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{{See also-text|[[Choraut Mandir, Sursand]]|[[Shukeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir]]}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple|name=Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir|native_name=वाल्मिकेश्वर नाथ महादेव मंदिर|native_name_lang=mai|deity=[[Lord Shiva]]|tradition=Hinduism|location=[[Sursand]] town, [[Mithila region]]|district=[[Sitamarhi district]]|state=[[Bihar]]|country=India|architecture=[[Hinduism]]|founded_by=Maharshi [[Valmiki]]|established=[[Treta Yuga]]|footnotes=Shivalinga established by Maharshi [[Valmiki]]|coordinates={{Coord|26.6544655|N|85.7303092|E|}}}}
'''Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir''' ([[Maithili language|Maithili]]: वाल्मिकेश्वर नाथ महादेव मंदिर) is an ancient [[temple]] of [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]] at the outskirts of the [[Sursand]] town of [[Sitamarhi district]] in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]] of Bihar. The temple is attributed to the Vedic sage [[Valmiki|Maharshi Valmiki]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=हर-हर महादेव से गुंजा वाल्मिकेश्वर नाथ महादेव मंदिर |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/sitamarhi/story-valmikeshwar-nath-mahadev-temple-echoed-with-har-har-mahadev-8545386.html |work=Hindustan}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=बाबा बाल्मीकेश्वर नाथ धाम पर होगा भव्य शिव विवाह का आयोजन - Grand Shiva marriage will be organized at Baba Balmikeshwar Nath Dham - Bihar Sitamarhi Astro News |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/sitamarhi-grand-shiva-marriage-will-be-organized-at-baba-balmikeshwar-nath-dham-22493964.html |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=बाबा वाल्मीकेश्वरनाथ धाम में भगवान श्रीराम, लक्ष्मण व विश्वामित्र ने भी की थी पूजा-अर्चना - बाबा वाल्मीकेश्वरनाथ धाम में भगवान श्रीराम, लक्ष्मण व विश्वामित्र ने भी की थी पूजा-अर्चना - Bihar Sitamarhi General News |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/sitamarhi-asdfg-21861990.html |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
According to the legend, it is said that the [[Lingam|Shivalinga]] in the temple is believed to be originated from the ascetic site of Maharishi [[Valmiki]]. Therefore, it became famous after the name of the sage Valmiki called as ''Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev''. The temple is also known as ''Balmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir'' or locally ''Baba Balmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir''.

== Description ==
Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir is an ancient temple located in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]] of Bihar. It is located at the outskirts of the Sursand town in the [[Sitamarhi district]] of Bihar. It is very close to the line of Indo - Nepal Border.<ref name=":0" /> According to legend, it is said that the [[Lingam|Shivlinga]] of the temple was established by the Vedic sage Maharshi [[Valmiki]]. The Shivlinga of Lord Mahadev in the temple is installed 21 feet below the ground.<ref name=":1" />

It is one of the major Shiva temples in the Mithila region for the devotees of ''Sawan Sombari'' pilgrimage. During the sacred [[Shravana (month)|Sawan]] month in [[Hinduism]], a huge amount of devotees of Lord Shiva come here for performing holy ''[[Jalabhisheka]]'' on the ''Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Shivlinga''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=बाबा वाल्मिकेश्वर नाथ महादेव मंदिर में किया जलाभिषेक |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/sitamarhi/story-jalabhishek-done-in-baba-valmikeshwar-nath-mahadev-temple-4286979.html |work=Hindustan}}</ref> The sacred water from the [[Bharpura Pahleza Ghat Junction railway station|Pahleja Ghat]] near [[Patna]] and [[Doodhmati|Doodhmati River]] in [[Janakpur|Janakpurdham]], [[Nepal]] are also brought for performing Jalabhisheka on the Shivling.<ref>{{Cite web |title=महर्षि वाल्मिकी के तप स्थल से प्रगट हुए थे वाल्मिकेश्वर महादेव - |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/sitamarhi-valmikeshwar-mahadev-was-revealed-from-the-penance-of-maharishi-valmiki-19484299.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref> Similarly every year during the [[Maha Shivaratri|Mahashivratri]] festival, a grand celebration of the ''Mahashivratri Puja'' is organised by the management of the temple in its campus. The devotees perform religious functions and rituals of the Mahashivratri Puja at the temple.<ref>{{Cite web |title=बाबा बाल्मीकेश्वर नाथ धाम पर होगा भव्य शिव विवाह का आयोजन - Grand Shiva marriage will be organized at Baba Balmikeshwar Nath Dham - Bihar Sitamarhi Astro News |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/sitamarhi-grand-shiva-marriage-will-be-organized-at-baba-balmikeshwar-nath-dham-22493964.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref> According to legend, it is said that during the Lord [[Rama's Journey in Mithila]], the Shivlinga of Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir was worshipped by the [[Rama|Lord Rama]] along with his brother [[Lakshmana|Lord Lakshmana]] and [[Vishvamitra|Guru Vishwamitra]]. Lord Rama came here for worshipping Lord Shiva's Lingam before and after taking part in the [[Sita Swayamvara]] at the court of [[Janaka|King Janaka]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-30 |title=महर्षि वाल्मीकि के तप से प्रकट बल्मिकेश्वर नाथ महादेव की लीला अपरंपार, यहां नौकरी की अर्जी होती है पूरी |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/bihar/sitamarhi-maharishi-valmiki-balmikeshwar-nath-mahadeva-is-miraculous-job-mannat-fulfilled-here-6712913.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref>

According to the president ''Pravin Jha'' of the temple, the present temple of the Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev was built by the earlier King of the ''[[Sursand Raj]]''. The king also donated some lands for the temple.<ref name=":2" />

== Legend ==
There is a legendary story related to this temple about the enlightenment of ''Daaku'' Ratnakara as Maharshi [[Valmiki]]. In the ancient period this place was within the area of [[Videha|Mithila Kingdom]] governed by the [[Janaka|King Janaka]]. The kingdom was terrified by the robber Ratnakara. It is said that once the robber Ratnakara was making plan to rob the treasure of the King Janaka. The King Janaka got the information of the plan by his ''Guptachar'' and decided to meet the robber Ratnakara. Then he took the form of a security guard of the treasury. According to the legend it is said that when the robber Ratnakara came to rob the treasure, he made the security guard hostage. After that the King Janaka in the form of security guard, asked the robber Ratnakara that if his family would share the sin he is doing. After that the robber Ratnakara went to his house and asked his family members about the sharing of the sin. But his family members denied to share the sin. After that he came to the King Janaka and asked the way of salvation.<ref name=":1" /> Then the King Janaka illustrated him the path of the salvation. It is said that after walking some distances he listened a strange ''Akashwani''. In the Akashwani, he was told to did a penance at the present location of the temple. There he did a tough penance for a period of more than sixty years. According to the legendary story, it said that his body got covered by mud mound having termites in the long and tough penance.

Once again when the King went for excursion with his family, he took rest at place near the penance site to watch the beauty of the jungle. There his daughter while playing fingered into the mud mound, suddenly bleeding started from the mound. The king became astonished by seeing the bleeding. Then he ordered his securities to remove the mud mound and found that a hermit was doing penance in the mound. Then he told his daughter to look after the hermit till the end of the penance of the hermit. It is said that after a long and tough penance, the [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]] appeared there and regained his beautiful physique. After that the robber Ratnakara got enlightenment and became famous with his new name [[Valmiki]].<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Sitamarhi district]]
[[Category:Places in the Ramayana]]

Valmikeshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir - Revision history

DamienLorenz695: created new details - done