Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh… Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Nilkanth Nath, who is an aspect of Lord Shiva. The temple is just about 32 km far away from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, India, and the temple art and architecture are very good.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is considered to be a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus, and it is surrounded by dense forest. The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is the sacred location where Shiva once consumed the dreaded Hala Hala poison that originated from the sea(PARKADAL), when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the ocean in order to obtain Amrita, the divine nectar. This poison that originated during the Samudramanthan (churning of the ocean) made his throat into blue in colour. Thus, Shiva came to be known as Neelkanth, which means ‘The Blue Throated One’.
Neelkanth Mahadev is in the form of Shiva Lingam, who is the chief deity of the temple. Devotees usually take a holy bath before entering the temple.
Maha Shivaratri is the most prominent festival celebrated in the temple and many devotees eagerly visit the temple during the festival. The devotees used to make an offering of Bilva leaves, coconut, flowers, milk, honey, fruits and water to Lord Shiva, in order to perform holy bath(Abhishekham) to him.
We should always keep saying the best quote, “God, God, Good, Good, since god is a very good person and the real sweet nature of the god seems to be very much astonishing, astounding and admiring one! God is wonderful, excellent, marvellous, lovely, and we can keep on praise his qualities for all the 365 days in a year! In this picture, we can see that how the devotees of Shiva are being greatly honoured by the great Lord, Since Lord Shiva has affectionately called “KARAIKKAL AMMAIYAR”, as “AMMAIYE”, “Oh Holy Mother”, and this shows his great affection on his devotees. God contains very good qualities, he is highly efficient, affluent, intelligent and powerful person, and the real nature of the god is of very soft, polite and gentle! But due to our own problems, sometimes we used to consider him as a dreaded demon!
Lord Shiva is always good. Lord Shiva is a very wise person, he would never become sad, since he is always of joyful nature. God would never punish us, since he would always embrace us. One Shaivite Saint has even described Lord Shiva as a mad god in one of his songs, (PITHA, PIRAI SOODIYA PERUMANE), only out of his pure devotion on him!
“OM SRI NEELKANTAYA NAMASHIVAYA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR