Umarkot Shiv Mandir (Urdu: شِو مندِر), also known as Amarkot Shiv Mandir, is a Hindu temple situated in Umerkot District, near Rana Jaageer Goth, in Sindh Province of Pakistan.[1] This temple is perhaps the oldest in Sindh. The temple is one of the most sacred Hindu places of worship in the Sindh[2]
| Shiv Mandir | |
|---|---|
شِو مندِر | |
 Umerkot Shiv Mandir | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Umerkot District |
| Deity | Shiva |
| Festivals | Shivaratri, Diwali |
| Governing body | Pakistan Hindu Council |
| Location | |
| Location | Umerkot |
| State | Sindh |
| Country | Pakistan  |
  Shown within Sindh | |
| Geographic coordinates | 25°24′58.7″N 69°46′34.5″E / 25.416306°N 69.776250°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hindu temple |
| Temple(s) | 1 |
| Website | |
| Pakistan Hindu Council[usurped] | |
History
editAccording to the legend, thousands of years ago a man used to nourish cows here, where there was wide patches of grown grass. But eventually he noticed that one of his cows would go somewhere else and give her milk to a Lingam nearby. The man kept an eye on his cow and investigated her peculiar behaviour. Subsequently, people visited the area and after checking they concluded that it was a Shiv Lingam. Thus, Shiv Mandir was built.[3] The current structure of the temple was built by a Muslim man a century ago.[4]
Deity
editThe temple has magnificent Shiv Lingam, which is indeed one of the best in the whole world. Legend says that the Lingam kept growing itself until locals marked the height to literally observe the growth.[citation needed]
Festival
editEvery year on Maha Shivaratri, there is a huge three-day festival. On Maha Shivratri, many Pilgrims from lower and upper Sindh come and most of them stay for the three days of festivities. It is one of the biggest religious festivals in the country. It is attended by around 250,000 people. All the expenses were borne by the All Hindu Panchayat of Umarkot.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Tharparkar famine: Feeding the soul". Tribune. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ a b "The thriving Shiva festival in Umarkot is a reminder of Sindh's Hindu heritage - DAWN.COM".
- ^ "Shive Mandir, Umarkot". Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan's Thar Desert boasts rich architecture". Tribune. Retrieved 14 September 2021.