Bijli Mahadev Temple, Kullu
Bijli Mahadev Temple, Kullu
Situated at an altitude of 2,460 m on a hill in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, across the Beas River, Bijli Mahadev Temple is one of the oldest and holiest temples in India. Bijli Mahadev can be reached via a 3 km long pine-clad path. Religious and adventurous people usually prefer to trek from Kullu, enjoying the pleasant weather. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is very popular for trekking. It is said that the Bijli Mahadev temple houses a Shiva Linga that was broken into pieces by lightning, which were reassembled and bound by a temple priest with butter. It is said that this process is repeated every year.
The surroundings and landscapes experienced during the trek are breathtakingly beautiful and refreshing rather than tiring. The Bijli Mahadev temple offers a mesmerising view of the surrounding valleys of Kullu, Parbati, Garsa and Bhuntar that leaves everyone spellbound. The reason why the Bijli Mahadev Temple became so famous in India is the sacred Shiva Linga located inside the temple. According to sources, thunder and lightning strike the Shiva Linga, causing it to break into small pieces. The locals and priests coat the broken pieces with cereal and legume flour (sattu) and unsalted butter to restore the linga to its original shape.
There are various sources explaining why lightning strikes the Shiva Linga. Locals believe that the lightning strike is pure divine grace and that the deity wants to protect the inhabitants from all forms of evil. Others believe that the lightning itself is a form of a deity that has supernatural powers. The origin and actual history of the Bijli Mahadev temple is still unknown, but due to the above beliefs, it is considered one of the most revered temples in India.
To reach Bijli Mahadev, one has to take a route to Kullu and travel to the temple from there. People living in Kullu usually trek to the temple via Chansari village, which is about 24 km from Kullu. After reaching the village, one has to climb the stairs at the entrance of the village, which is about 3 km from the temple and involves about 1000 steps. It takes 45 minutes to 1 hour to get there. Since the stairs lead people directly to the temple, this is an easy walk. However, it is equally strenuous as many steps have to be climbed to reach the main temple complex.
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