During the month of Shravan, a large number of people visit the Shiva Temple. There are many Shiva Temples in Odisha. Among all, the Ashtashambhu Temples are very significant.
Ashtashambhu Temples are a group of eight ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva present in different places. In the local language, ‘Ashta’ means eight and ‘Shambhu’ is another name of Lord Shiva. Ashtashambhu has much significance among the devotees of Lord Shiva. Six of Ashtashambhu Temples are present in Bargarh district. They are Kedarnath Temple of Ambabhona, Baidyanath Temple of Deogaon, Nilakantheshwar Temple of Nilji, Bisweshwar Temple of Saranda, Barada Balunkeshwar Temple of Gaisima and Swapneshwar Temple of Sorna. The other two Ashtashambhu Temples are located in Sambalpur district. They are Bimaleshwar Temple of Huma and Mandhata Baba Temple of Maneswar.
These temples are historically significant. The heritage structures attract both devotees and history enthusiasts. These temples were built during the Chauhan rule of the undivided Sambalpur region, with some attributed to rulers like Maharaja Baliar Singh and others to Ajit Singh and Abhaya Singh.”>Devotees visit these eight temples in a sequence especially in the month of Shravan. The temple committees often make special arrangements, including barricades and queue systems for crowd management during Shravan month and other festive occasions.
Among these Ashtashambhu Temples, the Bisweshwar Temple of Saranda is situated beside National Highway 53 that connects Bargarh and Sambalpur. It is located in Attabira block. The temple is surrounded by natural beauty. There is a pond near the shrine where one can find beautiful lotus flowers.
There is an interesting story associated with Bisweshwar Temple. The contemporary king of the Chauhan dynasty was travelling from Patna to Sambalpur. The horse, over which the king was sitting, suddenly stopped by the place where the Bisweshwar shrine is presently situated. Then, the king found a Shiva Linga under the ground. This discovery surprised everyone. A divine atmosphere was created all around after the discovery. It is also believed that the contemporary king had a divine dream following which a temple was constructed in that place.
Temples dedicated to Goddess Parvati, Lord Bhairava and Lord Hanuman are present in the premises of Bisweshwar Temple. Recently, replicas of twelve Jyotirlingas have been made inside the temple complex. A large number of devotees can be seen in the temple round the year. Maha Shivaratri is a prominent festival, celebrated with much enthusiasm. The area near the temple serves as a picnic spot for many people during the winter season.
Krittika Satpathy
Bargarh
