Information of Jageshwar Temple, Almora, Uttarakhand

Jageshwar Temple is a group of 150 ancient Hindu temples located in the same compound in Jageshwar, Almora District of Uttrakhand State in North - India. This temple is one of the popular Dham of the Hindus were the 12 Joythir Linga's are found. Its main deity is Lord Shiva in the Linga form. This is a magnificent stone temple with having a splendid Hindu touches. It is divinely located in a beautiful pine forest area. It is in the Kumoen Region of the Jataganga River Valley, which is having an elevation of 1870 meters above the sea-level. This is an important pilgrim circuit for the Hinduism in the Himalayan Mountain Ranges of Uttrakhand District.

Jageshwar Temple Religious Significance

Jageshwar is a very rear temple place to see all 12 Joythir Linga's in one temple place. These are very sacred for the Hindus, since these are seen as the divine and the almighty Ling's found on earth. The Hindu believers come here for this specialty. Apart from Jageshwar temple, there is the Mahamrityunjay temple or the lord of immortal being. The Jhanker Sam Mahadev temple, built for the protector of lord Shiva, when he was meditating here. The Kot Ling Mahadev temples are the old place for meditation of Lord Shiva. The Pushti Devi is a goddess temple built here. There are major rituals happening in the four temples only by the temple priests. There are other hundreds of temples were personal rituals are allowed to performed by its devotees. Jageshwar is also known as the Yogeshwar locally, it is the main temple here and all important rituals and ceremonies are conducted here. The Shivites are its main yearly visitors to this temple. Apart from Shivities all sects of the Hinduism going to the Char Dham pilgrimage comes here to worship this ancient temple for its sacredness.

Festival at Jageshwar Temple

Jageshwar Monsoon Festival is a two months seasonal temple festivals celebrated with full devotion by its devotees. This festival starts from 15th July of every year and ends by 15 August of every year. This monsoon festival are also pulled by many devotees who take the Char Dham circuit pilgrimage. The Maha Shivarathri Mela is another important festival celebrated here yearly. This is mostly seen by the Shivaties devotees. The Shivarathri is the time when the temples priest conducts all important rituals of this temple and for its devotees throughout the day and night.

Jageshwar Temple Mythology & History

As per legends the Jageshwar is a sacred place were Lord Shiva's wife Sathi Devi's body parts were fallen down on earth. The mythology is evident in the Vedas and the Skanda Puranas, which are the ancient texts of the Hindus. Lord Shiva carried his dead wife on his trident, when she committed self immolation for the honor of his husband which was a great humiliation for her did by her father Prajapathi. His father dint invited Lord Shiva for the great ceremony conducted by him for the Devas. While seeing all of the Devas presence and her husband is not invited she go anger and stopped the ceremony by jumping in to the fire place kept for the ceremony. Hence she is considered to be divine women. Where her body parts feel is now the Jogeshwar temple is built.

Jageshwar Temple Architectural Significance

Jageshwar Temple is built in the Nagar Architectural style. The existence of this temple is known from the ancient times. But this temple was constructed over centuries of time. From the 8th Century onwards this temple took a new shape to be constructed as huge temples by the Adhi Shankara, a Hindu Saint of those days. In the medieval times the Kumoen rulers and few Nepali kings contributed to its constructional works and made it happen as per the wishes of Sir Adhi Shankaras dreams. The present 150 temples seen here are the efforts of those rulers of these regions. These are Nagara type temples in small and big forms. These are cutely built from 3 meters to 20 meters in height. A huge compound is filled with these unique small and big temples in scattered positions. The shapes of the temples are a single tiered tower structure made out of granite stones which is having its sanctum sanctorum in the center of its structure. The major 12 Joythir Linga is placed in each single temples. The entire structure is filled with beautiful motifs and stone arts of Hindu myths. The main temple is having a large sanctum sanctorum for the Shivalinga. It is a very good example of the Agama Shastra, either following of the Hindu temple rules followed in construction works.

Come and seek blessing from the almighty while the soothing nature refreshes your mind magically.