‘Jai Bhole Nath’ chants resonate at Aghanjar Mahadev temple
The sacred festival of Mahashivratri was celebrated with immense fervour and devotion at the historic Aghanjar Mahadev Temple, located at Khaniyara village in the foothills of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges. Devotees gathered in large numbers to honour Lord Shiva, as the temple resonated with chants of ‘Jai Bhole Nath’ throughout the day.
The temple, beautifully adorned with colourful decorations, saw a significant number of women devotees, who outnumbered the men, carrying Bel patra and milk — both of which hold immense importance in Shiva worship. The temple is believed to be over 500 years old, and according to local lore, it, along with other Shiva temples in the region, survived the devastating earthquake of 1905 that destroyed everything else in its path.
As per folklore, the temple’s origin traces back to when the king of Chamba visited the location where a sage named Ganga Bharti meditated. After an initial misunderstanding, the king experienced the divine presence of the sage and built the temple in tribute to Lord Shiva.
Chaman Lal, a local resident, proudly shared, “The eternal Dhuna (sacred fire) has been burning at the temple for the past 500 years.” The Gaddi community, residing in the hills, worships Lord Shiva, associating the deity with meditation and enlightenment, qualities in alignment with the transcendence embodied by the majestic Himalayan peaks. The Gaddi community also performs the popular Nuala celebrations, which feature musical renditions of folktales of Dhuru (Shiva).
Mahashivratri, which falls on the 14th day of the waning moon in the month of Phalguna, is one of the most significant festivals in the Hindu calendar. It marks the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is considered a day of spiritual rejuvenation and self-realisation.
