Anandeshwar Shiva Temple – Kanpur

Anandeshwar Mahadev Temple or more locally known as Baba Anandeshwar Mandir Kanpur, a very famous ancient temple located on the banks of the Ganga River in the city of Kanpur, where thousands of visitors turn up to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and pay obeisance to the sacred River.The Anandeshwar Temple is built on a number of acres and the temple was built in the 18th century. It is believed that Lord Shiva is still present in the temple of Anandeshwar.

The specialty of the Anandeshwar temple is that more than one hundred bells are in the temple and the main gate of 12 windows. The ‘Natural’ Shiva Linga of this temple is the main attraction.

Legend
It is believed that at this place Karna used to worship every day during Mahabharata period. When Karna came to perform his pooja, during a worship, a cow by name Anandi, dropped her whole milk at the same place. The cow’s behavior was very strange for owner. The owner of the cow gathered the villagers and excavated the place, the villagers got the Shiv Linga in the land which is still in the temple. The villagers thought that Shiv Linga should be placed at a good location. But even after putting full emphasis, Shiv Linga did not move from that place.Lord Shiva was established at that place and the temple was later built around the Shiv Ling and named in honor of the same cow thus making Anandeshwar Temple the embodiment of Lord Shiva in Kanpur.

The festival of Shiva Ratri is celebrated with great fanfare in the Anandeshwar temple. On every Monday in the month of Shravan, millions of devotees come to Lord Shiva’s philosophy. In the Anandeshwar temple, devotees offer Gangaajal to Lord Shiva Linga on every Monday for fulfill their wishes.

Most interesting thing is more than 2000 bells are tied by the devotees on the main gate of temple. Whoever asks for a vow will tie a bell when the vow is complete.