Story of Manikaran Temple & Gurudwara
Manikaran, located approximately 500 km away from India’s capital Delhi, in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, is a famous pilgrimage site. This place is famous for the Manikaran Temple, Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib, and natural hot water springs. The Manikaran Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and its story is very interesting and mythological.
According to mythology, once Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were traveling on earth. They were attracted by the beauty of Manikaran and stopped here. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati stayed here for many years, and during this time, one day, Goddess Parvati lost her earring (manika). This earring fell into the water and went to the underworld (Patal Lok).
It is said that when Lord Shiva came to know about this, he became very angry. His anger shook the entire universe, and the king of the underworld, Sheshnag, in fear, sprayed water forcefully, causing not only Goddess Parvati’s earring but many other gems to come up from the underworld. Since then, this place has been known as ‘Manikaran’.
It is also said that when Sheshnag sent back the gems, a hot water spring erupted there. This spring still exists today, and devotees come from far and wide to bathe in its waters. It is also believed that bathing here cures many ailments.
Manikaran Gurudwara is also an important religious site. This Gurudwara is associated with the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji started the tradition of Langar (community meal) here. The food prepared for the Langar at this place is cooked using the water from the naturally occurring hot springs.
The Manikaran Temple and its mythological history are not only significant from a religious perspective but also form an important part of Indian culture and mythology. The natural beauty and religious significance of this place make it a unique pilgrimage site.
Whenever I have gone to Kasol, I have almost always visited Manikaran, and my experience at both pilgrimage sites in Manikaran has been quite memorable. First, I went in 2021 after the second lockdown. At that time, the Manikaran Shiva Temple was closed. There were fewer people, and there was still a lot of fear of COVID-19. But during that time, the Manikaran Gurudwara was open. I had a desire to bathe, but the water was very hot, so I just washed my hands and face, bowed my head, and then had Langar.
For the first time, I saw such hot water naturally occurring. I also liked the Langar food in the Kasol area in a different way. The views around the Manikaran pilgrimage site also seemed quite beautiful, partly because it was my first time coming to such an area, and I had a different image of the Parvati Valley in my mind.
The second and third times, I saw quite a few people here, more in the temple and fewer in the Gurudwara. But now I don’t have any particular desire to go here again. I didn’t have any such experience here that would make me want to come back, but yes, anyone who has never been here should definitely come at least once.
