MahadevTemplepatnitop

Sudh Mahadev Temple Jammu KashmirThe town of CHANHANI, located in the western part of the Jammu holds special significance as it houses a great piece of art - the Sacred Temple of Sudhmahadev. Chaudhari Ramdas of Chanhani and his son Chaudhari Parag Mahajan constructed the temple about 80 years ago.

Shri Masu Shahane of Sudhmahadev did the construction of the entrance door of the temple of Sudhmahadev. This holy spot near Patnitop is situated at an altitude of 1225 mtrs., about 120 kms. from Jammu. The shrine is visited pilgrims on the full moon night of 'Sawan' (July-August) to worship the "Trishul' (trident) and a mace which is said to belong to Lord Shiva. The Devak stream originates at Sudh Mahadev and disappears among the rocks a few kilometres down strean. This is a small temple of Lord Shiva. During July - August a fair is held here with 3 days of music, singing and dancing. It is situated at a distance of 8 kms. from Khud or Patni Top.

Legend

The trident housed within the temple,belonged to the asctic God who killed demon there.The temple has a black marble self made 'lingam' and Goddess parvati mounted on Nandi. It has a 'Dhooni'(sacred fire) to commemmorate the spiritual attainments of Baba Roop Nath who is said to have attained Samadhi there. It is said that the Dhooni has been kept burning constantly ever since Baba Roop Nath is said to be residing in the temple. Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple especially during 3-day fair held on the occasion of Jestha Purnima. Before entering the temple the pilgrims take bath in the holy Devika which flows nearby. A popular legend is associated with the Shrine. It is believed that Lord Shiva who was in his samadhi shot his big trishul to protect his consort Uma whose loud cry shook Shiva out of his meditation.
Infact Shiva's devotee, Sudheet approached Uma to pay his respectful obeisance. Since he was a demon in his previous birth according to the legend, his demonaic looks frightened her and she made a loud shriek. The trident which Lord Shiva had flung hit Sudheet. Shiva realised his mistake and he offered to resuscitate him. But Sudheet felt that there could be no better life than death given by Lord Shiva Himself. Lord Shiva then gave his command that Sudheet's name will be prefixed to his name at that place. Since then it is called Sudh Mahadev. The broken trident in three pieces, is installed in the temple.

The 2800 years old historic temple Sudh Mahadev is situated in the Chenani Tehsil of District Udhampur. The Temple of Sudh Mahadev is about 50 kms away from District Headquarter of Udhampur. The temple is one the oldest Shiva Temples of Jammu & Kashmir State. Sudh Mahadev is a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated at a height of approximately 1225m.
A popular legend associated with this shrine is as: Once, when Goddess Parvati was in deep prayer, a demon called Sudheet came to pay his respectful obeisance. But his demonic look frightened the Goddess and She made a loud shriek. Her cry revered acted across the mountains surrounding the valley. Lord Shiva was disturbed by the sound. When He opened His eyes, He saw the demon, at whom he hurled His invincible Trident (Holy Trishul).
As the trident pierced through Sudheet, he began to chant Lord Shiva’s name. Lord Shiva realized the mistake, so He offered to bring Sudheet back to life. But Sudheet refused to come back to life telling Lord Shiva that only by dying at His hands would he be able to obtain moksha (Salvation). Moved by the demon’s words, Lord Shiva ordered that, henceforth, Sudheet’s name would be taken before His own at the place where he was killed. That is how the place where Goddess Parvati used to worship a shivling came to be known as Sudhmahadev.
The shivling and the remains of the trishul can still be seen at the temple. The temple has a Dhooni (Eternal Flame) to commemorate the spiritual attainments of Baba Roop Nath who is said to have attained Samadhi here about several thousands years ago. In the temple premises, there is a Trident (Trishul) that in the local dialect is called ‘Gaja’. The sacred Trident has inscriptions in the ancient manuscript that form a major topic of research for the archeological department. According to Roopnath, the first religious head of the temple of Sudhmahadev, “Amardhuni’, ‘Gorakh Nath temple’, the huge idol of ‘Bhairava’ and the ‘Garbha Jun below the Nandi gan’ are considered to be great places of worship for the pilgrims. It is said that the ‘Dhooni’ has been kept burning constantly ever since Baba Roop Nath is said to be residing in the temple. Thousands of pilgrims visits the temple especially during the three day fair held on the occasion of Jeshta Purnima (i.e. Full Moon of June).