Pimpleshwar Mahadev, Saldi
Encyclopedia
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
located in the village of Saldi (District of Mehsana
Mehsana
Mahesana is a city and municipality in Mehsana district, in the Indian state of Gujarat.-City and surrounding area:Situated near Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, Mehsana is one of the largest cities in North Gujarat; followed by Patan and Palanpur. A number of primary industries including dairy, oil...
), Gujarat, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is also called "Mahadev" - The God of all Gods. Pimpleshwar Mahadev is famous for its annual traditional carnival "Saladi no Melo" (Fun Fare) on the last Monday of the holy month of Shraavan
Shraavana
Shraavana is a month of the Hindu calendar, also known as Sawan. In India's national civil calendar, Shraavan is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Aavani and is the fifth month of the solar year...
(August) in the Hindu calendar. Most temples of lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
have a unique structure called the Shiv Linga
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
which is considered to be a sacred symbol of Lord Shiva. The Pimpleshwar Mahadev in Saldi does not have the usual Shiv linga. Instead it has a Jaladhari - a continuous flow of water from an aquifer below the ground. This natural water flow is considered to be a sacred sign by the worshipers and another indication of the presence of Lord Shiva at this site.
Geography
Saldi is located about 60 Km northwest of AhmedabadAhmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Gujarat, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Saldi is reachable by car, bus or public transportation. Ahmedabad International Airport (AMD)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is India's eighth busiest airport with an average of 250 aircraft movements a day. It services the metropolitan areas of two cities in the State of Gujarat - Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The airport is located from the Ahmedabad Railway Station. It is...
is the nearest airport with domestic and international flights. This temple is famous for its surrounding rural landscape and Pimpal trees
Sacred Fig
The Sacred Fig, Ficus religiosa, or Bo-Tree , Peepal is a species of banyan fig native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indochina...
, Bili Trees
Bael
Bael Bael (Aegle marmelos) Bael (Aegle marmelos) (Bengal quince, stone apple, Sanskrit : विल्व, Malayalam: കൂവളം, Bengali: বেল, Hindi: बेल (Sirphal), Marathi: बेल or कवीठ (Kaveeth), , Sindhi: ڪاٺ گدرو , Sinhalese: beli, Tamil: வில்வம் is a species of tree native to India...
and Vakhada
Salvadora persica
Salvadora persica , is a species of Salvadora....
trees of historic age in the surrounding area of the temple. Pimpal trees are particularly attractive and important for Hindu pilgrims to the temple because the decades old trees are considered sacred and symbolize happiness, prosperity, longevity and good luck. The temple has not been renovated for at least 100 years, and therefore it portrays an old style outlook that is attractive to pilgrims for reasons of nostalgia and a reminder of a by-gone era.
History
Salvabhai Patel, son of Teja Patel, migrated from ChampanerChampaner
Champaner चंमपानेर شمبنر is a historical city in the state of Gujarat, in western India. It is located in Panchmahal district, 47 kilometres from the city of Vadodara. The city was briefly the capital of Gujarat....
, Gujarat and raised his family in the area which ultimately came to be known as Saldi. Approximately 200 years or seven generations following the founding of Saldi village, one of the cows of a herder named Petha Patel was found to be regularly releasing her milk over one location under a Pimpal tree, where the Jaladhari water source was ultimately found. In the Hindu tradition, worshipers of Shiva pay homage to the Shiv linga by pouring milk over it. Thus, the cow's offering of her milk at this site without any assistance, led to the people of Saldi to attribute this phenomenon to the presence of Lord Shiva. Since then, the current site of Pimpleshwar Mahadev is considered to be very sacred by the pilgrams and villagers alike, and it has become famous throughout the state of Gujarat over the years.
The first temple or shrine was put in place by Petha Patel of Saldi at this site, dating back to the Hindu Year Sanvat 1143 (approximately 924 years ago). In the following centuries, Pimpleshwar Mahadev gained more popularity as a place of pilgrimage and worship for Hindus across the state of Gujarat. The current building was constructed and renovated by Sayajirao Gaekwad, the ruler of the state Baroda in 1895 during the British colonial era in India.
