(Trishul of Lord Shiva)
This highly revered Shiva temple is situated 42 kilometers from the popular tourist destination of Patnitop and 112 kilometers from Jammu, within the Udhampur district. According to legend, after bathing in a spring known as Gouri Kund, just before reaching Sudh Mahadav, Goddess Parvati would worship the Shivling which is often considered as 3000 years old. Many pilgrims visit the shrine on the full moon night of Sawan to partake in the festival honoring Lord Shiva. The mystical underground stream, Devak, is considered sacred like the Ganges, as it originates at Sudh Mahadav and vanishes into the rocks a short distance downstream. Additionally, there are locally crafted wooden sculptures to admire. Accommodation is available at the Tourist Saraj, managed by the J&K Tourism Development Corporation under the Dharamarth Trust. A few kilometers beyond Sudh Mahadav lies Mantalai (1,450 meters), surrounded by lush deodar forests. Legend has it that this is where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Besides the Shiva temple, visitors can explore the complex created by Swami Dhrindra Brahmachari, which includes a tree-shaped house, an airstrip, a hostel, and several other unfinished projects. An excursion through the woods to Nania Devi, located 5 kilometers from Mantalai, offers stunning views of the surrounding mountain landscape.
Sudh Mahadav, a highly revered temple in the Jammu region, is believed to have been built over a thousand years ago. It stands as one of the major attractions near Patnitop, located in Chanani town, and draws a large number of Shiva devotees throughout the year. The temple features a trident (trishul), a natural black marble Lingam, and a mace (gada). Nearby, there is a holy spring known as Pap Nashni Bowli, which is said to cleanse the sins of anyone who bathes in it. During the Asad Purnima festival, many devotees flock to Sudh Mahadav. This three-day festival takes place every year in June and is one of the main highlights in Patnitop. Cultural programs, including dance and music, are organized during the festival, along with a small fair for visitors.
The main shrine of the temple features Lord Shiva as the presiding deity, along with his consort Parvati and their son Ganesha. Facing the main shrine are the temples of Goraknath, Kal Bhairav, and Bayankar Bhairav. Additionally, there is a small shrine dedicated to Ganesha, showcasing his idols in various postures. For devotees of Shiva, the ideal time to visit this shrine is in June, when a three-day festival takes place. Connected to the shrine of Sudh Mahadav is a well-known tourist spot in the Patnitop region called Gaurikund, which is considered a holy site. At Gaurikund, there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati, attracting a large number of pilgrims who come to offer their daily prayers. Each year, many pilgrims flock to Gaurikund during the three-day festival in June, where they worship Lord Shiva and Parvati in their forms of Uma and Shankar. This festival also features a special fair. Pilgrims visiting during this time bathe in the Dewaki River before performing Pooja in the temple. After paying their respects to Shiva and Parvati, devotees often proceed to Gaukaran and Papnashni Vavli, which are additional attractions of Sudh Mahadav.
According to legend, Goddess Parvati would take her daily bath at the spring in Gaurikund before offering prayers at Sudh Mahadav. This location once had natural springs where the goddess would bathe. The best time to visit Gaurikund is from March to October, as the climate is quite pleasant during these months. Sudh Mahadav is a beautiful shrine and a popular pilgrimage destination in Patnitop, Jammu, attracting many devotees, especially on auspicious days. There is an urgent need to develop this pilgrimage site, and the Jammu and Kashmir government should take serious steps to enhance this tourist and pilgrimage spot, encouraging large numbers of visitors to come and offer their prayers. Both pilgrims and general tourists should be motivated to visit this sacred place year-round. The J&K Tourism Development Corporation should consider constructing huts for the accommodation of pilgrims. Additionally, shops and other facilities should be established for the convenience of tourists, ensuring that the site is developed in a way that attracts visitors throughout the year, allowing them to pay their respects and receive blessings from Lord Shiva. The government should focus on developing this pilgrimage site to encourage more people to visit, which could also serve as a means of livelihood for the local community. This pilgrimage destination has largely remained untapped and unexplored, highlighting the need for its development as a major site for pilgrims, particularly to attract those visiting Vaishno Devi to also explore Sudh Mahadav in Chenani.
This pilgrim and tourist spot should be developed and promoted to attract visitors year-round, contributing to the local economy. Sudh Mahadav is a beautiful destination that deserves to be visited by pilgrims in large numbers throughout the year. To achieve this, we need to tap into the tourist and pilgrimage potential of the area, making it well-known across India. This way, people from various states can come to this shrine, offer their prayers, and seek absolution for their sins.
(Vivek Koul).
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