Shivdwar, also known as Uma Maheshwar Temple, is a Hindu temple located 10 km from Ghoraval town in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. It is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati and was built in the 11th century. Every year in the month of Shravan, devotee Kanwariya pilgrims undertake Kanwar Yatra to Shivdwar Dham by taking water from the pond named Ram Sagar located in Vijaygarh Fort.

The actual ‘Shiv-Parvati’ is worshiped, not Shivling, the idol was taken out of the field; Unique temple of Sonbhadra

Worship of Lord Shiva has special significance in the holy month of Sawan. It is said that by observing fast on Monday of Sawan, unmarried girls get the groom of their choice. Apart from this, offering water on Shivalinga brings virtue. There are many famous temples of Lord Shiva in Uttar Pradesh. Everyone is familiar with Kashi Vishwanath, but there is a temple where Shiva and Parvati are actually worshipped.

In most of the temples, water is offered only on Shivalinga. There are very few temples in the country where Lord Shiva is actually worshipped. One of these lesser temples is in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. There is such a temple of Lord Shiva in Sonbhadra district adjacent to Kashi, where not Shivalinga but actual Shiva-Parvati is worshipped. There is a crowd of visitors here throughout the month of Sawan. Here the number of Kanwariyas in Saavan is in lakhs.

Shiva devotees come from far and wide to see the unique idol of Umamaheshwar installed in Shivdwar Dham. Shivdwar is the Dham of Purvanchal where devotees gather in large numbers from the first day of Sawan to have the darshan of Bholenath. However, there are many beliefs regarding the amazing idol of Umamaheshwar. One of these beliefs is that the idol of Lord Bholenath which is worshiped here came from the fields. It is also known as Shivdwar Dham along with Uma Maheshwar Temple and Gupta Kashi.

The idol of Shiva and Mother Parvati was found from the field
Shivdwar Dham situated in Sonbhadra has the idol of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati. It is believed that this idol was found by a landowner while plowing his field. It is believed that in the fourth decade of the 19th century, while plowing the fields, a village farmer named Moti Mahato found the unique statue of the famous Umamaheshwar in Satdwari village. When the idol was found, everyone considered it a blessing from God. Then this idol was installed by Avinash Kuwari, daughter-in-law of the village’s landlord family, and the temple was constructed. This temple was named Shivdwar.

It is believed that the statue was consecrated in the year 1938. Later, the temple was beautified by Astrologer Peethadhishwar Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati and Jyotirlinga was established in the temple premises. Since then this temple is famous in the entire Purvanchal. There is a rush of Shiva devotees at this temple during Saavan.

Unique idol of Shiva-Parvati

Lord Shiva is worshiped only in the form of Shivalinga. The idol of Lord Shiva is installed at very few places and if we talk about the idol of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati together, then it will be seen at even fewer places. The specialty of Shivdwar Dham is that it has the idol of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati and that too together. The 11th century black stone idol of Goddess Parvati is kept in the sanctum sanctorum of this temple. This three feet high idol is placed in Srijan Mudra which is a creative posture.

This statue is an example of excellent artistry. This temple displays fine examples of craftsmanship and magnificent art of that period. This temple is also very valuable in terms of monetary value. This black colored idol of Shiva-Parvati is quite special in itself. Along with Shiva-Parvati, there are idols of other Gods here and that too in black colour.