You are here
Indreshwar Mahadev
The Indreshwar Mahadev is a tall three story pagoda style Shiva temple in a peacefull courtyard in Panauti which is an old kings city in the Kavre district at the east side of the Kathmandu Valley.
Why Indra, King of the Gods, erected Indreshwar Mahadev
The Shiva Lingam of the temple is according to a legend errected by Indra the king of the gods. Indra seduced the beautiful woman Ahalya disguised as her husband Gautam Rishi. But Gautam Rishi catches them and put a curse on them he transforms Ahalya in a stone (for thousend years), and put thousend yoni's (vagina's) on Indra's body.
Covered with the thousend yoni's on his body Indra led a retreated and embarresed live. One day it became to much and Indra and his wife Shachi asked Brihaspati for help. Brihaspati feels pitty for them and tells him to take a holy bath at the junction of the rivers Lilavati and Rudravati and afterwards install Mahadev Lingam and have a deep meditation. Shachi was ordered to have a meditation on Parvati.
Parvati pleased with Shachi's meditation appeared in the form of the river Padmavati. (now this thirtha is known as Shachi Tirtha). Also Mahadev appeared and Indra knelt down and asked the lord to help him to get rid of the Yoni's on his body. Mahadev tells Indra to bath in the Shachi Tirtha to get rid of the curse.
When Mahadev dissapears Indra and Shachi bath in the river. All vagina's dissapear from Indra's body except the one on his forehead which became his third eye.
The lingam errected by Indra became known as Indreshwar Mahadev.
Ahalya is later rescued by Lord Ram while he touches the stone Ahalya was transformed in.
Sources:
The Legends of Nepal by Jnan Kaji Manandhar
