Lodheshwar Mahadev Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at Amausi, Lucknow, is about 40 km from Barabanki town.

• By train

  Burhwal Junction is the nearest railway station to Ram Nagar, the tehsil where the temple lies.

• By road

  National Highway 28 passes through Barabanki district. Ram Nagar, the area where the temple lies, is on NH28C.

Why devotees come here

Lodheshwar Mahadev Temple is a Shiva temple in village Mahadeva, Ram Nagar tehsil, Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh. It stands on the banks of the Ghaghra river. Lodhi Rajputs regard the temple as their kuldevta, or family deity.

The Shivling here is said to be one of the rarest of the 52 Shivlings linked to Shakti Peeths across India. Devotees worship it as Lodheshwar Mahadev, and the temple holds a special place for the Lodhi community.

Legend says that after the Mahabharata the Pandavas performed a great yagya at this place. A well called Pandav-Kup still exists, the story goes. Another legend tells how the surviving Lodhis went to their kuldevta for help when Parshurama cleared the kshatriyas.

A Barabanki district history page says the region was important in the Mahabharat period, and cites the Lodheshwar Mahadeva Shivling as proof. Pilgrims on foot carry Ganges water from Kanpur, Banda, Jalaun and Hamirpur to offer to the Shivling. The temple draws large crowds at Mahashivratri, when its fair is held.

Festivals

• March or AprilMahashivratri fair

  Millions of devotees throng Mahadeva for the fair held on Mahashivratri.

• November or DecemberLocal cattle fair

  A fair for local people, where many cattle are bought and sold.

Tips for your visit

• Mahashivratri in March or April draws millions of devotees, so visit on another day if you want fewer people.
• At one past Shivratri, barricades collapsed under the rush of devotees and kanwarias at the Shivling.

Questions people ask