Panauti Indreshwar Mahadev temple is located at Panauti in
Nepal. This is a very important temple in the area and is dedicated to Shiva. The
temple plays a key role in the Jatara ceremony which also involves three other
temples in the town.
Legend says that Indra, the king of demigods, seduced
Ahalya, the wife of the sage Gautama. It is said that Ahalya was cursed by the sage
converted into a stone, which is now at the north eastern corner of the
temple’s platform. It is also believed that Shiva protected Indra here after he
repented and performed penance for sin redemption. The incident is mentioned in
the Ramayana.
It is one the oldest and largest wooden temples in Nepal.
The original temple is believed to have been built during 1294 CE. It took
nearly a century to complete the temple. The temple underwent a series of
renovation especially during the 16th century CE, 18th century and during 1990s.
The huge temple has a three-tier roof. The temple is dotted
with sculptures of Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Ashta Matrikas (eight mother
goddesses), and shalabhanjika(s) in sensuous poses. Incidents from Ramayana,
Mahabharata and Hindu Puranas are to part of the temple architecture.
A Shivling is worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum and
darshan of it is allowed only during the Makar Mela festival held once in 12
years.
The compound of the temple has shrines of Unmatta Bhairav,
Shiva, Nandi, Vishnu and numerous Shivlings.
Funeral is held at the Triveni Ghat near the temple.
On the evening of the fourth day of the Panauti Jatra
festival, Goddess Bhadrakali, worshipped in the Panauti Bhadrakali temple, moves
around the on a chariot and is accompanied by Indreshwar Mahadev, Unmatta
Bhairava and Brahmayani.