Shree Gyarah Rudreshwar Shiv Mandir Etahawa

Eleven Rudreshwar Mahadev temples on the banks of Yamuna belong to the Dwapar era.

Ancient Ishtikapuri which is now known as Etawah.

Ancient Ishtikapuri, now known as Etawah, has many ancient temples of Lord Shiva. The importance of the Shivling installed in the ancient temple of Rudreshwar Mahadev, built on the banks of the Yamuna river, which passes through the city’s all-round channel, is similar to that of Baba Mahakal of Ujjain. It is said that Guru Dronacharya’s son Ashwatthama had established this Shivalinga. Devotees not only from the district but from far away places come here to worship the Lord. People believe that by performing Rudrabhishek of eleven Rudriya Gods one also gets the desired results.

Ishtikapuri i.e. Etawah is the holy land where great sages had come and acquired powers by doing spiritual practice. There are many ancient Shiva temples on the banks of river Yamuna and they have their own importance. The ancient Shiva temples built for centuries on the banks of Yamuna still remain the center of immense faith of the devotees. In Bhavishya Purana also, the name of Etawah is mentioned as Ishtikapuri. This area has also been a big center of Shaiva Tantra and Shakti worship.

Just as the world famous Baba Mahakal temple of Ujjain is the main center of faith for Shiva devotees, similarly in the district too the devotees have unwavering faith in the eleven Rudreshwar Mahadevs like Baba Mahakal. Like Mahakal, Shivalinga is established here also. Devotees coming to the temple get the experience of Baba Mahakal. Apart from the main Shivalinga in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, eleven other Shivalingas, Panch Shivalinga and the entire Shiva family are also established here. Statues of Maa Pitambara and other gods and goddesses are installed in the temple premises itself.

Now this temple has attained great grandeur. Below the temple, there is a ghat of Yamuna which is known as Gyarah Rudriya Ghat, when the water level of Yamuna increases and the view of Yamuna from the temple becomes worth seeing. 2 years ago, when the water level of Yamuna had increased, Mother Yamuna had consecrated the Lord.

Immortal Ashwatthama had established Shivalinga.

Etawah. The ancient eleven Rudreshwar Mahadev temples are said to be of Dwapar era. According to Pandit Ajay Dubey, the priest of Maa Pitambara Dham temple built in the same temple complex, the Shivalinga of Lord Rudreshwar Mahadev was established by Guru Dronacharya’s son Ashwatthama, who is immortal. He told that in the war of Mahabharata, Draupadi’s sons were killed by Ashwatthama and to atone for that, 108 Shivlingas of Lord Shiva were established on this earth by Ashwatthama. In which the eleventh Shivling is said to be the one which is today known as the eleven Rudreshwar Mahadev. By performing Rudrabhishek here, all the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled. Apart from Sawan and Shivratri, a large number of devotees come every day to worship the Lord.