Information of Pimpleshwar Mahadev Temple, Saldi, Mehsana, Gujarat

Pimpleshwar Mahadev Temple is a historical temple dedicated to lord Shiv and situated in Saldi village in Mehsana district of Gujarat. This temple is popular for its adjacent customary scenery which is characterised by various tress of ancient era such as Bili tree, Vakhada tree and Pipal tree among others. Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple has not been refurbished for about 10 decades and hence, it demonstrates ancient style appearance. Such appearance is quite fascinating for devotees which give reminder of a former period.

Pimpleshwar Mahadev Temple Religious Significance

In the beautiful Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple, regular prayers and traditional Hindu rituals are conducted. Numerous devotees from nearby places walk to Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple habitually by carrying milk, water and lamps among others to offer to lord Shiv. Many of devotees also walk barefooted or with muddy handmade sandal in order to obtain blessing from lord Shiv. Devotees also circle around the sacred Pipal tree and continue meditation as well as chant mantra during the walk. Pipal tree is mainly eye-catching and imperative for Hindu people as the ancient tree is regarded as holy and represent joy, affluence, endurance and good fortune.

Every year Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple organise a popular festival named Saladi no Melo which signify Fun Fare. This festival occur in the month of Shraavan in Hindu calendar. In this sacred month, considerable number of devotees visit the temple by chanting mantra and playing traditional songs. Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple also organise Shivratri. Devotees celebrate this festival with fasting. Only after performing the puja by providing prayers, flowers, coconuts and variety of foods, devotees eat foods. It is believed that worshipping lord Shiv in Shivratri in such a way can bequeath a person with joy and wealth.

Pimpleshwar Mahadev Temple Mythology & History

Hindu mythology states that many years before, following the creation of Saldi village, one of the cows of a firmer was found to be repeatedly discharging her milk in one place under a Pipal tree. On that location, Jaladhari water source was discovered later. According to Hindu tradition, worshippers of lord Shiv give honour to the Shiv Linga by offering milk on it. Thus, cow's releasing her milk on this particular location without any kind of support made people of Saldi village to relate the phenomenon with the existence of lord Shiv. Since then, that particular location is regarded as Pimpleshwar Mahadev. Soon Pimpleshwar Mahadev become very sacred by the devotees and has become popular in the Gujarat state.

As the popularity of Pimpleshwar Mahadev increases, it has turned to a temple of lord Shiv. The first temple was established by Petha Patel on the particular location which dates back to the year 1143 according to Hindu calendar. In the succeeding years, Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple gained much reputation as a place of worship for Hindu people in Gujarat. The present temple of Pimpleshwar Mahadev was created by Sayajirao Gaekwad who was the ruler of Baroda state during the British period.

Pimpleshwar Mahadev Temple Architectural Significance

The entire temple of Pimpleshwar Mahadev is spread about 50 acres of land. Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple houses idols of various divinities apart from lord Shiv such as goddess Umiya, Lakshmi, Amba and Nag. It also has sculptures of lord Ganesha, god Hanuman and goddess Parvati which is curled with stone. Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple has a usual spring which is regarded as highly sacred. Extra facilities of Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple comprise exhibition gallery, assembly room and lodging rooms. One interesting feature of Pimpleshwar Mahadev temple is that it do not possesses usual Shiv Linga, rather the temple possesses a Jaladhari which is a constant stream of water from an aquifer below the earth.