Jaleshwar Mahadev

Jaleshwar Mahadev is a famous and holy temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Jaleshwar municipality of Mahottari district of Nepal. Amazing fact is that the name of the place was given after the name and importance of the temple. According to mythology, a hermit named Jagadish had arrived in the forest of Jaleshwar and he dreamt that he was guided to dig the spot, which leads him to dig in that spot and as a result of his dream, he found an image of Jaleshwar Mahadev. Then he built a temple with some gold in that spot. During Shivaratri, this temple has largely crowded with the Hindu as well as Lord Shiva devotees coming to worship Lord Shiva in the occasion of his special festival.

Jaleshwar is just about a two-hour drive from Janakpur along a highway. The place is very popular and famous for the lord Shiva temple, which is also been mentioned about in Padam Purana. Jaleshwar means Lord of the Water since it lies underwater most of the time may be due to the two large ponds called Barunsar and Kshiresar on each side of the temple, and the leakage of water from these ponds. The Shiva lingam is situated about 20 feet below the surface of the temple and is reached by a narrow stone stairway. Most of the time it lies immersed in water, hence the name Jaleshwar, which literally means Lord of the Water. There are two large ponds on either side of the temple, and the seepage of water from these ponds could be the reason why the Shiva lingam always remains immersed in water.

Hence, Jaleshwar Mahadev temple is the significant pilgrim site with historical as well as religious importance. There is a big fair on Shivaratri when a large number of devotees visit the Shiva temple to celebrate the festival and to perform religious activities over there.