The diary game ||"Visit to the 108 Shiva Temples"

green015 (76)in Hindwhale Community • 2 days ago

Greetings

I hope that, by the grace of God, all my friends are healthy and doing well. I am doing well, too.I am @green015 from India.Today, I will share my experiences visiting the 108 shiva temples.

The diary game ||"Visit to the 108 Shiva Temples"

The complex of 108 Shiva temples in the Bardhaman district holds a unique historical significance; it is situated in Nabahat, Purba Bardhaman. It was constructed in 1788 by Maharani Bishankumari—the widowed wife of Maharaja Tilakchand Bahadur of Bardhaman—in his memory. The complex primarily consists of 108 Atchala (eight-roofed) Shiva temples, arranged in rows within a rectangular courtyard. Each of these small temples is aligned in an orderly fashion, and a Shiva Lingam is enshrined within every single one. Throughout the year, numerous devotees travel from far and wide to offer their prayers at this site. Visually, each of the Shiva temples resembles a dome-like structure.

So, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, a week-long fair was held here, and my three friends and I decided to visit it. After exploring the fair, we entered the temple premises. A profound, serene peace seemed to pervade the place. The rear side of the temple was visible, and right beside it lay a pond. Many people were taking a dip in the pond. This temple is 240 years old; yet, to this day, it has preserved its rich heritage.

Just behind this temple, beside a pond, stand several tall trees. Although I initially mistook them for betel nut trees, they were actually Foxtail Palms. However, their fruits bear an uncanny resemblance to real betel nuts—some were dried out, while others looked like ripe betel nuts. It is worth noting, however, that these are highly poisonous.

Beneath this Gum tree stands a statue of Nataraja; indeed, many such beautiful statues are located here—including figures of Shiva and Parvati, Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, and the Trimurti, among others—all of which catch the eye even before one reaches the Shiva temple situated further inside.

Finally, an inscription written in Bengali at the base of the statue states that the figure of Nataraja in this temple was created purely for aesthetic purposes. Moreover, the interior of the temple is remarkably clean and well-maintained. Beneath the statues of Shiva and Parvati, another notice reads: "A fine of 500 Taka will be imposed for plucking flowers or leaves from the trees."