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Gauri Shankar Temple

The bylanes of Chandni Chowk come alive with the chanting of religious sermons and ringing of bells that make the whole atmosphere pristine. This is Gauri Shankar temple located on the Old Delhi road in Chandni Chowk. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Gauri Shankar temple is a manifestation of Shaivism and attracts devotees not only from Delhi but from all over the country who make a beeline to the temple to offer their obedience to Lord Shiva.

What to Find Here

Just as this temple is ancient, it has an 800-year-old Lingam. Made in stone, it is a representation of the phallus, which has been covered with a marble encasement that represents the female organ. Surrounding the lingam are consorts of Shiva, the snakes. These have been made in silver. There is also a cosmic pillar in this arrangement, which suggests the centre of the universe.  

The Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati here are found wearing gold jewellery and they lie under a silver canopy. The utensil that is used to drop water as a mark of reverence to Lord Shiva is also made with silver.

The temple is a true example of the grandiose that surrounds Hindu religion. Although the temple is open for devotees on all days, it sees a large number of visitors every day.

History of Gauri Shankar Temple

The temple is famous for its 800 year old brown lingam that stands encased in a marble representation. Snakes made from sliver cover the lingam from all sides, thus epitomizing the idea that Lord Shiva has special concern for them.

A Maratha soldier by the name of Apa Ganga Dhar had build the temple. He got severely injured during a battle and prayed to Lord Shiva that he would build a temple if he somehow survived. The soldier survived against all odds and built the temple as a mark of respect to Lord Shiva. The temple was renovated in 1959 by Seth Jaipura. The name of Apa Ganga Dhar is also inscribed outside the temple.

Though the temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva, you will find idols of Hanuman and other Hindu Gods in the temple complex.

The Mystique of Gauri Shankar Temple

The temple has elegantly designed idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Alongside are present creatively designed idols of Ganesh and Kartik, the two sons of Shiva and Parvati. The idols of Lord Shiva and Parvati have been placed under a silver canopy and lie just behind the main lingam.

The lingam has a silver water vessel from which water flows continuously in the form of droplets on the lingam. During the morning and evening aarti, the lingam is bathed in milk and water.

A flight of marble stairs adorned with pillars carved in chains and bells leads devotees to courtyard of the temple. In the courtyard the devotees can buy all the religious items as flowers, bilva rice and leaves and sandalwood paste that are required to offer obedience to Lord Shiva.

Another unique attraction of the temple is a marble chair that adorns the courtyard. The chair belonged to Bhagat Swaroup Bramachari, a saint who spent over 50 years in the temple. The relevance that Bhagat Swaroup Bramachari commanded can be gauged from the fact that his portrait and sandals have been kept on his chair, symbolizing this presence in the temple complex.

Homeopathy services are available in the temple complex and are offered free by the temple authorities to those who need it.

Best Time to Visit

With religious fevor weighing on mind of the devotees all the year around, no time could be less appropriate to visit the temple. However, the best time to visit the temple is during the festival of Shivratri in the month of March. The temple is well decorated during this time and the devotion of those visiting the temple is all time high during this period.

Timings

Though the temple could be visited on any day of the week, Monday attracts a huge gathering as Lord Shiva is specially reverted on Mondays. The temple open from 5 am to 10 am during the mornings and 5 pm to 10 pm during the evenings. Morning and evening aarti ritual is worth viewing in the temple.

How to Reach

By Road

Kashmiri gate bus station or Inter State Bus terminal (ISBT) is the nearest bus terminal to the temple. Buses from all over North India ply to and fro from the bus station.

By Rail

The temple is located near the Digambar Jain temple on the main Chandni Chowk road. The temple can be reached via metro train which has a halting point at the Chandni Chowk metro station. Old Delhi railway station of Indian Railways too lies in the vicinity of the Gauri Shankar temple.

By Air

Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the air link of the city with rest of the world. The temple can be accessed directly from the airport as a dedicated metro line links the airport with Chandni Chowk from where the temple is located in close vicinity.

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