Bijli Mahadev – The Temple of Lightning

So of course when hearing about this great Shiva lingam that was struck by lightning at the top of  Kullu valley, I had to go check it out! Not so easy to make your way up there, but upon seeing 75 year old women carrying heavy bushels on their heads and walking effortlessly up the mountain, I have to say I was humbled….and determined to get there gracefully!! 

Legend has it that about 2 years regularly there is a frightful lightning and the lingam is reduced to pieces. It is said that Lord Siva absorbs the energy discharged from the atmosphere and saves the world. The pieces of the lingam are reset with ghee (pure cow butter), and like magic, there is not a crack visible in it’s form! There is even a pool of water that manifested itself beneath the lingam.

The Rig-Veda has a prayer of Maharishi Vashishta to Lord Rudra (Shiva) to absorb the excessive electric current within himself. It is said Lord Rudra acceded and absorbed the excessive electricity current and saved mankind. According to legend this episode took place at the sangam (Confluence) of Parvati and Beas rivers. This is one of the very popular stories in the mythological background of Beas basin, in Himachal Pradesh. As expected the devotees had set up a temple and the lingam in it is named Bijleshwar Mahadev or Bijli Mahadev.

   

 

Walking up the steps with my guide Vishnuji – probably shouldn’t  have left in the middle of the day with the hot sun beating down…

 

 

 

 
                            

 

Ahhh we have reached the top, and what a view!! Can I just suggest that you click on the photos to enjoy them better? The majesty of the Himalayas is not meant for 3″ x 5″ viewing

 

 Mmmm mountains…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you looking and noticing the clouds? Truly magnificent…and I thought it couldnt get much better than this – well I was very very wrong – apparently there are places in this world where time does stand still

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t this just divine? I have so many more…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh look – there’s me! Very happy and tired at this point, anxious to pay my respects to Shivji and see this mystical lingam…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahh Vishnuji, the temple awaits us….there it is, sitting on the top left

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gate to Bijli Mahadev’s temple…I have to admit a large part of me wants to witness the lightning strike… please be storm clouds, please be storm clouds!!!

 

 

 

 

 

What better form of transport for Shiva than Nandi, His beloved cow. There she is waiting for Him outside the temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stone structure at the end – I don’t know what it means, but the carvings are beautiful…

 

 

 

 

 

Vishnu and the Pandit (priest) just relaxing on Shiva’s steps – I know this little temple will be a powerhouse inside…Panditji was very sweet and accomodating, and he feed us naril (coconut) as prasad (offering)

 

 

There I am with my old friend. The Shivalinga is  representative of the dormant universal consciousness in which all created things rest after the cosmic annihilation. It also represents the pradhana, the potential but unmanifest ingredients of the material world. Once the lingam is united with the yoni, the unmanifest becomes manifest and the world as we know it (maya) arises. So the lingam is the dormant potential, and the yoni, that which gives life to that potential. Shiva lingas are housed in temples that are meant to represent the female yoni, with the lingam residing in it’s innermost chambers. Perfectly executed and designed, Yoga is truly the highest science!

 

 

 

 

The Pandit and I – He even let me in beyond the gate to pay my respects and complete my dhyan… After this day, Shiva walked beside me in the mountains – my constant protector. The power of the Himalayas is beyond what our minds can comprehend…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There He is now! Damnit I wish I could read Hindi… at least pictorally you get the point – Shiva’s head resides in the Himalayas, and He is contained in the entire expanse of Mother India

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relaxing and taking in the essence of this place…

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a delicious lunch of paranthas and achar looking out at this

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My God, and this!! This one is a beauty -savour it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, one last look at the meadow before we make the trek down…in the busy season it is swarmed by people – we are lucky to have bypassed the masses and to have gotten some private time with Shivji

 

 

 

 

 

The End. For Now. My face is totally sunburnt, as we putputput back to Kullu Valley in Vishnuji’s very tired, beat down by life auto.

Next on the agenda? East Himachal!