Mamleshwar Mahadev,Karsog, Himachal Pradesh India

Mamleshwar Temple

Ashta Dhatu idol

Mamleshwar Mahadev temple is located in the village named Mamel. The village is about 108km from Shimla. The district headquarter is Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.

This is an ancient temple .According to Ashutosh Maharaj and the newspaper “Divya Himachal” it is 5000 years old.

This temple witnessed Satyuga, Treta ,Dwapar and now Kalyuga. It is a sacred place where Rishi Bhrigu meditated. During the exile period, Pandavas constructed the outer part of the temple. An Akhand Dhuni (fire) is burning in the temple campus, from the Mahabharat period continuously and there is a small story behind it. A demon was living nearby in a cave. The villagers were bound to send one person daily as a food for him. Oneday a mother was wiping because today was the turn of her son. Pandavas were the guest of that house. Then Bhim (brother of pandava ) told the mother not to worry for it. I will go to the Demon. In the battle with demon, he killed him and came back. For the bravery and the memory of this event the villagers lighted the fire which is continuously burning.There are few things in the Temple which are, a Drum,a piece of wheat grain, and five Shivlingam which are believed to be the most ancient and of Mahabharat period. 

It is also important to write about Karsog valley for the convenience of the people or devotees visiting this place.

Karsog valley is known for its ethereal beauty and openness. There are many apple orchards and dense forest of pine and cedar. Holidays at Karsog valley relieve the tension due to monotonous and routined day to day life. The summer is very pleasant in the valley. There are also many temples in Karsog valley namely Munag Temple, Kamkshya temple, Shikari devi temple, and a seven storied historical Pargana fort, completely made out of wood. Pargana fort is famous for its architecture and its wooden carvings. It is worth seeing.

History of the Temple

At the end of Himyuga (ice age), the earth had internal movement due to which severe landslides took place at ”Kinner Kailash.  The Kinners left the place and came to this village.

At that time sage Bhrigu was in meditation. Sage Bhrigu, married a Kinner girl named Mamlisa. Two girl child were born to him. The two girl children were named Imla and Bimla. Due to the curse of some sages both girls became two rivers. It is said that due to these two rivers the land of Karsog became fertile and created this beautiful valley, that never faced any famine till date. There’s a beautiful statue of Shiva and Parvati made of Ashta dhatu. It is placed on a thall ( a big plate ) with Lord Bramha in the upper part, Lord Vishnu in other, and in the middle Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya, Shesh naga, Nandi and Veer Bhadra’s statues .Lord Shiva is three faced and fourth face is on the back side. It is said to be the face of Mahakaal. Seeing the face of Mahakaal is prohibited. There is one amazing thing in the temple. A single grain of wheat weighing 150 gm is placed in the covered box of glass. It is said to be of the Mahbharat period. There is a big kothi in the backside of the temple. It is said at this place bhandaras of gods took place. The upper floor is the residence of gods and the lower floor is residence of Mahakal.

150gm wheat grain and Drum of Bhim

Shivlingam installed by Pandava

Festivals

Navratra festival is celebrated in the month of Chaitra. A wooden statue of Gauri and Shankar i.e.  Shiva and Parvati is constructed over which the flower collected by the girl children aged between 5 to 12 years is poured and worshipped. This happens all over the month. In the month of Baisakh a marriage ceremony in traditional style is celebrated.

On Panchami of Baisakh, the wooden statue of Lord Shiva and Parvati is immersed in the reservoir  present there

Places worth seeing near by

1. Kamakshya Devi temple

2. Mahunag temple

3. Pangna fort

4. Mahamaya temple

5. Shikari devi temple

Karsog is a town in Karsog mandal of Mandi district and an important place of tourism interest. This is a wide valley criss crossed by streams and carpeted with the fields of fruits and vegetables.

Distance of the temple from important places

From Mandi-Karsog -125 km

From Shimla-108 km

It is well connected by road from both Shimla and Mandi.

Facilities

1. Transport dept of HRTC.

2. Primary health care centre and hospital

3. Rest house for comfortable stay.

4.  Drinking water by the agar panchayat. 

5.  Public toilets and bathrooms.