Vibhandeshwar Temple
Vibhandeshwar Temple
The picturesque mountain valley of Dwarahat, situated in the Dunagiri mountain valley, has remained religiously and spiritually rich as well as culturally and politically distinct. History of the Mahabharata period tells that at that time in Uttarakhand, there was a governance system of five main Hatak republics which were called Vairat or Virahat, Gangolihat or Gangavalihat, Didihat, Dwarahat and Garudhat. Katyuri king Shalivahan had a special contribution in the fourteen hundred years of settlement of Dwarahat. (Vibhandeshwar Temple Dwarahat Almora)
Dwarahat has thirty temples built from the eleventh to the sixteenth century, three hundred and sixty-five canals, the ancient Pokhara of Shaldev and along with them, the remains of the forts of Katyuri kings which tell the story of the glory of that period.
From the mythological point of view, Dunagiri is one of the seven Kul Parvatas which are mentioned in Vishnu Purana, Vayu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Matsya Purana, Karma Purana, Shri Madbhagwat Purana and Devi Purana. Among these seven total mountains, Dronagiri is the fourth mountain which was called the medicine mountain.
Kumudashchaunnatashchev tritiyascha balahakah
Drona yatra mahousasadhya sa chaturtho mahidharah
Dronagiri is situated on the left side of Ramganga from which Droni, Vaitali and Nandini rivers originate. Vibhandeshwar Mahadev is situated at the confluence of Surabhi and Nandini rivers.
Vibhandeshwar Mahadev Teerth is five kilometers south of Dwarahat. It is a beautiful spiritual place situated at a distance. Its location is described in the Manaskhand of Skandapuran:
Surabhi river originates from the Nagarjuna mountain range and Nandini river originates from the foothills of Dronagiri. Vibhandeshwar Mahadev, situated at the confluence of Surabhi and Nandini, is considered to be the giver of salvation like Kashi in Kumaon. It is believed that in Nagarjuna place, Devdhenu Surbhi cow mother changed her form and became a river and flowed.
Vibhandeshwar Mahadev Temple was established in Shak Samvat 376 (Year 301). During the rule of a few kings, regular worship rituals continued to take place in the temple. Later, renovation was done here by Swami Lakshmi Narayan Maharaj and many statues were installed.
On the end of the month of Chaitra night, the Vimandeshwar Mahadev temple resonates with the sound of drums, drums and Chholiya dancers. Devotees engrossed in the devotion of Shiva come to Vimandeshwar from the nearby villages in groups with their symbols and flags to participate in the Bat Puja fair starting from the next day.
Along with Shiva, after worshiping Ishta, offering food, getting satisfied with the Prasad and food from Bhandara, there are kirtans and bhajans throughout the night. The sounds of Anchal resonate in Jhoda, Chanchari and Bhagnaula. Everyone has the urge to dance in the fair of Sialde Bikhoti and awaken the deity with the power of their devotion. In the fair, the villagers of Naujula Aal and Garakh Dal will present Oda with their drums Nishan. Meena market will be set up. There will be a lot of excitement in Sheetala Pushkar Maidan.
Along with the fair of Syalde Bikhoti, cultural rites are being performed with full pomp and traditional image in Vibhandeshwar Mahadev on other occasions including Mahashivaratri, Janmashtami, Tula Sankranti and Holika Chaturdashi. It is a popular belief that just as the snow melts due to the heat of the sun when it rises, in the same way the sinful feelings of the human mind disappear by the grace and darshan of Vibhandeshwar Mahadev.
