Oop Chudiya Shiv Temple/Kapileshwar Dhaam Pandra, Jharkhand
Lord Vishwakarma had built a very ancient Shiva temple in Nirsa.
There is a very ancient Shiva temple in Pandra village of Dhanbad. This temple was built by Lord Vishwakarma with his own hands. It is said that the five Pandavas stayed at this place for a few days during their exile, after which the temple was constructed in a single day. Whatever wishes the devotees make in this temple are definitely fulfilled.
There is a very ancient Shiva temple in Pandra village of Nirsa area of Koyalanchal Dhanbad, which is known as Baba Kapileshwar Temple. According to the belief, Pandavas had spent some time at this place during their exile during the Dwapar period and this temple was built at the same time. This temple is situated on Nirsa-Jamtara road. The Archeology Department has also declared it the heritage of Jharkhand.
There was Pandu-Ra village, 4 kilometers away from the block headquarters on the main road of Nirsa Jamtara, which was named after the Pandavas, but now the name of that village has been changed to Pandra. The ancient Shiva temple of this village has its own unique beliefs.
About the temple, local people say that this temple was built by the hands of Lord Vishwakarma and this temple was built overnight, this temple is spread over an area of about 2 acres. There are more than 30 temples here, which also includes the temple of Baba Kapileshwar of Dwapar period.
Pandavas stayed in this temple
It is said that Pandavas came here during their exile and stayed here for a few days. Along with the Pandavas, Draupadi and Kunti Mata also came, at the same time the five Pandavas established separate Shivlingas, which still exist today. Yudhishthir had established Baba Kapileshwar, Bhima had established Baba Baneshwar, Arjun had established Bhuvaneshwar, Nakul had established Tarakeshwar and Sahadev had established Baba Mankeshwar Shivalinga. Whereas Kunti and Draupadi established Mother Parvati. People come to this temple from far and wide with their vows.
Pandavas had gone to the unknown place through the cave of this temple.
Local people said that devotees from different districts of Jharkhand as well as from places like Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh etc. come to worship in the temple. According to local people, there was also a cave in this temple, which is now closed. From Pandra this cave used to go to Kalyaneshwari temple of West Bengal. It was through this cave that the Pandavas went for exile.
Crowd of devotees gathers during Shivratri
The stove where Draupati and Kunti cooked food is still present in the temple and Mahabhog is cooked in wood even today in the same stove. The Prasad cooked in that stove is given to the devotees in the form of Mahabhog. In the month of Sawan and on the day of Mahashivratri, a huge crowd of devotees gather at this place and people from far and wide come here to worship.
Here, on the occasion of Mahashivratri, Baba’s procession is taken out with great pomp and the entire village is toured with attractive tableau, after which the procession reaches Kalinjar temple. After the marriage procession reaches, the marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati is done with great pomp and show at night. On this occasion, Bhajan Sandhya is also organized at night.
After the construction of the temple, the king of Pandra State donated land to people like priests, sweepers, garlanders etc. to worship in the temple of Baba Kapileshwar and even today they are settled here. The people settled here look after the temple as servants.
