Pisharnath Mahadev Temple

The Shiva linga in the Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir dates back to a very long time that nobody is able to tell how old it is. The temple itself is in a dense forested area and the location of the temple is as eerie as it is old. The lingam of Shiva here is considered to the family deity of the folks in the village and they come here to offer prayers at times of all ceremonies and functions. The folks of the village consider these prayers as very important and come here to pray at the start of any endeavors or some special occasions in their family.

This temple is perhaps the oldest known temple in the hill station of Matheran. Pisharnath, the deity in whose honour this temple is built, is believed to be the “grama devata” or the village god of this area. Hence, this temple is of great significance to the local populace. The Shiva Linga here is “swayambhu” which is to say, that the shiva linga is “self-manifested” or created of its own accord. Due to various natural phenomena, stones or in some cases ice forms itself into the shape of a Shiva Linga without any artificial assistance. According to the Hindu belief, these are regarded as “swayambhu” or “self-sprung” Shiva Lingas and are considered extremely auspicious. The Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir is an important site of religious significance for these reasons.

The Swayambhu Shiva Linga of the Pisharnath Mahadev Mandir appears in an extraordinary and unusual ‘L’ shape – created completely naturally with no artificial interference whatsoever. This Shiva Linga is completely smeared with sindoor, a vermillion powder that is considered auspicious and signifies life. This ancient Shiva temple is located on the banks of a lake, which has now come to be known as “Charlotte” – a living mark of Matheran’s colonial past. The temple is set in a beautifully secluded place and gives peace to the visitors in its silent beauty. The picturesque surroundings of the temple only help to amplify the spiritual purity of the place. The high altitude of the temple (the Pisharnath Mahadev temple is set at a height of approximately 2516 feet above sea level), gives the visitors a breath taking vantage point – offering not only religious and spiritual enrichment but also an unparalleled scenic beauty.

The temple has a simple house like structure constructed in brown stone and the simplicity is so much alike the Mahadev himself, Lord Mahadev is one God who likes simplicity and doesn’t prefer too much of noise and décor both on his persona and in his place of worship. In accordance with that, the temple is a very simple building and it resembles a home for all that its worth. It has a two layer roof structure with the upper roof layer proving to be the tower of the temple. Simplicity is etched all over this temple.

The Pisharnath Mahadev temple is best visited before sunset. Set deep inside the forests, the temple has an interesting architecture. Unlike most Hindu temples, the temple is not constructed with distinctively identifiable features like spires and towers. Instead, the temple is a small red building made out of wood and brick and has a tin roof above it that is built at two different levels. The four walls of the temple are set with windows extending from one end of the wall to the other, and the main entry is gated with a massive thick wooden door. It is believed that devotees can attain iha-para saukhyamsor joys of the mortal and immortal world by praying at this temple.