Dilapidated Jaleshwor Mahadev Temple waits for repairs

By Mahesh Kumar Das, Jaleshwor, June 14: Common people turn to the gods when they need help but what about when the gods themselves need assistance? Who can they count on? Not us humans, it seems, because we have let the Jaleshwor Mahadev’s abode – His holy temple – in Jaleshwor, Mahottari fall into ruins.

The walls of this temple, which have heard so many prayers throughout the years, have now cracked. The bricks are no longer attached to each other and the plaster has fallen off.

The roof, which has sheltered hundreds, if not thousands, of devout souls is near collapse and needs to be supported by metal pipes. 

The temple, the centre of faith for so many Hindus across the world, is standing, but just barely, the locals say; which is a shock because millions of rupees are spent for supposedly beautifying the temple every year.

“Over the past five years, many agencies including the Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Jaleshwar Municipality and Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office claim to have spent a lot of money on the temple but all they did was paint the temple, put up lights and lay marble and tiles around it,” said researcher Rakesh Chaudhary, who has been studying the Jaleshwor Mahadev temple for years. “But not a single thing has been done to strengthen the temple structurally.”

Just last month, Rs. 10 million was spent on installing digital lights around the temple building.

Rakesh complained that too much attention was paid on the cosmetics of the temple while totally ignoring its structural integrity.

And local Ram Prasad Chaudhary called this a monumental tragedy. “We come to this temple when we are in distress. We pour all our sorrows out here. We are all alive by the grace of Mahadev but feel pity for the same Mahadev who is forced to live in this dilapidated home.

“Is this how we treat our lord, our beloved almighty?” he questioned.

The Jaleshwor Mahadev temple was built in 1938 by General Ram Shumsher JBR. Ram Shumsher built the temple in collaboration with the locals when he was stationed here as the governor (Bada Hakim).

The temple features elements of Rajput and Shikhar architectural styles along with Mughal-inspired domes. This structure of the temple has not been modified, retrofitted or significantly renovated since then.

The Mahadev is named Jaleshwor (God of Water) because the Shiva Linga is kept under water throughout the year. The water is removed on the day of Maha Shivaratri and on the day of the Monday fair in the Nepali month of Shrawan. 

The Linga was not consecrated here by anyone and is believed to have originated on its own on the wish of Lord Rudra Himself. Mahottari’s district headquarters was named Jaleshwor after this God.