Pisarnath Mahadev Mandir

Overview

Pisarnath Mahadev Mandir in Matheran, a scenic hill station in Raigad district, Maharashtra state of India. The temple is situated near Charlotte Lake, a famous picnic spot in the district. Matheran is a fascinating spot where tourists throng to have a nice view of Nature along with a wonderful view of sunrise and sunset. Since the shrine is located amidst a forest with lush greenery all around, devotees from faraway and near get fascinated to this temple.

About The Temple

The Pisarnath Mahadev Mandir is a temple dedicated to the deity Lord Shiva. Pisarnath, 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 Pisarnath Mahadev Mandir is an important site of religious significance for these reasons.

The Swayambhu Shiva Linga of the Pisarnath 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 picturesque surroundings of the temple only help to amplify the spiritual purity of the place. The high altitude of the temple (the Pisarnath 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 Pisarnath 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.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri

Mahashivratri is celebrated on a grand scale here. It is the hindu festival of India celebrated annually in reverence of the God Shiva. Number of devotees come to visit the temple. It is believed that Lord Shiva goes to meet Lord Rama in the Rama Temple and there is a procession through the market of the hill station.

Ram Navami

It is celebrated with Lord Rama visiting Lord Shiv in the Temple, again with a procession and celebrations throughout the market. Both those days are of major importance with the localities and the processions of the Gods are done in Palkhis!

Best Time to Visit

September to November and February to March.

Significance

It is believed that devotees can attain iha-para saukhyamsor joys of the mortal and immortal world by praying at this temple.

How to Reach Matheran

Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International airport is about a hundred kilometer away and this is the nearest airport to Matheran. From the airport there are a lot of buses and taxis that can take you to Matheran. Vir Dasgaon railway station is the nearest railhead to Raigad. This station is connected to Mumbai and Pune with regular trains. Taxi services are available from Vir Dasgaon to Raigad. Taxis are another way to get around town. They can be hired from nearby cities and used for local transport as well.

Temple Address

Pisarnath Mahadev Mandir,
Matheran, Raigad District,
Maharashtra, India, Pincode – 410206.