Madhyamaheshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in the Mansoona village in the Garhwal Himachalaya Mountain in Uttarakhand, India. Madhyamaheshwar Temple is the fourth temple in the Panch Kedar route temples. This temple is located 11,473 feet (3,497 metres) above sea level. Lord Shiva is worshipped in this temple in the holy form represented by the navel or stomach of the bull or Nandi. The temple was built by Pandavas in Dwapar Yug.

Story Behind Madhyamaheshwar Temple

The Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, are the subject of folklore. In the epic Kurukshetra War, the Pandavas defeated and killed their cousins, the Kauravas. They wished to feel guilty for the acts of bloodshed (gotra hatya) and brahmana hatya (the slaughter of Brahmins, the priest class) during the conflict. As a result, they gave their kin control of their kingdom and left in search of Shiva and his blessings.

They first went to Varanasi (Kashi), which is considered to be Shiva’s favourite city and is famous for its Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Shiva, however, ignored the Pandavas’ prayers because he was deeply enraged by the deaths and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra war. He transformed himself into a bull (Nandi) and disappeared in the Garhwal region.

The Pandavas went to the Garhwal Himalayas after failing to find Shiva in Varanasi. Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, began his search for Shiva while standing atop the mountains. He noticed a bull grazing near Guptakashi, also known as “hidden Kashi,” after Shiva’s act of concealment. As soon as he saw the god, Bhima grabbed the bull’s back legs and tail.

The bull-shaped Shiva, on the other hand, vanished into the ground only to reappear in fragments, with the hump rising at Kedarnath, the arms rising at Tungnath, the face appearing at Rudranath, the nabhi (navel) and stomach appearing at Madhyamaheshwar, and the hair appearing at Kalpeshwar.

Reference – Wikipedia

History of Madhyamaheshwar Temple

It has a long history and is associated with the Pandavas, who won the Kurukshetra war by murdering their brothers. However, after the conflict, the Pandavas admitted to being at fault for the killings and searched for Lord Shiva’s favour in exchange for their freedom. Because Lord Shiva was so irritated by the Kaurvas’ deficit, he avoided meeting with them.

In The Madhyamaheshwar Temple, The middle (Madhya) or belly part or navel (Nabhi) of Shiva is worshipped. The temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas, the central figures of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Architecture of Madhyamaheshwar Temple

The Madhyamaheshwar Temple is Located in a lush meadow just below a high ridge, the temple architecture is just like the North Indian Himalayan-style temple. On the ridge, the older, so-called “Vriddh-Madmaheshwar” temple is a small, blackened shrine with a direct view of the Chaukhamba Mountain peaks. In the sanctum of the current temple, a black stone Shiva-lingam in the shape of a navel is enshrined.

There are also two smaller shrines for Parvati, Shiva’s consort, and Ardhanarishwara, an image of half Shiva and half Parvati. Bhima, the second Pandava sibling is accepted to have fabricated this sanctuary and adored Shiva here. A smaller temple to the right of the main one houses a marble statue of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, in its sanctum.

Facts about Madhyamaheshwar Temple

• The middle torso of the Lord is said to have appeared in Madhyamaheshwar (‘madhya’ in Hindi means middle)
• Visitors and pilgrims must journey over 24 kilometres to reach the Madhyamaheshwar temple.
• The water from the temple premises is so precious that even a few drops are said to be enough for purification.
• Worship at this temple begins at a set hour in the early summer and continues until the early winter when the temple premises are inaccessible due to hazardous snow conditions in October and November.
• Two other small shrines are also installed in the temple, one of which is dedicated to Parvati and the other one to Ardhanarishvara, half Shiva and half Parvati idol.
• You have to face a difficult walk during the journey, however, it is well worth the effort because visitors are rewarded with unbroken views of the surrounding verdant plains and mountains.
• This pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand is also the base for some high-altitude treks like Kanchani Tal that only the adventurist at heart can attempt.
• In the present temple, a navel-shaped Shiva-Lingam, made of black stone, is situated in the holy place.
• In the month of January-February, the entire area is covered with snow.

Famous Festivals In Madhyamaheshwar Temple

• Shivratri: The day before the Amavasya (new moon) of each lunar month is called Shivarathri.  Mahashivaratri is the most prominent festival celebrated here.
• Dussehra: This significant Hindu festival commemorates the triumph of good over evil. On Dussehra, Lord Ram brought about peace and prosperity by slaying Ravana. Devotees burn an effigy of Ravana as part of the ritual.
• Basant Panchami: Another festival celebrated with pomp is Basant Panchami, which is a cultural festival of Chopta.

Best Time To Visit

In summer from May to June. During the monsoons, the hilly terrains turn perilous and there are frequent landslides. It is best to avoid the monsoons

How to Reach Madhyamaheshwar Temple

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun is the nearest airport, at a distance of about 260 km.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Haridwar, which is about 202 km away from the temple.

By Road: Several buses and taxi services are available from Delhi to Haridwar and Dehradun, from where one can change the bus or take a cab to Ukhimath, one has to then go to Unaina from where the trek to Madhyamaheshwar begins.