Sunday, June 7, 2015

Sri Siddheshwar Nath - Largest Shiva Linga in World

Dear friends, 

Recently I had been to North-east India for official visit. That had given me opportunity to be invited by Bhagwan Shiv at  Sri Siddheshwar Nath Temple and I have been blessed with the Darshan of Shiv- parivar.

The largest Shivling in the world has been discovered not quite long ago by the people of Arunachal Pradesh in a town called Ziro also known as Apatani Plateau which is located at an altitude of 5754 ft. (1,780m) above sea level in Arunachal Pradesh of North East India. It is mentioned in the Chapter-17 of Rudra Khand of 1873 Edition of Shiv Purana when it was translated from Parsi to Hindi . As legands says Sanskrit version of Ancient times was translated into Parsi in Medieval age.



The Shivling stands in a forest area and is around 4 km from Hapoli town at Ziro. The district headquarters Ziro is around 116 km from Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh. Ziro is a census town in Lower Subansiri district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It has been a favorite town for World Heritage Site for a number of years now. In a meeting of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) on December 12, 2012 it was shortlisted for inclusion in the Tentative List for further nomination to UNESCO for inscription in the World Heritage Site. The part of the town which is the centre of economic activities and where the administrative offices are located is called as Hapoli or locally known by the Apatanis as "Hao-Polyang". Ziro is around 116 kms from the state capital Itanagar and takes approx 4 hours via the improved Hoj-Potin road along NH229 and 150 kms via the Assam route. Earlier the nearest railway station from Ziro was located at North Lakhimpur in Assam near the Arunachal-Assam border which is around 100 kms from Ziro.



Sri Sidheshvar Nath Temple is an ancient temple for Lord Shiva and His family- Parvati, Kartikeyan, Ganesha and Ganga. It is believed, that Linga of lord Siva is having highest length here i.e. 25 Feet in length and 22 Feet width Which was discovered by a wood cutter Mr Prem Subba in year 2004. This is self made Shiv ling having garland of Safatic, naturally. Clean water calls as Ganga keep flowing continuously on lower side of Shiva Linga. This is very holy and peaceful place to worship.



The epic is that while Arya Varsh was waiting for Maha Shiva Linga and Rishi Muniyang were searching for huge Shiva Linga which was promised by Lord Shiva as written in the Shiv Purana as “I will be residing in a huge Siva Linga like a "AGNI LINGAM"-Mountain of fire which will be found in a place of Arunachal in Eastern world that place will be named as Linga Laya.” It is mentioned in the Chapter-17 of Rudra Khand of 1873 Edition of Shiv Purana.



In this Shaloka of Shiv Purana, Lord Shiva was preaching in front of Lord Vishnu & Lord Brahma while both Gods were tested by Lord Shiva be. He let them went to find ending points of both ends of “Agni Lingam” because of their false claim about superiority. In that test Lord Brahma Dev failed as he cheated that he had reached upper end of the Agni Lingam. Lord Vishnu spoke truth that he could not reached ending point in Southern direction. So Lord Shiva blessed Lord Vishnu to be worshiped by the devotees till the end of eternity. Lord Shiva was standing in “Agni Lingam”,so he spoke about the “Jyotira Lingas” that there will be Jyotira Lingas in very small sizes. Devotees will worship him in Jyotira Lingas to remit their sins of life time and receive many fold blessings. Meanwhile Lord Shiva informed that he would reside in huge Shiva Linga- AGNI LINGA which will appear in Arunachal for blessing to all visitors, so whoever merely visit to this Shiva Linga will be blessed for remittance of sins in their life time and fruitful blessing in many folds.



On that auspicious day of preaching by Lord Shiva, both Brahma Dev & Vishnu Dev made grand worship to the Lord Shiva in presence of whole family members of the Lord Shiva namely Pravati, Kartikeyan, Ganesha & other associates of the Lord Shiva. He further declared that day would be called as "Shiv-Ratri". He said that who so ever would worship him on Shivratri will be blessed more than one year worships of a persons in ordinary earth-day.



Many generations of all Yuga passed away like Satya yuga & Dwarapa yuga, Treta yuga and now Kalyuga is passing at present. Many legands left by Rishi-Muni and Sadhu-Saints who devotedly worshiped Lord Shiva.They left good hope for new generations to find huge Shiva Linga as mentioned in sacred "Shiv Purana" in the Arunachal. Present living all brahaman and Sadhus were searching in Arunachal Pradesh for huge Shiva Linga. It was miraculously discovered in 1st forthnight of the July 2004 at Kardo forest of Ziro area under Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. It was discovered by Sri Prem Subba- a wood cutter who was felling a tree on that spot. The falling tree was changing its direction from targeted spot.So he cleared the grasses of jungle in which this Shiva Linga was appeared.



A brief features of this Shiva Linga are like as follows, Height is 24 feet, Circumference is 22 feet, Pravati stands in backside, Kartikeyan in right side, Ganesha is sitting in left side, Ganga is flowing from beneath of Shiva Linga. Bhagwan Shiv is wearing Rudra mala and Bhashki Nag at top of head and also Bheel patta at head of left side. Nandi is laying under earth that slightly appearing in surface. 



This Siva Linga is named as Sri Sidheswar Nath Temple.The name of  Sri Sidheswar Nath is among the 1008 designated names of the Lord Shiva. Arunachal is land of Dev Bhumi and believed to be “Sidh Peeth” means land of godliness. So World Tallest Siva Linga is named as “ Sri Sidheswar Nath” as he is standing in land of Sidh Peeth.



How to reach there:
Distance from Hapoli Town (Head Quarter of Lower Subansiri District) just 4(Four Km) through motor able road up to Temple.
Distance from Itanagar(Capital of Arunachal Pradesh) 116km/4/4-1/2 hrs drive.
Distance from North Lakhimpur(Assam) 140km/4hrs drive Which is nearest rail way.
Distance from Guwahati Assam(Gate way of North East State) 540km/11hrs Drive



This amazing place of worship is not yet declared as a pilgrim place and worshipers of this sacred place are hopping to have it recognized by ASI and other Hindu religious organisations as a place of pilgrimage. 



This Sidh Peeth as Puranic saying goes to”…….keval dharshan karne se hi jivan kal ke paap se mukt ho jayega aur anant pal payega…………”




Om Nameh Shiva..!!!

No comments: