Sree Markandeshwar Mahadev Temple – Shahabad

Sree Markandeshwar Mahadev Temple is situated in Shahabad town in Kurukshetra district of Haryana State.

The name is associated with Maharishi Markandeya, a great devotee of Lord Shiva.

The Shahabad Markanda town lies on the banks of the river Markanda river, Haryana, a tributary of the Ghaggar, and a part of the ancient Vedic Saraswati River basin system. The river derives its name from Maharishi Markandeya as well and several ancient ashramas of Rishi Markandeya can be seen along the banks of the river.

 

The white arch with carvings lead to the temple built in white marble with a pyramid shikhara on the top. The walls of the temple depict a scene of Lord Shiva saving the child Markandeya from Yama, the Lord of death. The wooden carved walls with a wooden door opens to the inner sanctum which has a Shiv Lingam, idols of Lord Shiva and young Markandeya.

 

Markandeya was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Destined to die at the age of 16, he continued to pray to the Lord on the day he was supposed to die. The messengers of Yama, were unable to take away his life because of his worship of Shiva. Finally, Yama himself came to take Markandeya's life away and sprung his noose around the young boy's neck. The noose unfortunately landed around the Shivalingam and Shiva emerged from it, fought Yama and defeated him. Shiva then gave a boon that Markandeya would live forever. The Markandeshwar Mahadev temple is supposed to be the place where the young sage prayed to Shiva in order to win over his destiny.

 

Devotees visit this temple during Shravan Month.

 

Timings

 

4.00 am to 10.00 pm

 

How to reach the Temple

 

25 km from Kurukshetra

 

70 km from Chandigarh

 

Nearby Temples

 

Jyotisar Temple – 25 km

Thanesar, Shri Devikoop Bhadrakali Temple – 26 km

Thanesar, Brahma Sarovar – 28 km

Pehowa, Kartikeya Temple – 40 km