The holy month of Shravan has started from today. Shiva temples aka Shivalayas are resounding with the sound of Har Har Mahadev. At a distance of 4 km from Gondal city, the most ancient and mythical swayambhu Shivalaya; Sureshwar Mahadev is located in the middle of the scenic area beside the Veri lake. This 350 year old temple was built by the royal king Bhagwatsinhji. A large number of devotees took advantage of the aarti on the first day of Shravan month. Here, devotees from the Gondal and the surrounding area take advantage of Shiva’s darshan and aarti.
From dawn to dusk, there is chanting of Har Har Mahadev at Sureshwar Mahadev temple. “In Gondal, Bhagwatsinhji Bapu has established Nav Nath Mahadev in the city out of which one of them is Sureshwar Mahadev temple,” says Nikhilbhai Joshi, Priest. He has been worshipping since past 15 years while his past three generations were also devoted to Sureshwar temple.
Bhagwatsinhji, the royal of Gondal, used to visit Sureshwar Mahadev regularly. It is this place where the triveni sangam of historicity, religion and environment is celebrated. Maharaja Bhagwatsinhji built many Shivalayas around Gondal. Regular vadpuja, laghurudra is organized in the month of Shravan. The wishes of the devotees who come here are fulfilled.
“I come to visit Sureshwar Mahadev temple every day for all 365 days and Sureshwar Mahadev fulfills all the wishes of devotees,” says Tarunbhai Joshi, a devotee from Gondal. It is during the month of Shravan, on every Monday, Mahadev is decorated differently.
