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Katas Raj Mandir

KATAS RAJ MANDIR

The Shri Katas Raj Mandir, also known as Qila Katas, is a complex of interconnected Hindu temples situated in the Potohar Plateau region of Punjab province, Pakistan. The mandirs are located near the M2 Motorway, within the municipal committee of Choa Saidanshah. The centerpiece of the temple complex is the sacred pond named Katas, believed to have been created by the teardrops of Shiva, who mourned the loss of his wife Sati. Covering an area of two kanals and 15 marlas, the pond reaches a maximum depth of 20 feet. The temples hold significance in the Hindu epic poem, the Mahābhārata, as it is believed that the Pandava brothers spent a considerable part of their exile at this site. According to Hindu traditions, the temples were also the site where the brothers engaged in a riddle contest with the Yakshas, as described in the Yaksha Prashna. Additionally, it is said that the deity Krishna laid the foundation of the temple and placed a hand-made shivling within it. In 2005, the temples were visited by Lal Krishna Advani, India’s former deputy prime minister. Restoration works were initiated by the Pakistani government in 2006, with subsequent improvements announced in 2017.

Katas Raj Mandir – The mandirs surround a pond regarded as sacred by Hindus

RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE

The complex consists of several mandirs and associated structures.

The Katas Raj Mandir holds great significance in the historic Punjab region and is considered the second most sacred site after the Jwalamukhi Mandir in Himachal Pradesh.

According to legend, after the death of his wife Sati, the Hindu god Shiva wandered in sorrow, and his tears formed two ponds. One of these ponds surrounds the Katas Raj Mandirs, while the other is located in Pushkar near the renowned Sufi pilgrimage center of Ajmer. Another version of the legend mentions the two pools at Katasraj and Nainital. In an alternate version, Shiva’s horse named Katas met its demise instead of Sati.

The Katasraj mandir complex is believed to date back to the era of the Mahabharata. Many legends are associated with these temples, including the stay of the five Pandava brothers during a significant part of their exile. As per tradition, the complex is where the Pandava brothers were tested by a Yaksha before they could drink from the sacred pond. Four of the brothers failed the test and were rendered lifeless, but Yudhishthira engaged the Yaksha in a riddle contest and emerged victorious, thereby reviving his brothers.

Some legends also attribute the Katasraj Mandir as the location of the first-ever Shiva Lingam. However, claims associating it with the birthplace of the Hindu incarnation Rama and Ayodhya are controversial and not supported by local Hindu oral traditions or annual rituals.

SACRED POND

The pond at Katas Raj is said to have been created from the teardrops of the Hindu deity Shiva, following the death of his wife Sati.

The pond within the Katasraj Mandir complex is considered sacred by Hindus, who believe it to be filled with the tears of Shiva following the demise of his wife Sati. The water in the pond is known for its exceptional clarity. It is believed that bathing in the sacred water can cleanse one’s sins, as the pond is associated with Shiva. However, in 2012 and 2017, the water levels in the pond decreased due to water consumption by a nearby cement factory and the planting of water-dependent eucalyptus trees, which lowered the region’s water table. As a result, the government took action and shut down the cement factory to restore the water levels in the pond.