Koteshwar is name of an ancient Shiva temple located at the western tip of India in Lakhpat taluka, Kutch District of Gujarat. The story of Koteshwar begins with Ravana, who won it as a boon from Lord Shiva for an outstanding display of piety, this Shiva linga of great spiritual power. But which Ravana, in his arrogant haste, accidentally dropped and it fell to earth at Koteshwar. To punish Ravana for his carelessness, the linga turned into a thousand identical ones, some versions of the story say ten thousand, some a million. Unable to distinguish the original, Ravana grabbed one and departed, leaving the original one here, around which Koteshwar Temple was built. The temple is also known as Kotilingeshwar Temple. Another version of story says, when Lord Shiva was delighted with the worship and forfeit of Ravana, he gave him a Ling-full of religious power. Lest Ravana should become endless as a result of this advantage, all the Gods united together and conspired to gain the Ling from Ravana through dishonesty and installed it as Kotilengeshwar. The temple is situated on a high plinth overlooking the sea. Koteshwar Temple is the last outpost of human construction at the westernmost limit of India, is the breaking point of the skyline from the flat brown horizon to the east and the wide blue horizon to the west. From this point, the glow of light from Karachi, Pakistan can be seen in a clear night. It is an excellent sunset point. Koteshwar is a tourist-place that is situated in the Kori Creek of the Arabian Sea on the western end of Kutch just opposite to Karachi-Pakistan. It is located 215 km away from Bhuj, District head quarter of Kutch and only 4 km from Narayan Sarovar, another ancient Hindu pilgrimage site. Hiuen-Tsiang mentioned it as "Kie-tsi-fa-lo, situated on the western border of the country close to the river Indus and to the great ocean of Kutch. According to Hieu-en-Tsiang, Koteshwar port was five miles in boundary near the mouth of the river Indus. There were 80 monasteries with about 5000 monks in them. In the middle of the completion were thirteen temples of which Mahesh Mandir was full of good monument. The temples have been rehabilitated and renovated over many centuries by various rulers of Kutch, renovation done by local Kutchi karigargs. Koteshwar at present shows us a few signs of its former greatness. It stands as amazing on the sea-shore, rising courageously from the sea that washes its western parts and temples are enclosed by prepared walls, the gate approached by three flights of steps. Koteshwar, as such, once was an ancient port and now is a fishing village more famous for the Koteshwar Shiva Temple, which stands here. Historically isolated from the rest of India, Kutch is characterised by a stark, dramatic landscape surrounded by vast salt flats that comprise the Great and Little Rann, and ancient ports dotted along a scenic stretch of coastline along the Arabian Sea. It is home to unique wildlife including the wild ass, flamingo and the highly endangered Great Indian bustard and extensive wetlands that support 1000's of migratory birds. Artistic tribes inhabit the villages, practicing indigenous craft and embroidery techniques. One of the earliest sites of the Indus Valley Settlements has recently undergone excavation at Dholavira, bringing new light to the worlds' understanding of the dawn of civilisation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri

• published: 27 Feb 2014
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