Koteshwor Mahadevsthan ( ne, कोटेश्वर महादेवस्थान) is one of the holy place of

Kathmandu District Kathmandu District ( ne, काठमाडौं जिल्ला; Nepal Bhasa: ये: जिल्ला) is a district located in Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Province of Nepal. It is one of the 77 districts of Nepal, covers an area of , ...

in the

Bagmati Zone Bagmati Zone ( ne, बागमती अञ्चल ''Bāgmatī Añcal'') was one of the fourteen zones of Nepal until the restoration of zones to Provinces. Its headquarters are Kathmandu. It was named after the Bagmati River. It was in the ...

. It is lies in Koteshwor, Kathmandu, Ward No. 32(previous 35) of

Kathmandu Metropolitan City , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Provi ...

. This place is popularly known as Koteshwor Mahadevsthan and the

Shiva lingam A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotional i ...

here is believed to have appeared divinely. But there are no written scriptures about the exact date of its appearance. This temple also has another name – Kotinath. According to a popular legend, the

Shiva Lingam A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotional i ...

here is believed to be one of the 64 sacred

The exact date when this temple was constructed remains unknown, the temple premises have stone inscription will help to find out the history of Koteshwor Mahadev but there were no any research have conducted. But myths point out that this place started being worshiped from the fifth century BC, though the concrete structures and pillars, as they now stand, were built much later. Near the Koteshwor Temple is a place known as Shankhamul. It is believed that Lord

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

, while wandering in his boundless grief carrying

Sati Sati or SATI may refer to: Entertainment * ''Sati'' (film), a 1989 Bengali film by Aparna Sen and starring Shabana Azmi * ''Sati'' (novel), a 1990 novel by Christopher Pike *Sati (singer) (born 1976), Lithuanian singer *Sati, a character in ''Th ...

's body on his back, had rested his one-foot down on this place. And from the very land where Mahadev had tapped his foot sprang an incessant stream of water. It is said that in the

Treta Yuga ''Treta Yuga'', in Hinduism, is the second and second best of the four '' yugas'' (world ages) in a '' Yuga Cycle'', preceded by '' Krita (Satya) Yuga'' and followed by '' Dvapara Yuga''. ''Treta Yuga'' lasts for 1,296,000 years (3,600 divine ye ...

, Bhimsen – the brother of

Ravan Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He ab ...

, the powerful king of Lanka – used to fetch water from Shankhamul, and carry it up to the Koteshwor Temple to offer it to Lord

. Inside the temple periphery, there is also another

, popular by the name of Khileshwar Mahadev.

Temple complex

In addition to the Mahadev Temple, there are many other deities inside the temple periphery. One important deity is Chhinna Masta Bhagwati who is supposed to be an incarnation of

Changu Narayan Changu Narayan is an ancient Hindu temple, located on a high hilltop that is also known as Changu or Dolagiri in Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur District, Nepal. This hill is about 7 miles (or 12km) east of Kathmandu and a few miles ...

in Bhaktapur. Legends have it that she had been transported from Bhaktapur and resettled in Koteshwor via elaborated Vedic tantras and mantras. Next, there is a temple of

Saptarishi The Saptarishi () are the seven rishis of ancient India who are extolled in the Vedas, and other Hindu literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do s ...

, one of those very few in Kathmandu. As a result, hundreds of devotees gather around the temple on Rishi Panchami day every year. Each of these temples and deities has their own story behind their origin and significance.

Gallery

File:Sati Temple.jpg, Koteshwor Mahadevsthan Temple is the spot where Sati left hand had supposedly fallen here File:Garud Narayan.jpg, Garud Narayan Temple File:Gopaleshwor.jpg, Gaganeshwor Temple File:Gopaleshwor Stone Inscription.jpg, Gaganeshowr Stone inscription File:Shiva Parbati status.jpg, Statue of Shiva Parbati File:Koteshwor in Tihar.jpg, View from Koteshwor Mahadesthan on Tihar festival

References

{{reflist Populated places in Kathmandu District

Temple complex

Gallery

See also

References