India has been called the land of mysteries for decades, whether for its mysterious natural phenomena or bizarre cultures. One such enigmatic natural phenomenon occurs at Matangeshwar Mahadev from immemorial time. You will be surprised to hear that the Shrine in Matangeshwar, which is the only living Shivling. And What’s more interesting about the Matangeshwar Shivling is that its size increases little by little each passing year.
The reason for this is still unknown.
Khajuraho is mentioned in the seven architectural wonders of India and listed on a world heritage site by UNESCO. The Khajuraho monuments represent outstanding testimony of Chandela Rajput dynasty. There were several temples in Khajuraho and were built between 885 AD to 1050 AD, now only a few left. Among the various temples of Lord Shiva in Khajuraho, the most notable and surprising temple is the Matangeshvara temple located here. Huge number of devotees visit the temple to seek blessings from Lord Shiva.
This Shivling is about 9 feet long now and is still growing by an inch on the occasion of the autumn full moon, measured by the priest of the temple. It is also believed that the Shivling is equally below the ground as above the ground, i.e. this Shivling grows on both sides.
Story behind this Shivling
There are millions of Shivlings in India and each one holds old beliefs behind it. The Shivling is built around a place where a mani was kept by Matang Rishi. Lord Shiva had Mani, which he gave to Yudhishthir.
Yudhisthir gave it to Matang Rishi, who then gave it to Harshvardhan. Harshvardhan buried it in the ground, since there was no one to take care of it and after time passed, shiving started developing around the mani. Since the Mani was with Matang Rishi, it was named Matangeshwar.
Hence, it is believed that due to the expensive power of that mani, the shivling grows every year and it is believed that even today the Mani lies below the huge Shivling. Shivaling is growing with the exact pace as humans grow.
Beliefs
The temple priest believes that it symbolizes Kalyuga, the top head growing towards Swarg-lok and the bottom towards Patal-lok. When the Shivling will finally reach the Patal-lok, the Kalyuga will end.
However, somewhere it is inscripted that Kalyuga will end in the year 428,899 CE. Whom to believe is still a question.
Others believe that Bholenath married Maa Parvati in this temple.
Shivling at Bhuteshwar Mahadev also increases in size
Another such Shivaling which increases in size every year is at Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple at Maroda village of Gariaband district in Chhattisgarh. Bhuteshwar Mahadev Shivling is about 18 feet tall and the spherical width from surface of the Shivling is about 20 feet.