Campus & guest house
The entire campus for Mahadev is spread over 50 acres. It includes the temples of UmiyaDevi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
, Amba
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
, Lakshmi Mata
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
and Nag-Devta
Naga
Naga or NAGA may refer to:* Nāga, a group of serpent deities in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.-People:* Nayan / Nayar/Nair people of Kerala Society* Naga people, a diverse ethnic identity in Northeast India...
. The Hindu temple has images of Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
, Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
and Hanuman
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
carved in stone and also houses a natural spring that is considered holy. Additionally facilities include an exhibition hall, a meeting room, guest rooms, and a lodging (Bhojanalay). This historical temple awaits renovation to include several additional buildings and creative parks.
Daily Activities
This beautiful Temple is offering Daily Prayer, traditional rituals, Dhoon, Meditation and Aarti to all.Devotees from nearby villages walk to Mahadev regularly....carrying milk, Diya, Dhoop and water in hand and offer to Pimpleshwar Mahadev during Darshan. Many of them being seen walking barefoot! Priest smeared hand made sandalwood paste on forehead of devotees and blessed. Devotees do pradakshina around sacred Pipal Tree ( Fig Tree) and continue meditation and chanting as they do walk.
Pimpleshwar Mahadev attracts large number of tourist and pilgrims from all over India, Canada, England and United states of America throughout the year.
Maha Shivratri
Maha Shivratri is dedicated to the worship of Pimpleshwar Mahadev. Devotees celebrate Maha Shivaratri with observing fasting, singing bhajans and Dhoon , maha puja, recital of sanskrit sholaks, offering of prayers, flowers, fruits, Shreefal ( coconut ), and special food that is prepared in honor of the deity. Brahmin priests performs Ladhu-Rudra Yagna and char prahar ni PUJA in different time of the day and night.Worshiping Pimpleshwar Mahadev or Lord Shiva on Maha Shivratri is believed to bestow one with happiness and prosperity.
Shravan Month Special POOJA
In holy month of Shravan month thousands of devotees visit this Mahadev for prayer and get blessed. Thousands of pilgrim walk to this temple in groups chanting Shiva Mantra and Dhoon, playing traditional musical and dancing. They participate the Darshan of Idol Nandi and Shiva and performed 1-5 rounds of Pradakshina. Devotees Chant Shiva mantra with great shraddha as they offer Milk, water, Dhoop and Bili Patra to Lord Shiva.Annual Carnival - Saladi no Melo
Very Special annual celebration of Religious carnival known as "SALADI no MELO" on last Monday of Shravan month is famous worldwide.About quarter million Devotees of all age ,religion and casts get to gather and enjoy the traditional celebration.Bili Patra Pooja
Special puja with offering of Bili Patra to lord Shiva is unique tradition. Many Devotee with help of local brahmin priest offer 108, 1008 or one Lakh Bili patra to Pimpleshwar Mahadev along with mantra recitation. Approximately 10 million Bili Patras offers to MAHADEV reciting "Om Namah Shivay" and Bilvastakam - Shiva mantra chanting during shravan month every year. Volunteers proud to collect these leaves from holy BILI TREE from forest of panchmahal and across the state and get blessed for great contribution.Bili
Bael
Bael Bael (Aegle marmelos) Bael (Aegle marmelos) (Bengal quince, stone apple, Sanskrit : विल्व, Malayalam: കൂവളം, Bengali: বেল, Hindi: बेल (Sirphal), Marathi: बेल or कवीठ (Kaveeth), , Sindhi: ڪاٺ گدرو , Sinhalese: beli, Tamil: வில்வம் is a species of tree native to India...
Patra are leaves of Bili (Bilva, Bel, Bael, Vilvam or English - wood apple tree ) and offer to Mahadev - મહાદેવ seeking good health, prosperity, satisfaction in current life and to destroys all sins committed during past three lives and attain Moksha - salvation (મોક્ષ ).