Information of Mahakal Temple, Darjeeling, West Bengal

The Mahakal Temple in Darjeeling, also known as the Observatory Hill is very popular and highly revered religious temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Rising abruptly from Chowrashta which is a very popular tourist spot, this temple is very sacred and visited by thousands of people every year. The place where this temple stands today was once believed to be the place where there was a Buddhist monastery, hence even today the main temple has deity of Hindus, the Shiva and the god of Buddhist, the Buddha placed side by side, where all the devotees worship them together, irrespective of their background or religion.

Mahakal Temple Religious Significance

The Mahakal temple holds religious significance both for the Hindus and the Buddhist living in Darjeeling. The temple is a unique amalgamation of the two most important religions of the region, Hinduism and Buddshism. Legend has it that the place where the temple stands today was once home to a Buddhist Monastry. Even though today the temple is known as the Mahakal temple which is a form of Lord Shiva, people of a faith and religion are welcome to visit the temple. The main temple complex has a Hindu priest and a Buddhist monk performing the religious rites together. Besides the main temple there are other smaller temples dedicated to gods like Kali, Durga, Ganesha, Hanuman etc. There is also a cave which is considered to be sacred and worshipped by the people. The Hindu temple bells rings amidst the fluttering Buddhist prayer flags giving a serene and divine atmosphere to the place.

Mahakal Temple Mythology & History

The Observatory Hill where the temple stands today is considered to be very place from where civilization in Darjeeling started. Initially this was the only pace inhabited by people before the population began to spread and took the form of present Darjeeling town. Myth also has it that the place was initially home to a Buddhist monastery and was under the rule of the Kingdom of Sikkim. It is also believed the town Darjeeling got its name from the word "Dorje-Ling" or the Land of the Thunderbolt, a name given to it by the monks of the monastery which was built in 1765 by Lama Dorje Rinzing. This monastery was later destroyed by the Gorkha invasion in 1815.

Mahakal Temple Architectural Significance

The present day temple complex is built in a simple architectural style, in a typical Hindu architecture. It is round in shape with the worshipping place at the centre where the Shiva ling is placed. Along with the Shiva Ling there are also idols of Buddha. Infront of the main temple lies the statue of Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. There is a main gate which is lined by the bells and the whole place is covered with Buddhist prayer flags. There are other smaller temples built in typical Hindu temple style and architecture. It looks like a normal Hindu temple, the significance of which is determined by its historical significance rather than its architectural significance.

Festivals at Mahakal Temple

Among all the important festival celebrate here, Shiva Ratri is the most important one, which sees huge number of devotees from across the Darjeeling religion. During this festival season, devotees starts coming right from 3 am and by the time sun wishes everyone good morning, people are seen in huge number lining up to offer prayer at Mahakal Baba temple. Apart from Shiva Ratri, many others pujas like Saraswati Puja, Ganesh Puja, Durga Mata Puja, Hanuman Puja, Buddha Jyanti and many others pujas are celebrated in a grand way.