Bijli mahadev: Unveiling Bijli Mahadev Temple is found

Unveiling Bijli Mahadev Temple is found on Mathan Hill in Kashawri village, Kullu Valley, standing at an altitude of 2,460 meters from sea level. It provides panoramic views of the Parvati and Kullu valleys, with snow-covered Himalayas on clear days. It’s called Bijli Mahadev because of the lightning ( Bijli ) that strikes this place. According to locals, lightning strikes the temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva or Mahadev , and the wooden pole in front of it every 12 years, breaking the Shiva lingam into pieces. The pieces are searched and the lingam is put together by the temple priest using the home-made butter (chopad) taken from the nearby villages. That’s how the temple got its name of Bijli Mahadev . The Bijli Mahadev temple is an icon of Kullu's cultural identity. The trail to the temple is also well known for its scenic beauty. Thousands of pilgrims visit this shrine in Himachal Pradesh every year. The temple famously gets its name from a legend, associated with an annual lightning ( bijli ) strike. It holds that lightning strikes Bijli Mahadev annually, breaking the shrine apart. The priest then restores it with sattoo, collected from the local villages. But beyond this one story, how ...