Gasota Mahadev of Gasota

Hi,

This temple is one of the few famous temples of the Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh. I had visited the Narvdeshwar temple of Sujanpur, Awah Devi temple at Awah Devi and few others but this temple, which is located only at 6 to 8 kilometres from NIT Hamirpur was yet to be walked up to.

So, in one fine evening in the June month, when the Sun was almost hiding below the Shivalik, I picked up my motor-cycle and reached there. I had heard about a swimming pool near to the temple, and that increased my curiosity. The only other public swimming pool that I had visited in Himachal Pradesh, is one at Macleodganj. Therefore, I was more than glad to find one very near to my current residence.

Gasota Mahadev:

Gasota Mahadev, as the name 'Mahadeva' suggest is dedicated to the lord Shiva. There is a legend linked with the construction of the temple, which says that the Shiva-linga was found on a field by a farmer and the King decided to bring that Shiva-linga to his own place and establish it in a temple, but they could not lift the Shiva-linga from Gasota.

Shiva-Linga enshrined at Gasota Mahadev, Hamirpur

They tried, but in vain, and therefore a temple was built at Gasota itself. The central shrine, the Shiva-linga,  was a somewhat cracked.

The location of the temple is quite beautiful, and easy to reach. Adjacent to a peepal tree is constructed this temple, having a large courtyard in front and sufficient rooms to accommodate any religious activity of the surrounding people.

Two water streams, one on each sides of the village run near to the temple. It is linked with the road that run from Hamirpur to Jahu via a diversion at Dosarka, separating from NH- 88.

One should take the help of the locals, if you feel any difficulty in finding the place.

Cemetery - Samadhi Sthal

A cemetery on the back of the temple, and to the left at the entrance gate of the temple, is an unique thing about this temple.This place is not a common men cemetery in fact, it is known as the 'Samadhi Sthal,' where the saints who lived at this temple, had accepted the samadhi(burial, tomb).

It is a very famous term used in Hinduism, and very much linked with the Sadhus(sage, saint), who are said to have achieved the nirvana or moksha or say enlightenment.

I spotted two more saints wearing the kesari(Saffron) cloths, and thought that they were next in the line, but I didn't dare to ask. People were coming and going constantly, and made me wonder about the power of faith, that bring them to such unknown places.

Swimming Pool:

 Next I stepped down the stairway followed by a pakka path leading to the swimming pool, roofed with nothing but the open sky. The blue colour of the walls enclosing the running water and therefore making it stop momentarily, made it look blue, and very much fascinating.

However a greenish tinge was added by the algae at the bottom, and the reflections of the greenery all around the corners spread across the hilly terrain across the stream. Green colour dominates  others in the monsoon months. The sun had set and the dusk of the twilight soon would dominate everything visible, so after clicking few possible shots, I came back.

I wanted to take bath, but the suspended silt and shreds of algae in the pool, and also not carrying an under wear other than I wore were other reasons for not taking a bath. A man from the nearby village joined me in my back ride, and we talked till his village was reached. That was helpful in creating this post, but unfortunately, while writing this post, I could not recall his name.
The nearest place to visit, is Taal, Baba Balak-nath temple(DeotSidh), Jwala Ji and Govind Sagar lake.

Thank you!