Mansehra Shiva Temple
{{short description|Hindu temple in Pakistan}}
{{Disputed|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
|name = Mansehra Shiv temple
|image = Mansehra Shiva Temple shivling.jpg
|alt =
|caption = 2000 year old Shivlinga in the Mansehra Shiv temple
|map_type = Pakistan #Pakistan#Asia
|coordinates = {{coord|34|23|51.5|N|73|13|07.3|E|type:landmark_region:PK|display=inline,title}}
|country = Pakistan {{flagicon|Pakistan}}
|state = Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
|district = Mansehra district
|locale =
|elevation_m =
|elevation_footnotes =
| deity = Shiva
|festivals =
|architecture =
|architect =
|temple_quantity = 1
|monument_quantity =
|inscriptions =
|year_completed = 2000-3000 years old (reconstructed in 1830s)
|creator =
|temple_board =
|governing_body =
|website =
}}
Mansehra Shiv Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Pakistan that is still in existence. The temple is at least 2000{{cite news |title=Pakistan prepares to hold a major Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-prepares-to-hold-a-major-hindu-festival-maha-shivaratri-from-february-20-1.69531510 |date=17 February 2020 |newspaper=Gulf News|department= Asia |agency=TNN |access-date=18 February 2020}} to 3000 years old.{{cite news|title=Mansehra’s Shiv temple|url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/mansehras-shiv-temple/|date=14 August 2014|newspaper=Fridaytimes|agency=TNN|access-date=18 February 2020|archive-date=1 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101215645/https://www.thefridaytimes.com/mansehras-shiv-temple/|url-status=dead}} The temple is situated in Chitti Gatti, 15 kilometres from Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. The annual Shivarathri festival in the temple is visited by people all around Pakistan and from abroad.
History
According to the archaeological research there existed Hindu temples on the site where now the temple stands and the Shiva Lingam inside the temple is at least 2000 years old.Report on Antiquities of the Mansehra Region, based on Joint Research by UNESCO and the Hazara University, Dhodial-Mansehra Campus, 2007 The temple was restored in the 1830s by the Raja of Jammu as an act of devotion.Hazara District Gazetteer 1883-84, Lahore: Govt of the Punjab, 1884, p. 179 During 1947–48, the temple was forcibly seized by some people and started occupying illegally. They also sealed up the temple on this site.
From 1948 to 2008, the temple remained sealed and abandoned. The temple remained inaccessible to Hindus till 1998. After that, the temple has been partially restored by the Pakistani Hindus.{{cite news |title=When faith won over 'hate of partition': The story of two Shiva temples in Pakistan|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/india/when-faith-won-over-hate-of-partition-the-story-of-two-shiva-temples-in-pakistan_1863245.html |date=7 March 2016 |newspaper=Zeenews |agency=TNN |access-date=18 February 2020}}
Gallery
File:Shiva Temple Gandhian Mansehra.jpg|Mansehra Shiva Temple before renovation
File:Mansehra Shiva Temple.jpg|Mansehra Shiva Temple after renovation
See also
References
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