In the dense forests of Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh, there is a temple of Lord Shiva, which remains in discussion across the country due to its vastness and mysterious beliefs. Local people consider Bhuteswarnath Mahadev situated in the forest of Marauda village as the self-proclaimed Shivalinga. It is believed that this Shivalinga has appeared naturally from the earth and its size is increasing with time.
According to local people, it is also called Bhakurra Mahadev. There are many folktales associated with the vastness of Shivalinga here. These include beliefs of hearing the roar of a black bull in the forest, cows milking themselves at a particular place and hearing bells and sounds like ‘Om Namah Shivay’ at night. Let us know the complete story of this unique Shivdham.
Huge Shivling found in the forest
This natural Shivalinga is situated in the dense forest of Marauda village, at some distance from Gariaband district headquarters. When the devotees reach here after crossing the rocky path and forest, a huge Shivalinga is visible in front. According to the local people, its height is said to be around 65 to 70 feet, while its natural expansion is said to be around 220 feet. It is said to be one of the largest Shivalingas in Asia. However, independent scientific confirmation of its size and claim of being the ‘largest’ is not available.
The story is related to the sound of the black bull
An old folk tale is also associated with the name of Bhuteswarnath. It is said that once upon a time, the sound of mooing a black bull was heard in this forest. The villagers could not understand where the sound was coming from. Later, it is said that a natural Shivalinga was found around the same area from where this sound was heard. For this reason the local people started calling it Bhakurra Mahadev.
Did the cows offer milk themselves?
Another story regarding this Shivalinga is popular among the villagers. According to the folk tale, some shepherds saw in the forest that their cows were coming near a particular rock and releasing milk on their own. Seeing this, the villagers suspected that there was something unusual at that place. When excavation was done there in the presence of elders, it is said that a natural Shivalinga was visible from the ground. After this the worship started there. This incident is part of popular belief and independent historical confirmation of it is not available.
Does the size of Shivling increase every year?
The most popular belief related to Bhuteswarnath is regarding its increasing size. Local people and people associated with the temple claim that the size of Shivling is gradually increasing. There is also said to be a change in the shape of the water bodies present along with it. This claim is quite famous among the devotees, but scientific confirmation of its continuous increase is not available. Therefore it is seen only as a local religious belief.
Jalhari separated after lightning
According to local people, during a natural disaster in the area in the 1960s, there was an incident of lightning near Shivalinga. After this, the part of Jalhari connected to Shivalinga got separated. Even today Jalhari is considered an important part of Shivalinga. Nandi is also seated in front of Shivling and the entire place has become a major center of worship.
How did Bhuteshwarnath Dham become famous?
It is said that earlier the information about this place was limited to the surrounding villages. Later, some devotees who came from far away places got information about this place through religious literature. After this the number of people coming here started increasing. Worship and distribution of Prasad started and gradually this natural Shivalinga situated in the forest started gaining recognition as a major religious place.
Claim of sound of bells and chants at night
The most mysterious belief related to Bhuteshwarnath Mahadev is about the sounds heard at night. Local people and some devotees claim that the sound of bells can be heard here in the silence of the night. Some people also talk about hearing mantras like ‘Om Namah Shivay’. However, these claims have not been scientifically confirmed. These are local beliefs and experiences of devotees.
Crowds gather on Sawan and Mahashivratri
Devotees visit Bhuteshwarnath Mahadev throughout the year, but on occasions like Sawan, Mahashivratri and Somvati Amavasya, a special crowd is seen here. Devotees from far-flung areas arrive with water and worship Lord Shiva. There is a local belief that the wishes made with a true heart are fulfilled here.
Unique confluence of faith, nature and mystery
The specialty of Bhuteshwarnath Mahadev is not just its huge natural form. The folk tales associated with it also give it a distinct identity. The sound of the black bull, the story of cows offering milk, the belief of the growing Shivalinga and the sound of bells at night – all these things make this place mysterious among the devotees. Confirming these claims from a scientific point of view is a different matter, but from the point of view of faith, Bhuteshwarnath Mahadev is still very special for thousands of devotees. This natural Shivalinga situated amidst a dense forest has become an important part of the religious and cultural identity of Chhattisgarh.