Harshanath Temple is located at Harsh, around 21 km South of Sikar, in Rajasthan. The shrine is situated on a hill and one has to navigate carefully to reach the shrine. There is a motorable road.
Dedicated to Mahadev Shiva, the construction of this temple was started by the Chahamana Ruler Guvaka in the 10th century CE and subsequently completed by his successor Simharaja I. However, the pran pratishta of the main deity and certain extension of the temple were done subsequently by his successor Sandipita. One of the inscriptions from the temple mentions the construction of the temple under the direction of renowned architect Chandashiva. The temple faces east and consists of a sanctum sanctorum, mahamandapa and a porch. The spire of the temple is presently missing. The exterior of the sanctum is decorated with the tastefully carved images of gods and goddesses. The relief carvings on the doorjamb depict divine figures of Savitri, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. There are also images of flying celestials, dwarapalas etc.
The original temple was a specimen of the Chahamana art and
architecture style, but was destroyed and defaced in the late Mughal era. The
temple today has been reconstructed using the remnants of the original
structure.
The main deity worshipped here is Shiva in the form of a Shivling.
There is a monolithic nandi in the temple premises. There are also shrines of other
deities in the shrine.
The main festival observed in the temple is Mahashivratri.