Baba Mahendranath Shivalinga is Ardhanarishwar

Deoria: Baba Mahendranath located in Mahen has been the center of faith of devotees for hundreds of years. The Achhuvat Shivalinga installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple has emerged from inside the earth. It is in the form of Ardhanarishwar. It is believed that just by seeing it, people get freedom from untimely death.

In the month of Shravan, Kanwariyas first perform Jalabhishek of Baba Mahendranath by filling water from Saryu bank of Barhaj. A fair is held here on the festival of Shivratri. Hundreds of years ago, this area was a forest. Lakshmi Narayan Das (known as Pauhari Maharaj – I), born in a Brahmin family in Mahen village, used to worship Lord Shiva under the Peepal tree after taking bath in the South Rapti of the village. Mahakal Bhole Shankar used to preach to them sitting in the form of Ardhanarishwar. His wife started feeling irritated by her husband leaving the house early in the morning and returning home late in the evening. One day she reached his place of worship. He was preaching to Lord Shiva Lakshmi Narayan Das. The presence of his wife disrupted the sermon and Lord Shiva became inert.