Dear friends, as the sacred Shraavan month is going on, me along with my few friends decided to visit Ambernath Shiva Temple in Mumbai.
Here, you can see the crowd just before the entrance to the temple; what you can't is the 500m long line that starts right from the temple gate, we marched and stood in the line nearly 2-3 hours to be able to pray to the almighty Shiva. It's a belief that the more hurdles you have to cross in your way or the more miles you have to walk to reach the temple, more auspicious it is.
The Ambernath Shiv Temple was built during the 1060 AD in classical style by Chittaraja, King of Shi’erahala. Later on, the work was completed by his son Mumunni. The temple is truly an out-of-this-world marvel, because it was built by carving a single large boulder. The architecture of this temple is Hemadpanti style. The carvings of the outer wall are using black rock and are very exquisite.
Amidst the rich tapestry of Hindu festivals, Shraavan holds a special place, radiating with devotion and a sense of divine connection. Shraavan, falling typically between July and August in the Gregorian calendar, is the fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Monsoon also starts in this time with life-giving rains, rejuvenating nature and symbolizing a fresh start.
In the incredible world of Hindu deities, one figure stands out as the big boss – Lord Shiva! Lord Shiva represents the transforming power of divinity, and his devotees absolutely adore him for being kind, fierce, and having the ultimate power to create through destruction. When times get tough, he's like that caring friend who offers comfort and wisdom. That's why during the month of Shraavan, it's the perfect chance to seek his blessings and feel his divine presence all around.
There are numerous legends around lord Shiva of being the saviour. One such legend is the captivating tale of 'Samudra Manthan' or the 'Churning of the Ocean,' a fascinating episode from Hindu mythology. Picture this: celestial beings known as 'Devas' and demons called 'Asuras', joined forces to churn the cosmic ocean using 'Mount Mandara' as a massive rod and the serpent 'Vasuki' as the rope. As the cosmic event unfolded, it brought forth incredible divine gifts, and one of them was the precious nectar of immortality, also known as 'Amrit'. Both the 'Devas' and 'Asuras' desperately sought this elixir, but to avoid its misuse, guess what? The benevolent Lord Shiva did something truly extraordinary! He fearlessly gulped down the deadly poison that surfaced from the depths of the ocean. The poison turned his throat blue, earning him the awe-inspiring title of the "Neelkanth" . Now, this selfless act of sacrifice showcases Lord Shiva's immense kindness and care for the well-being of the entire universe, inspiring devotees to shower their devotion upon him, especially during the auspicious month of Shraavan.
So this was all about our visit to the temple and the significance of Shraavan and lord Shiva.
Thank you for reading.