| Mahakal Temple | |
|---|---|
महाकाल मन्दिर | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Darjeeling district |
| Deity | Mahakala |
| Festivals | All major Hindu and Buddhist festivals |
| Location | |
| Location | Darjeeling |
| State | West Bengal |
| Country |  India |
 Interactive map of Mahakal Temple | |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Temple |
| Creator | Lama Dorjey Rinzing |
| Established | 1782 |
TheMahakal Temple orMahakal Mandir (Devanagari: महाकाल मन्दिर). Translation: The master ofKaal[time]) is a sacredHindu temple located inDarjeeling,West Bengal, India, dedicated to the Hindu godShiva, the third god in theHindu triumvirate. The temple was built in 1782 by Lama Dorjey Rinzing and is perched atop theObservatory Hill and is an amalgamation of Hindu and Buddhist religions. It is a religious site where both religions coexist harmoniously.[1][2][3][4]
Mahakal Temple stands as a historical edifice on the spot where aBuddhist Monastery named 'Dorje-Ling' once stood, which was built by Lama Dorjey Rinzing in 1765. Prior to that it is believed that the spot was a sacred spot of the aboriginal Lepcha folks. Later a monastery was constructed on the spot and worshipped by bothLepchas andBhutias.
It was after the invasion of the Gurkha Army around 1788 that the monastery was desecrated and destroyed by the invading troops and in course of time the sacred place overwhelmingly began to represent the Hindu symbolisms of the majority Nepali community. Legend has it that threeShiva-Lingas representingBrahma,Vishnu andMaheshwar (Shiva) manifested themselves at the site in 1782. The monastery itself was plundered and destroyed in 1815 during theGorkha invasion after which it was shifted toBhutia Busty about a mile away and was called theBhutia Busty Monastery. The Temple is a much revered and visited religious shrine of the area.[3][5]
Legend has it that the name Darjeeling was derived from the name of the monastery 'Dorje-Ling' itself.
The main Mahakal temple is devoted to Shiva and it witness devotees from all sections of society and religions most visiting the temple for both leisure or pilgrimage. Bells and hundreds of colorful prayer flags line the up-hill walk and the shrine.
The three gold platedLingams inside the main temple represent Hindu GodsBrahma,Bishnu andMaheswar. There are idols ofBuddha alongside the Lingams where both a Hindu priest and a Buddhist monk perform religious rituals and offer prayers simultaneously.
Within the temple complex is a white 'chorten' (Tibetan memorial shrine) where lies the relics of Dorjey Rinzing Lama the original builder of the site. Dotted around are many other smaller shrines and temples dedicated toGoddess Kali,Goddess Durga, Saat Kanya Bhagavati Devi,Ganesha,Krishna,Rama,Shirdi Sai Baba,Hanuman,Goddess Parvati,Radha and other Gods and Goddesses.
Location
Mahakal Temple is located behind theChowrasta and encircled by the Mall Road on the ridge of Darjeeling town. The approach is an uphill narrow road about 100 yards from the Mall and is accessible by foot only.[6]
The Observatory Hill itself is rich in flora and fauna unique to theHimalayan range of mountains and the full range of third highest peak in the world mountKanchenjunga can be witnessed from atop the temple complex.[1]
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