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Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir, Maharashtra
Locality/village : Matheran
State : Maharashtra
Country : India
Nearest City/Town : Nerul
Best Season To Visit : September to November and February to March
Languages : Marati, Hindi & English
Temple Timings : 6.00 AM and 9.00 PM.
Photography : Not Allowed
Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir, Maharashtra
The Hindus have three main powers which they worship as their Trimurthis and the most important of these Trimurthis is lord Shiva or Mahadev – which means he is the biggest of all Devs. The most common form of Shiva that is found is most temples is the Linga and there are a few places where there is the presence of the Swayambu Linga – which means the Linga was not built by anybody, it just appeared on its own. The Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir is one such Swayambu Linga and so this becomes a very pious place.
The Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir is a Shiva temple located in the hill-station of Matheran in Maharashtra, India. This temple is the oldest in Matheran and the deity Piśarnāth is the grama devata (village deity). The lingam here is swayambhū and appears in an extraordinary titled ‘L’ shape and is covered with sindoor. This ancient temple is located on the banks of a lake now known as “Charlotte”. The surroundings of the temple are extremely beautiful and secluded. The place is at an altitude of about 2516 feet above sea level. Matheran itself is a very famous hill-station and is an attractive tourist spot.
Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir, Maharashtra;
The Shiva linga in the Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir dates back to a very long time that nobody is able to tell how old it is. The temple itself is in a dense forested area and the location of the temple is as eerie as it is old. The lingam of Shiva here is considered to the family deity of the folks in the village and they come here to offer prayers at times of all ceremonies and functions. The folks of the village consider these prayers as very important and come here to pray at the start of any endeavors or some special occasions in their family.
This temple is perhaps the oldest known temple in the hill station of Matheran. Pisharnath, the deity in whose honour this temple is built, is believed to be the “grama devata” or the village god of this area. Hence, this temple is of great significance to the local populace. The Shiva Linga here is “swayambhu” which is to say, that the shiva linga is “self-manifested” or created of its own accord. Due to various natural phenomena, stones or in some cases ice forms itself into the shape of a Shiva Linga without any artificial assistance. According to the Hindu belief, these are regarded as “swayambhu” or “self-sprung” Shiva Lingas and are considered extremely auspicious. The Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir is an important site of religious significance for these reasons.
The Swayambhu Shiva Linga of the Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir appears in an extraordinary and unusual ‘L’ shape – created completely naturally with no artificial interference whatsoever. This Shiva Linga is completely smeared with sindoor, a vermillion powder that is considered auspicious and signifies life. This ancient Shiva temple is located on the banks of a lake, which has now come to be known as “Charlotte” – a living mark of Matheran’s colonial past. The temple is set in a beautifully secluded place and gives peace to the visitors in its silent beauty. The picturesque surroundings of the temple only help to amplify the spiritual purity of the place. The high altitude of the temple (the Pisharnath Mahadev temple is set at a height of approximately 2516 feet above sea level), gives the visitors a breath taking vantage point – offering not only religious and spiritual enrichment but also an unparalleled scenic beauty.
The temple has a simple house like structure constructed in brown stone and the simplicity is so much alike the Mahadev himself, Lord Mahadev is one God who likes simplicity and doesn’t prefer too much of noise and décor both on his persona and in his place of worship. In accordance with that, the temple is a very simple building and it resembles a home for all that its worth. It has a two layer roof structure with the upper roof layer proving to be the tower of the temple. Simplicity is etched all over this temple.
The Pisharnath Mahadev temple is best visited before sunset. Set deep inside the forests, the temple has an interesting architecture. Unlike most Hindu temples, the temple is not constructed with distinctively identifiable features like spires and towers. Instead, the temple is a small red building made out of wood and brick and has a tin roof above it that is built at two different levels. The four walls of the temple are set with windows extending from one end of the wall to the other, and the main entry is gated with a massive thick wooden door. It is believed that devotees can attain iha-para saukhyamsor joys of the mortal and immortal world by praying at this temple.
By Road: The temple present in Matheran. Matheran is connected to the major cities of Mumbai and Pune by both road and railways. Many private buses ply from both Mumbai and Pune, usually leaving covering the distance overnight. We can reach the Temple easily by hiring bus or taxi from anywhere in the Maharashtra or from neighboring state. Maharashtra is connected with most of the Indian cities by road. The Maharashtra State Transport Corporation (MSTC) runs regulars bus services.
By Rail: The nearest station to the temple is Neral and from there you can take taxis up to a certain point in Matheran. After that you only have to ride on horseback or walk up the mountains to get to the temple.
By Air: The Temple can be reached through nearest Mumbai Airport which is well connected with regular domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai.
This temple Opening & Closing time is 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on a grand scale.
The best time to visit Matheran is from September to November and February to March. The lush greenery of the hill station is at its best during these times of the year and the flora and fauna are truly spectacular. The months of December and January are known to get especially cold, though tourists from the nearby cities of Pune and Mumbai are seen frequenting the place throughout the year. It is recommended that you visit Matheran just after the monsoon rains to catch the lakes and waterfalls in this region at their seasonal best.
