Udaipur, August 21: The ancient and renowned Bagnath Temple, located at the confluence of the Saryu and Gomti rivers in Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand, has emerged as a significant center of faith during the holy month of Sawan. The temple’s unique architecture and serene spiritual ambiance attract numerous devotees.
On Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared insights about the temple on the social media platform X, urging tourists to visit. In a video post, he stated, “The Shri Bagnath Temple, situated near the sacred confluence of the Saryu and Gomti rivers in Bageshwar, is an ancient and divine abode dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. The holy month of Sawan holds special significance for visiting and worshipping here. Make sure to visit this sacred temple during your arrival in Bageshwar.”
It is believed that at this holy site, Lord Shiva took the form of a ‘Bagh’ (tiger) to bless Sage Vashistha, which is how the temple got its name ‘Bagnath.’ Here, Lord Shiva is said to have manifested as ‘Vyaghreshwar’ (in the form of a tiger).
The temple was constructed around 1450 AD by the Kumaoni king Lakshmi Chand, although there is a Sanskrit inscription indicating an earlier date. The temple attracts a large number of devotees during the annual occasion of Shivratri. The site comprises a group of temples, with significant ones including the Bhairav Temple, Dattatreya Maharaj, Ganga Mai Temple, Hanuman Temple, Durga Temple, Kalika Temple, Thingal Bhairav Temple, Panchnam Junakhara, and Vaneshwar Temple.
This temple is one of the few south-facing Shiva temples in Uttarakhand, with its religious significance believed to date back to the 7th century. The current stone temple was built or renovated in the Nagara style by King Lakshmi Chand of the Chand dynasty between 1450 and 1602 AD. The temple complex houses several rare sculptures and historical inscriptions from the 8th to 10th centuries.
It is also believed that Lord Shiva and Parvati reside here in their self-manifested forms.
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