Binsar Devta

2021-06-23T14:37:40Z

2402:8100:3092:3CDF:817:1DA2:24CF:8EC0:

{{More citations needed|date=January 2020}}{{Infobox Mandir
| name = Bindeshwar Mahadey
| images = P 20160519 175047.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Binsar temple before demolition, with Deodar forest in the background
| map_type = India Uttarakhand
| map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand
| coordinates = {{coord|30.0165|79.1621|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Uttarakhand]]
| district = [[Pauri Garhwal district]]
| location = Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand
| elevation_m = 2500
| architecture =[[Hindu architecture|Hindu]]
}}
'''Bindeshwar Mahadev Temple''', also known as Binsar Devta or simply Binsar, is an ancient Hindu rock temple dedicated to [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]], worshipped as ''Bindeshwar'', a popular deity in this region''.'' At an altitude of 2480 meters above mean sea level, it is situated in Bisaona village, which falls in the Chauthan region of [[Thalisain]] Block in the [[Pauri Garhwal district|Pauri Garhwal District]] of the Indian state of [[Uttarakhand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/astro/photo/know-history-and-interesting-point-of-binsar-mahadev-mandir-in-uttarakhand-63502/|title=Page 2 : अनोखा है उत्तराखंड का यह शिव मंदिर, पांडवों से हैं संबंध|last=नवभारतटाइम्स.कॉम|date=2019-07-20|website=नवभारत टाइम्स|language=hi-IN|access-date=2020-01-04}}</ref> This temple is set amidst dense forests of birch, deodar and rhododendron.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://almora.nic.in/tourist-place/binsar-mahadev-temple-ranikhet/|title=Binsar Mahadev Temple, Ranikhet {{!}} District Almora, Government of Uttarakhand {{!}} India|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-04}}</ref> The original temple structure held great archaeological significance, but it was demolished by politicians in order to create a new structure. The central chamber of the temple features the idols of [[Ganesha]], Shiva-Parvati and [[Mahishasuramardini]]. A fair is organized there on [[Vaikuntha Chaturdashi]] every year.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Deodar forest at Bindeshwar Mahadev.jpg|Deodar forest at Bindeshwar Mahadev
File:Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple with carved monolithic pillars.jpg|Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple with carved monolithic pillars
File:Binsar Mahadev after demolition.jpg|The temple after demolition in October 2017
</gallery>

==History==
The temple is believed{{By whom|date=January 2020}} to have been constructed by Maharaja Prithu in memory of his father, Bindu in the 9th/10th century. It is built in the Katyuri style. It was a contemporary of the [[Jageshwar]] and [[Adi Badri, Haryana|Adi Badri]] group of temples, but no documented history of it exists. Many rock-cut idols, shrines, and [[Lingam|''Shiva Lingams'']] can be found within the valley where the temple is located. While many historians and researchers visited the location, no one produced accurate historical data related to the temple.
<gallery mode="packed">
File: An unknown diety's idol - considered as the main diety at Bindeshwar temple.jpg|An unknown deity's idol - considered as the main deity at Bindeshwar temple
File:P 20160520 094639.jpg|Ancient rock temple in Binsar
File: Ancient rock idols in Binsar.jpg|Ancient rock-cut idols in Binsar
File:P 20160520 075515.jpg|Temple complex
</gallery>

== Folklore ==
The lack of any recorded history led to the emergence of legends and folklore. According to one belief, the temple was built by the [[Pandavas]] in one night while in exile. Another legend says that the temple was built by a king named Bindu. Alternatively, the temple may have been built by lord [[Vishvakarman|Vishwakarma]]. A strange symbol inscribed outside the temple is said to be in his handwriting. The temple was shrouded in mystery. In the olden days, its central room housed a circular, narrow and deep reservoir of cold water, resembling a well. This formed the main shrine. Many idols were kept around it. A snake was said to dwell inside the reservoir. In recent times, the well was covered with flat stones. Later, water seeped out of the rocks, suggesting the existence of a reservoir underneath.

==Geography==
The temple is tucked in a small valley in the vast [[Dudhatoli|Dudhatoli region]]. The altitude of the temple complex ranges from 2,480 meters (8,136 ft) to 2,500 meters (8,202 ft.). The complex is sited in a meadow. The forest around the temple is one of the densest temperate forests in [[Uttarakhand]], with [[Cedrus deodara|deodar cedar]] (''Cedrus deodara'') as the dominant tree species, which, further east, becomes the only tree species. The valley is dotted with multiple cool water springs, some of which channelled into rock formations (known as ''Mangārā'' in the [[Garhwali language]]), while others flow naturally (known as [[Stream|''dhārā'']]). The surrounding ridges have an average elevation of 2,700 meters (8,860 ft.) with dense, mixed, broadleaf forests, comprising kharsu, oaks, [[Hornbeam|hornbeams]], [[Maple|maples]], [[Rhododendron|rhododendrons]], [[Hazel|hazels]], ''Corylus jacquemontii'', and dozens of other tree species.

==Climate==
The region experiences temperate climate during the summer season with pleasant days and cool nights. [[Monsoon]] brings rain and covers the surrounding forests in the mist. The rainy season brings biodiversity, enriching it with verdant greenery along with ferns, mosses, lichens, mushrooms, birds and insects. The rock temples turn green after they are covered in moss and lichens. Winter brings snow, while and daytime temperature fluctuates. The days are warm, shiny, and pleasant with temperatures around 15°, whereas the nights are cold. Sun rises late and sets early during this period, making the weather even colder during the dark hours. Frost is common during this season and snowfall ranges from 1 feet (30 cm) to as high as 4 feet (120 cm), and more.

<gallery mode="packed">
File: Chauthan valley as seen from Bindeshwar temple.jpg|Chauthan valley as seen from Bindeshwar temple
File:Approaching pre-historic Dwarpal caves.jpg|Approaching pre-historic Dwarpal caves
File:Deodar Forest seen while approaching Binsar Valley.jpg|Deodar Forest saw while approaching Binsar Valley
</gallery>

==Image gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Binsar Mahadev temple.jpg|The temple after demolition in October 2017
File:Brahmadhungi.jpg|Brahmadhungi
File:Shrine enroute Binsar.jpg|A small shrine made with rocks seen on Peethsain-Binsar route
File:A fresh water spring in Binsar.jpg|A freshwater spring in Binsar
File:View of Chaukhamba from the ridge.jpg|View of Chaukhamba from the ridge
File:The winter-line as seen from Binsar.jpg|The winter-line as seen from Binsar
File:More caves near Dwarpal.jpg|More caves near Drupal
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in India]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Binsar Devta