Just about 100 kilometres and a four-hour drive from Uttarakhand capital city of Dehradun, the ancient town of Lakhamandal traces its history within the pages of epic Mahabharata and is home to ‘countless’ number of Shivalingas which was worshipped by the Pandavas similar to the mention of holy Shrine Kedarnath in Devbhumi.
While the Lakhamandal Temple, a replica of the Kedarnath shrine structure, stands tall on the prime road connecting Dehradun to another holy place, Yamunotri, the main attraction is a huge Shivlinga on the premises. During Jal Abhishek rituals, when water is poured on it, devotees can see their reflection on the Linga.
It is believed that the same linga was worshipped by the Pandava brothers, Bhima. This linga has been discovered in recent times by the villagers, and now it’s a protected site of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which continues with its excavation process.
“We used to play here where these Shivlingas are placed or settled. It was observed by one of our neighbours when during digging of ground for step farming one such idol was noticed. Villagers took interest and they started digging more and realised there are several such sites. We informed the administration and now it’s a protected area and it is now believed that there could be thousands of such Lingas beneath. Further excavation is halted as settlement and permanent structures have come up,” said Sushil Gaur, a resident of Lakhamandal who grew up playing in this land where temple remnants have been discovered.
Irrespective of any caste or sub-caste, now the Lakhamandal Temple priests are those whose homes are within the precincts of the temple as the same has been their ancestral property.
The image reflection property of the Shivling is because it’s made of graphite which shines on pouring water where one or those standing around can see their image on the surface of Shivlinga.
“This means that the Lord Shiva is conveying that all of you are within me and protecting you,” said Mayaram Gaur, one of the priests at the Lakhamandal Temple. Members of the villages are working for the publicity of the holy place so that footfall increases and that the area becomes a notified spiritual place for the visitors and tourists enroute Yamunotri. Lakhamandal is situated in the Jaunsar-Bawar region of Dehradun district in the State of Uttarakhand and it gets its name from the two words: Lakha (Lakh) meaning “many” and mandals meaning “temples” or “lingam”.
Plenty of artistic works have been found in the ASI excavations and according to officials at ASI the temple is constructed in ancient Nagara style of North Indian architecture.
Lakhamandal temple is Lord Shiva’s abode in mountains and is estimated to be constructed circa 12th to 13th century.
“We have heard that once upon a time a dead person is reborn in this temple. If a dead body is taken to this temple, it becomes alive,” said Pandit Mayaram.
But according to mythology, it is believed to be the spot where Duryodhana, a key character in the Mahabharata, attempted to burn the Pandavas alive in a lakh house.
Twin statues of Danav and Manav are located beside the main shrine. The statues are its dwarpals (doormen). Some people believe these statues to be those of Pandava brothers Bhima and Arjuna. They also resemble Jai and Vijay, the doormen of Lord Vishnu.
