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Thanesar is one of the
most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage.
The town derives its name from the words
Sthan-esvar or the abode of God
(Mahadev). The town was once the centre
of great learning. Today it is famous
for the Sthanesvar Mahadev temple and
the Ma Bhadra Kali Temple. It lies
adjoining the town of Kurukshetra and is
often called its twin town.
It can be said without a
doubt that the presiding deity of
Thanesar is Lord Shiva. It is after the
Sthanesvar Shiva Linga Temple that
Thanesar gets its name. Vaman
Puran categorically mentions the
importance of this temple and legends
tell us that Lord Brahma Himself laid
the first Linga of Lord Shiva at the
temple. Renovated in recent times, the
temple has a white amla (fruit
shaped) dome. A large water body has
been designed before the temple. A
Gurudwara that lies opposite the
Sthanesvar temple marks the spot
sanctified by the visit of Guru Tegh
Bahadur.
The famous Ma Bhadra
Kali temple celebrates the legend of
Sati Mata. It lies a short drive from
the Sthanesar
Mahadev
Temple. The learned say Sati's lower
limb fell here, granting the area the
sanctity of a Sidh Peeth or a
place where wishes are fulfilled. The
temple has been renovated with red stone
and the inner sanctum has been
beautified. At a well in the precincts,
devotees offer terracotta horses as
offerings in thanks-giving, each time
their wishes are fulfilled. The inner
sanctum of the temple houses both the
awe inspiring and the sublime forms of
the Mother Goddess Kali. Thousands of
devotee throng the temple on the holy
days of Navratre (March-April
and September-October) and every
Saturday. |
