Garhwali Folk Story about Yamkeshwar Mahadev Temple (Udaipur Patti, Pauri Garhwal)

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional Stories, Community Narratives -67

  Compiled and Edited by: Bhishma Kukreti (Management Training Expert)

 (Reference: Hema Uniyal, 2011, Kedarkhand, Taxshila Prakashan, New Delhi, India, page 92)

           The Garhwali folk story behind Yamkeshwar Temple is amazing

           Yamkeshwar is famous Shiva Temple of Gangasalan. Yamkeshwar is situated at the bank of Sateri or Satedi Gad (Satyabhama or Satyarudra Rivulet) and is surrounded by Shamsan or cremation field from three corners. The Yamkeshwar Shiva Temple comes under the area of Badoli village three kilometer away from Amoli village. On last Monday of Shravan, there is large fare in this temple. There is also fare on every Shiva Ratri. There are 97 villages those visit the temple regularly. Once, Yamkeshwar was famous centre for Tantrik Vidya.

             Yamkeshwar has also importance in Shilpkar Liberation Movement in Garhwal where in 1931, a conference was held by Shilpkar to eradicate untouchability from the society.

            The folk story behind Yamkeshwar Mahadev Temple is that Great sage Maharishi Mrikand got son by worshipping lord Shiva. Mrikand named his son as Markandeya. However, Narad, by the study of astrology suggested that Markandeya would die by eleventh year. Mrikand became sad. Markandeya asked the remedies for getting longer life. Sage Mrikand suggested the remedy.

        Markandeya went to Manikut hill Plato and started Tap of Maha Mrityunjaya Jap at the bank of Shatrudra or Sateri River. Markandeya made the image of Shiva by sand and started Jap under a fig (Peepal) tree. At the set day of death for Markandeya, Yamraj (the death God or God of Righteous acts) reached to take the life of Markandeya. Markandeya requested to Yamraj that since his Jap of Maha Mrityunjaya (a religious ritual for winning over death) is incomplete, Yamraj should wait. However, Yamraj threw Kalpash or death weapon on Markandeya. Markandeya caught the sand image of Lord Shiva by both hands. The sand image broke down and Maha Mrityunjaya Rudra emerged from the image. Watching appeared Lord Shiva, Yamraj ran towards Jamradi village (Today’s Yamkeshwar). Yamraj started doing Tap for lord Shiva (form Rudra) at Jamradi (Today’s Yamkeshwar). Lord Rudra told to Yamraj that where there is Maha Mrityunjaya Jap (ritual) Yamraj should not enter there. Maha Mrityunjaya or Lord Shiva told to Yamraj that where he (Yamraj) was performing Tap a self born Ling image is there. Lord Shiva suggested Yamraj to perform Jap or prayer of that self born Ling. Lord Shiva told that this image would be famous by name of Yama. Lord Shiva blessed that whoever performs the Yama Shiv Ling that person would get longer life.  Yamraj performed Jap of lord Shiva or Ishwar for a year there. Since, Yamraj performed Ishwar prayer or Jap there it is called Yamkeshwar 

  

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti Shiva Ratri Day 27/ 2/2014 for review and interpretation

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional stories, Community Narratives for Effective Managers, Effective executives, Effective Boss, Effective Supervisors or Stories for Effective management, management Lesson from Garhwali Folk Literature from Garhwal, to be continued …in next chapter

                                 References

1-Bhishma Kukreti, 1984, Garhwal Ki Lok Kathayen, Binsar Prakashan, Lodhi Colony, Delhi 110003, 

2- Bhishma Kukreti 2003, Salan Biten Garhwali Lok Kathayen, Rant Raibar, Dehradun

3- Bhishma Kukreti, Garhwali Lok Kathaon ma Prabandh Vigyan ka Tantu , Chitthi Patri’s Lok Kathayen Visheshank  , Dehradun

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Garhwali Folk Story about Yamkeshwar Mahadev Temple near Badoli (Udaipur Patti, Pauri Garhwal); Garhwali Folk Story about Yamkeshwar Mahadev Temple near Amoli (Udaipur Patti, Pauri Garhwal); Garhwali Folk Story about Yamkeshwar Mahadev Temple near Kandi (Udaipur Patti, Pauri Garhwal); Garhwali Folk Story about Yamkeshwar Mahadev Temple near Kasyali (Udaipur Patti, Pauri Garhwal); Garhwali Folk Story about Yamkeshwar Mahadev Temple, 49 KM from Rishikesh near (Udaipur Patti, Pauri Garhwal);