Shiva?".
By this act, Goddess Parvati felt very ashamed and came back to Lord Shiva. When
Lord Shiva asked, Goddess Parvati, lied and said that she bowed to Lord Ram. But
Lord Shiva by His third eye (Divine eye) came to know what took place and that
Lord Ram had identified that she as Parvati.
As Parvati did this mistake, and above that lied to Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva
abandoned her. In order to repent for her act, Goddess Parvati burnt her body by
the "Yoga" fire in the "Yagna" (ceremonial performance of a sacrifice) organized
by her father "Daksha". The burnt body was brought to Lord Shiva.
So Lord Vishnu thought that it is better to get rid of the burnt body as Lord
Shiv may destroy everything seeing the burnt body again and again and so Lord
Vishnu ordered the "Sudarshan Chakra" to cut the body of Parvati into pieces.
The body of Goddess Parvati which was hanging on the shoulders of Lord Shiva was
cut into 84 pieces. Wherever these 84 pieces of Parvati's body were fallen, they
became centers (seat of God or Faith), which were known as "Jagdamba Pith"
centers.
In this situation , Lord Shiva in fascination of Goddess Parvati experienced
separation and loneliness, started wandering here and there. While wandering, he
came to Chamatkar nagar which today is known as Vrudhnagar(Vadnagar) situated in
Nairutya of Abu (Arbndaraya)
At this place Lord Shiva came without any cloths on his body. And hence his body
fascinated the wives of "Hrishis" (Brahmins) and thus they started wandering
after Lord Shiva. The Brahmins became very angry with Lord Shiva and they
prepared a weapon, "Brahmashtra" of "Darbhshalak" and used it against Lord
Shiva. Hence Lord Shiva were transformed into "Shiv-linga" and fell on earth and
great flow of blood started flowing and the "Shiv-linga" entered the Patal. The
earth started trembling and the Gods became frightened and started praying Lord
Shiva (Stuti).
Then Lord Brahma requested prayer said to Lord Shiva to become a Golden "Shiv-linga"
and that He (Lord Brahma) shall worship it. Thereafter the "Shiv-linga" became
golden and was established in Patal and Lord Brahma started worshiping it.
This is how the Linga became "Golden"
In Skandhpurana's, Nagarkhand, there is a description of origination of Shree
Hatkeshver.
In ancient time, there was a King named Chamatkar in the region know as "Aanartdesh",
He was suffering from Leprosy due to a curse from a she-deer. With the advice of
sages, King Chamatkar, on the 14 month of hindu calendar took bath in the famous
"ShankhTirth" situates in Vadnagar, and his Leprosy was cured. Thereafter he
established the town named "Chamatkarpur"(now Vadnagar).
In this town a Brahmin of "Vatsa Gotra" named "Chitrasharma worshipped Lord
Shiva to bring the Linga of Shree Hatkeshver from "Patal" on earth's surface. He
pleased Lord Shiva by his worship and brought the linga of Shree Harkeshwar on
surface of earth from Patal and this Golden Shivking was founded in a big
Temple.
The beautiful craftsmanship and the stone carving describing the episodes of
mythological/ancient stories enchants everybody.
HATKESHWAR TEMPLE IN UDAIPUR
Dahoras living in Udaipr have costructed a temple of Hatkeswar
Mahadev in Udaipur. There used to be a Peepal Tree where Dashoras were praying.
This place has now evolved into a Hatkeshwar Temple.
Hatkeshwar Temple Moti Chohatta Udaipur, Rajasthan India.
