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Thanesar is one of the
most sacred places of Hindu pilgrimage. The town derives its name from the
words Sthan-esvar or the abode of God (Mahadev). The town was once the
centre of great learning. Today it is famous for the Sthanesvar Mahadev
temple and the Ma Bhadra Kali Temple. It lies adjoining the town of
Kurukshetra and is often called its twin town.
It
can besaid without a doubt that the presiding deity of Thanesar is Lord
Shiva. It is after the Sthanesvar Shiva Linga Temple that Thanesar gets
its name. Vaman Puran categorically mentions the importance of this temple
and legends tell us that Lord Brahma Himself laid the first Linga of
LordShiva at the temple. Renovated in recent times, the temple has a white
amla (fruit shaped) dome. A large water body has been designed before the
temple. A Gurudwara that lies opposite the Sthanesvar temple marks the
spot sanctified by the visit of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
The famous Ma Bhadra
Kali temple celebrates
the legend of Sati Mata. It lies a short drive from the Sthanesar Mahadev
Temple. The learned say Sati's lower limb fell here, granting the area the
sanctity of a Sidh Peethor a place where wishes are fulfilled. The temple
has been renovated with red stone and the inner sanctum has been
beautified. At a well in the precincts, devotees offer terracotta horses
as offerings in thanks-giving, each time their wishes are fulfilled. The
inner sanctum of the temple houses both the awe inspiring and the sublime
forms of the Mother Goddess Kali. Thousands of devotee throng the temple
on the holy days of Navratre (March-April and September-October) and every
Saturday.
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