Jageshwar, popularly known as Jageshwar Dham, is a significant Hindu pilgrimage town located near Almora in the Almora district of Uttarakhand. Jageshwar holds great importance in the Shaivism tradition as one of the Dhams, or pilgrimage regions. The site is safeguarded by Indian laws and overseen by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Jageshwar Valley Temples or Jageshwar Dham
Jageshwar Temples, also known as Jageswar Temples or Jageshwar Valley Temples, form a collection of 125 ancient Hindu temples that were constructed between the 7th and 14th centuries. Within Jageshwar Valley, there are various temple clusters, including the Dandeshwar and Jageshwar sites. Over the course of the 20th century, some locations within the valley have witnessed the construction of new temples.
In total, these temple clusters consist of more than 200 structural temples made from cut stone. While many of these temples are small in size, there are a few that are quite substantial. The majority of these temples showcase the architectural style of North Indian Nagara, although there are a few exceptions that display designs influenced by South and Central Indian styles.
These temples are primarily dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, although there are also temples in close proximity that are dedicated to the gods Lord Vishnu, the Shakti goddesses, and the Surya traditions of Hinduism.
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List of Famous Jageshwar Valley Temples
The Jageshwar Valley Temples includes Dandeshwar Temple, Chandi-ka-Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Kuber Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-grah temple, a Pyramidal shrine, and Surya Temple.
History of Jageshwar Temples
The Jageshwar temples were intentionally designed without considering their use as places of worship. Unlike most temples, the sanctum space is usually too small for a priest to sit inside, let alone move around to perform rituals. Additionally, the lingas in these temples do not have drainage systems for abhisheka, a feature commonly found in Hindu temples from the Gupta and post-Gupta periods. There is no evidence of these temples being used for worship, nor are there any indications at the site suggesting undocumented use. According to Chanchani, it is likely that most of these temples served as memorials for Hindu monks or saints, or were part of dedications or grants to monasteries.
The site is also renowned for its rock steles that depict various Hindu theological themes. These steles encompass all four major traditions of Hinduism, namely Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and Sauraism. Notable examples of these steles include Ksemankari, Narayana, Revanta, and Surya. Additionally, there are other significant reliefs such as the dancing Ganesha, the seated and smiling Uma-Parvati, and the Saptamatrikas.
Jageshwar Monsoon Festival
Jageshwar Monsoon Festival, celebrated during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan (which usually falls in July – August), and the annual Maha Shivratri Mela (Shivratri festival) held in early spring are the notable events observed at this site.
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