Among many Hindu deities worshipped in India, Lord Shiva is known to be one of the popular ones with seamless temples dedicated to him in different parts of the country. These holy shrines are crowded with Shaivites on regular days and special occasions like Mahashivratri and Sawan. The one unique temple dedicated to Lord Shiva that we will discuss today is Bijli Mahadev Temple in Manali. If you have not visited this holy shrine before, you must see it on your next vacation. Let us bring some interesting facts about it in this blog.
Bijli Mahadev Temple: Mythological fact behind its name
When planning a travel guide for Manali, it lists some amazing places that make your journey worthwhile, including Hadimba Devi Temple, Manu Temple, and others. Bijli Mahadev Temple is a bizarre holy destination, attracting Shiva devotees from different locations. Distinctive from other Shiva temples, there is a fascinating mythological lore behind the name of this temple.
Once, there was a battle between Lord Shiva and a demon, Kulanta. The demon wanted to stop the flow of the Beas River and submerge the valley, posing a threat to all life forms. To stop him from doing so, Shiva killed him.
It is said that the temple’s mountain is built with the demon’s dead body. During the fight, Shiva tricked the devil with a lie of his tail getting caught with fire. On believing him, he looked back at his tail. Finding an opportunity, Shiva struck him with his trident, shattering the demon’s body into many parts.
Breaking of shivling by lightning
Every 12 years, the temple is hit by lightning, which breaks Shivlinga into pieces. The temple priest later joins these pieces with butter. According to belief, Shiva himself takes upon this so that no disaster is caused to human life and the valley.
Architecture
Besides the intriguing story behind the name, the temple is admired for its simple yet splendid traditional Pahari architecture. It features a sanctum sanctorum, a dome-shaped roof with golden shikhara, and a mandap.
Activities to experience
The temple can be reached via 3 km of trekking, which takes 2 to 3 hours. It is one of the top trekking trails in Manali. While making your way, you will see stunning landscapes, panoramic views, and even waterfalls. Another activity to experience here is camping, where you can enjoy lighting bonfires, traditional cooking, and sleeping under the starlit sky.
Best resort to stay in Manali
If you want to visit this incredible holy site of Lord Shiva, look no other option for your stay when Bookmark Resorts, Manali, is enough to make your stay memorable. It is one of the top honeymoon resorts in Manali that lets you experience integrated healing practices, savouring holistic cuisine prepared with the freshest ingredients, and a refreshing dip at its heated swimming pool.
Cedrus is one of the top restaurants in Manali. Its generous use of wooden flooring and soothing colour palette captivate guests’ attention. The artefacts here are also unique in grabbing attention when making your way here. The one fascinating element resting on the right side of the table is noteworthy. Watching the gushing flow of water from it looks so pleasing to the eyes.
Conclusion
So, this was our brief guide on Bijli Mahadev Temple in Manali. Today, in this blog, we have presented some interesting facts about this strange holy shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, including its mythological background and architectural features. If you find this information useful, you might be curious to explore this amazing temple. If so, be ready for an uphill trekking experience to reach this holy shrine.
Also read – https://www.bookmarkresorts.com/blogs/top-places-to-visit-for-shopping-in-manali-things-to-buy/
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