Umarkot Shiv Mandir
| Umarkot Shiv Mandir | |
|---|---|
عمرڪوٽ شيو مندر عمرڪوٽ شيو مندر | |
 Umerkot Shiv Mandir | |
  Location within Sindh | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Umerkot District |
| Deity | Shiva |
| Festivals | Shivaratri, Diwali |
| Governing body | Pakistan Hindu Panchayat |
| Location | |
| Location | Umerkot |
| State | Sindh |
| Country | Pakistan  |
| Coordinates | 25°24′58.7″N 69°46′34.5″E / 25.416306°N 69.776250°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hindu temple |
| Temple | 1 |
| Website | |
| Pakistan Hindu Council | |
| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
|---|
 |
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 one of the most sacred, and perhaps the oldest, Hindu places of worship in Sindh.[2]
History
According 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][4] The current structure of the temple was built by a Muslim man a century ago.[5]
Deity
The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva in the form of a magnificent Shiv Lingam.[4] Behind the main temple, there is a shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga.[5]
Festival
Every 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
References
- ↑ "Tharparkar famine: Feeding the soul". Tribune. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- 1 2 "The thriving Shiva festival in Umarkot is a reminder of Sindh's Hindu heritage - DAWN.COM".
- ↑ "Shive Mandir, Umarkot". Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- 1 2 "2,000-Year-Old Shiva Temple In Pakistan Houses A Shivling That Grows In Height". TimesNow. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Pakistan's Thar Desert boasts rich architecture". Tribune. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
