Chandrashekhar Temple At Saho Village – Chamba – Himachal Pradesh – Famous For Big Shivling And Miracle Nandi
Chandrashekhar temple is located around 15 kms from Chamba town in Saho village in Himachal Pradesh. The temple dedicated to Chandrashekhar or Shiva looks modern with slate roof and whitewashed pillars. The temple was rebuilt after the devastating floods of 1900. The temple is famous for a Natural big Shivling and miracle Nandi.
Natural Big Shivling Of Saho Chandrashekhar Temple
A big Shivling – 24 feet long – is worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum or garbhagriha. It is believed that the Shivling dates to the 10th century CE or before. The Shivling is made out of natural stone and copper plating has been done to its outer surface.
During the construction of the temple, the Shivling started to expand. The structure plans of the temple had to be continuously altered to fit the growing Shivling. But the Shivling continued to grow. Then the king of the region did intense meditation and penance to find a solution. It is said that Shiva appeared in the dream of the king and asked him to stop the construction of the temple and leave it in the present form. It is said that the Shivling stopped growing from then onwards.
A Nandi is etched on the pedestal on which the Shivling is worshipped.
The entrance of the temple shows Shiva in two forms an angry Shiva with three heads, stands on a corpse and wears a garland of skulls. The second form is of benign avatar holds a flower, rosary, trident and pot of water in his four arms.
Carvings on the entrance pillars include a Nataraja – dancing form of Shiva – in which though the sculpture is small in size, the sculptor is able to portray the dancing Shiva engrossed in dancing with a feeling of joy.
Miracle Nandi Of Saho Chandrashekhar Temple
The temple courtyard has a black, stone Nandi facing the temple. The divine bull and vehicle of Shiva wears a loving, friendly expression, tinged with mischief. This is miracle Nandi Bail. It is said that the Nandi was made out of copper but later it turned to stone. The bell of the around the Nandi bell looks like stone but it produces metallic sound.