Mukti Gupteshwar Mandir –Minto, Australia

Mukti Gupteshwar Mandir –Minto, Australia

Sri Mukthi Gupteshwar temple is one of the thirteen Jyorthilingams present all over the world. Infact, there is only one temple outside India, which is the Mukti Gupteshwar mandir. It is the thirteenth Jyorthilingam according to SivaPuranam. The name ’Mukti’ refers to the stage of oneness of a soul with the supreme power. Hence, the Mukti Lingam is the last among the thirteen Jyothirlingas. Lord Shiva resides as Mukti-Gupteshwara Mahadev in this temple.

History/Legend:

In Mahabharatha, when the Pandavas were under exile for twelve years, they reached an Ashram in Nepal, which was the central place for Dhiyana(meditation). While residing in the Ashram, Arjuna went to the jungle for hunting. He saw a boar at that time. When he focused the boar and intended to kill it. At the same time another hunter came and claimed the boar. Surprisingly, the arrows from both of their’s bow stroked the boar at the same time. The boar was killed and they argued for twenty-one days. Arjuna became tired and he made a Shiva Lingam from mud and prayed to it. Then only he realized that it was none other than Lord Shiva who opposed him, in the disguise of an hunter. Shiva was testing Arjuna’s power and valor. Lord Shiva was pleased by Arjuna’s act and he blessed him that he will be with him and with everybody who prays that Lingam.

Specialities:

·         The temple is present underground. This type of construction is made to be close to the Mother earth; preserve the early mode of devotion; maintain a silent atmosphere for meditationand finally to maintain a constant temperature (i.e) cool in summer and warm in winter.

·         The temple is believed to the only man-made cave temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

·         1128 small temples are present inside the Mandir, each representing a small temple of Lord Shiva. Also, scale replicas of the twelveother JyorthiLingas, 108 Human made Lingas representing the Rudra names of Lord Shiva, 1008 fannings of Lord Linga representing his Sahastra names are the salient  features of the Muktui-Gupteshwar Mandir

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Temple timings:

·         10.00 am to 12.00pm and 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm during weekdays

·         10.00 am to 7.00 pm during weekends and holidays

Address:

203, Eagleview road,

Minto,NSW,2566,

Australia.