Shivaratri preparations: Sacred ‘ghee mandals’ adorn temples
The temples of Mandi — also known as ‘Chhoti Kashi — have been beautifully adorned with ‘ghee mandals’, starting from the Tara Ratri (night of stars), in preparation for the upcoming Maha Shivaratri festival.
The ‘ghee mandals’ are now gracing the sacred sanctums of prominent temples such as Baba Bhootnath Temple, Ardhanarishwar Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Thanehra, Kameshwar Mahadev Temple, Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple, Neelkanth Temple in Old Mandi and Tamrapati Mahadev Shiva Baodi. These divine adornments captivate devotees with their spiritual beauty.
At the Baba Bhootnath Temple, the self-manifested (swayambhu) Shiva Lingam was adorned with a ‘ghee mandal’ on the night of Monday. On the first day of the adornment, devotees were deeply moved by the worship, prayers and the sight of the Shivalingam in its ‘Bijli Mahadev’ form. The chants of “Har Har Mahadev”, “Kashi Vishwanath Shambhu”, and “Baba Bhutnath” echoed through the streets of this holy town, making the atmosphere spiritually charged.
As per the traditions surrounding the ‘ghee mandals’, the temples do not allow regular water-based rituals (Jalabhishek) during this period. However, devotees are allowed to offer pure butter as a part of the ‘ghee mandal’ worship. The ‘ghee mandals’, which are intricately placed, prevent devotees from entering the inner sanctum (garbhagriha) of the temples during this time.
In these temples, the Shivalingam is given a new form every day, symbolising different avatars and manifestations of Lord Shiva. This practice offers devotees an opportunity to experience the diverse aspects of the Lord Shiva during the sacred period leading up to Maha Shivaratri, which will be observed on February 26. On that day, the devotees will get to witness the original form of the Shivalingam in all its glory.
The beautiful ‘ghee mandals’, along with the daily transformation of the Shivalingams, are creating an atmosphere of devotion and excitement in Mandi, where the preparations for Maha Shivaratri are well underway.
