Varanasi, July 14: On the first Monday of the pious month of ‘Sawan’, the entire state including Kashi Vishwanath temple in Kashi, capital Lucknow was immersed in the worship of the lord Shiva. In the major Shiva temples of the state, a crowd of ‘Kanwariyas’ and Shiva devotees was seen thronging throughout the day for worship. During this time, the atmosphere is resonating with the proclamation of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bol Bam’.
In the religious city of Kashi, in view of the first Monday of Savan, extensive security arrangements have been put in place in the entire temple area. Vigilance is being maintained at every step. The ATS commandos have been deployed for the security of the devotees. For the convenience of the devotees, live telecast of worship and prayer is being done from the sanctum sanctorum of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
After ‘Mangala Aarti’, Shiv devotees standing in queue since dawn were seen offering ‘Jalabhishek’ of Jyotirlinga from the vessel placed outside the golden sanctum sanctorum of the temple. With the voices of ‘Kanwariyas’ echoing with the words Har-Har, Bam-Bam, the queue of devotees is continuously moving forward from Godaulia to the court for darshan and worship.
In the morning, the District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, CEO of the temple and other important officials showered flowers on the Shiv devotees queuing up in the court. Shiv devotees looked delighted after getting the respect for their deep faith in lord Shiva.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the temple, free arrangements of e-rickshaws and wheelchairs have been made from Maidagin and Godaulia to take elderly devotees to the Dham.
On the other hand, on the first Monday of Sawan, a crowd of devotees is gathering for ‘Jalabhishek’ in all the big and small Shiva temples including Markandey Mahadev located in Kaithi, Mahamrityunjay, Shool Tankeshwar Mahadev, Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev, Gauri Kedareshwar Mahadev, Trilochan Mahadev, Rameshwar Mahadev, Narmadeshwar Mahadev, Sarangnath, Gautameshwar Mahadev, BHU Vishwanath Temple, Omkareshwar Mahadev, Lat Bhairav.
The capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, was also seen filled with Shiva on the first day of ‘Shravan’ month. In the famous Mankameshwar temple here, a crowd of devotees was standing in line since dawn to worship Baba Bhole.
Similarly, apart from the Mahakal temple located in Rajendra Nagar, all the Shiva temples in the district were echoing with the chanting of Bam-Bam Bhole since morning. In the world famous Prayagraj, since Monday dawn, there was a crowd of devotees to offer ‘Jalabhishek’ of Baba Bholenath in all the temples including Brahma Maheshwar Mahadev, Mankameshwar, Ghanteshwar Mahadev Mahadev, Nagvasuki, Koteshwar Mahadev, Padila Mahadev, Narmadeshwar Mahadev, Phuta Havan Mahadev temple.
On the first Monday of ‘Shravan’ month, a long queue of devotees were witnessed in the Shiva temples of Jhansi district of the Uttar Pradesh. Crowds of devotees reached Madhiya Mahakaleshwar temple including Kedareshwar located in Mauranipur and Siddheshwar Mahadev of Veerangna Nagari. Gang Abhishek of Siddheshwar Mahadev was done there.
Apart from this, there were long queues of devotees in Shivalayas located in villages and towns including Madhiya Mahakaleshwar Mahadev, Mahadev temple located in Dixit Bagh, ancient Shiva temple located at Pani Wali Dharamshala, Mahadev temple located in historical fort, Shiva temple located in Nagara Nainagarh. The history of Baba Anandeshwar temple located in Paramat area in Kanpur is linked to the Mahabharata period. Thousands of devotees come to visit Baba daily in this temple located on the banks of Ganga Ghat. But in the month of Sawan, this crowd increases manifold and reaches lakhs. On Monday, a crowd of devotees reached the temple to worship Lord Shankar. The administration has made extensive arrangements to control the crowd. A stream of devotees kept arriving here till late evening.
The ancient Narmadeshwar Mahadev temple in the historic Shukla Talab complex in Akbarpur, Kanpur countryside is the main center of faith and worship of devotees. The carving of the temple shows that it is the oldest. On every Monday of Sawan, devotees come here in large numbers to worship Lord Shankar and perform Jalabhishek. On the last Monday, Rudrabhishek and special worship is organized with grand decoration.
On the first Monday of Bareilly, the city was Shiva-filled. The river of faith kept flowing in all the Shiva temples of the district including Baba Alakhnath temple located in the fort, Baba Trivatinath temple in Premnagar, Baba Dhopeshwar Nath temple in Cantt, Tapeshwar Nath temple in Subhash Nagar, Madhinath temple, Pashupatinath temple on Pilibhit road. Every corner of the city kept echoing with the slogans of Kanwadis and devotees. The sound of bells in the temples and the crowd of devotees made it completely Shiva-filled.
The people of the district were eager to get a glimpse of Baba Baleshwar Nath, the lord of Ballia, on Monday. On the first day of Monday, a crowd of devotees reached the court of Baleshwar Nath for ‘darshan’ and worship. This sequence continued till late night.
Siddha Peeth Devkali Shiv Mandir of Auraiya was echoing with the chants of Bam-Bam from the devotees since morning. The name of this temple may be Devkali, but this temple has a huge Shivling and the Shivling also grows every year. The temple is more interesting because till date no one has been able to find out about the water offered on the Shivling, that where does the water offered here go.
On the first Monday of the holy month of ‘Shravan’, lakhs of devotees from the nearby districts also come to the temple for darshan and Rudrabhishek. The same situation was seen in Shiva temples in all the districts of the state. Crowds of devotees kept coming to the Shiva temples on the first Monday of Sawan till late evening.