Triloki Nath Mandir

The Trilokinath Temple, located in Udaipur sub-division of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh, is a revered shrine for both Hindus and Buddhists. Hindus consider the deity as Lord Shiva, while Buddhists see it as Avalokiteshvara. The temple is unique for being a place of worship for both faiths, and is considered one of the most sacred pilgrim sites, second only to Kailash and Mansarovar.

History

This temple was constructed in the 10th century. It is proved by a stone inscription which was found in the temple complex in 2002 . It is described in this stone inscription that this temple was made by Dvanjra Rana which are beloved to be ancestors of present ‘ Rana Thakurs rulers of Triloknath village . They were believed of be helped by King Shell Varman of Chamba who got this temple constructed in ‘Shikher style’ as there are ‘Laxmi Narayan’ temple complex of Chamba . King Shell Varman was the founder of Chamba town .

This temple was approximately constructed in the end of 9th century and in the starting of 10th century . Major role was also played by Rajgrana of Chamba Mahayogi Sidh Charpati Dar ( Charpath Nath ) . He had unlimited devotion to Bodhisattva Arya Avalokiteshwar and he had composed 25 shlokas in this glory which are called “ Avalokiteshwar strotan Chedem “.

This is a single temple of Lahaul valley in Shiker Style . Deity of Triloknath Ji is six hundred and lalitasan Lord Buddha is sitting on head of Triloknath . The deity is made up of marble . There is also local story after the manifestation of this deity . It was said that there was a lake on the present Hinsa Nalla . Seven persons of milky cower use to come out of this lake & drink the milk of grazing cows . One day one of them was caught by Tundu Cowherd boy and was taken to village on his village on his back . There the caught person converted into a marble deity . This deity was established in the temple . This lake is called as ‘Ome –cho milky ocean ) in Tibetan stories .

Other local story described that temple was completed in one night by ‘ Mah Danav’ The present Hinsa Nalla is unique as its water is still milky white and is never changes its color even in heaviest rainfall .
Worship is performed in this temple according to Buddhist traditions . It is a practice since time immemorial .