Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple

Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple is a popular shrine of Lord Shiva and is known as Mukesaran Mandir – located near Pathankot on Shahpur Kandi Dam Road. It is the holy temple of the Hindu religion, where the idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Bramha, Lord Vishnu, Lord Hanuman, and Goddess Parvati are present. This temple is one of the most sacred places around Pathankot. Some caves date to the time of the Mahabharata. According to a legend, the Pandavas stayed in those caves for a night during their exile (Agayatwas). Locals say that these caves near the Mandir date back to the period of the Mahabharata. These caves are on the way to Shahpur Kandi and are situated on the bank of the river Ravi, 22 km from Pathankot City in Shaupur Kandi at Doongh village.

This temple and the caves hold a significant cultural, religious, and spiritual value in the lives of many locals living in and around this area. These caves date back to the time of Mahabharata and served as home to the Pandavas as they took respite and shelter during their exile. The Pandavas stayed here for six months during their Agyatvas and it was during that time when they built a Shiv temple and worshipped the Lord. The Havan Kund made by them is still present at the temple.

This place also holds significant importance in the immersion of ashes of their kin, which usually happens in Haridwar. Hence, this place is also known as the mini-Haridwar as people do the ash immersion here and flow it in the Ravi River at the Mukteshwar Temple.

History

History of this historical ancient temple says, it is a 55 hundred years old temple, whose existence is known from the time of Mahabharata. According to Hindu Mythology, Shakuni “the maternal uncle of Duryodhana”, devises a scheme to rob Yudhisthira (The Eldest from Pandavas) of his kingdom and wealth by defeating him in a game of dice, which Shakuni cannot lose due to his special dice. Unable to resist the challenge, Yudhisthira gambles away his entire kingdom, his wealth, his four brothers, and even his wife, in a series of gambits to retrieve one by staking another. So Pandavas lost their kingdom and get exiled (Vanvas) for 12 years and 1 year in Incognito (Agayatwas) – in which they have to live unrecognized.

During this 1 year Incognito, all five Pandavas with their wife Draupadi stayed in the form of sage, Brahmins, and Hermits and visited unrecognized at different places. During the time incognito, they reached the coast of the Ravi River in a state of five rivers (Punjab). Here they built four caves and one lord shiva temple at the hilltop.

They stayed here in this temple for six months. They crafted the Shivlingam present in the temple and worshipped the lord shiva there. The Havan Kund made by them is still present there in the temple. The Shivling at the Mukteshwar Mahadev temple is surrounded by the idols of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Paravati, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Ganesha.

Architecture

These caves are on the way to Shahpur Kandi and are situated on the bank of the River Ravi, 22 km from Pathankot City in Shahpur Kandi at Doong village.

The caves and temples have been carved on one of the rocky hills. This temple stands tall at the hill top and is a landmark around the city. Situated at the hilltop, Mukteshwar Mahadev temple has a white marble Shivling, with a copper Yoni. The Shivling is surrounded by the idols of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Paravati, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Ganesha.