Maha Shivratri at Shri Mankameshwar*Rawatpara*Agra Fort*Lord Krishna

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• published: 15 Mar 2016
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Mankameshwar Mandir (Temple) in Agra is one of the ancient temples devoted to Lord Shiva. The temple is situated at Rawatpara, near Agra Fort Railway Station. It is said that the shiv linga is covered by silver metal and was founded by Lord Shiva himself during Dwapara era, when Krishna was born in Mathura. Shiva wished to get a darshan of Lord Krishna in child form.While he was coming from mount kailash he rested here. Yamuna used to flow here, Shiva meditated and night-stayed at the Mankameshwar Temple.He said "If I would be able to make Krishna play on my lap I will put a linga here". Next day after seeing Shiva's swaroop, Ma Yashoda asked Shiva not to come near the child as Krishna might get afraid of him. Seeing this Krishna did a leela(drama),he started crying and pointing towards Shiva who was sitting under a banyan tree in samadhi position.seeing this Ma Yashoda called Lord Shiva and asked him to give his blessings to her child(Krishna). Coming back from Gokul, Shiva came back and laid his linga(swaroop) here. Thus, he said "My wishes were fulfilled here;Whosoever in coming future comes here with his mankamna(wishes) this lingaswaroop will fulfill his or her mankamna(wishes)". From then onwards this lingaswaroop is known asShri Mankameshwarnath . The temple has one sanctum sanctorum where the vigraha of Lord Shiva sits. It is surrounded by the typical Shiva family idols. One has to descend down a score of stairs to reach the sanctum sanctorum. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mankameshwar_Temple There are special paan which you get near Mankameshwar. These are folded in such a manner so that their shape becomes that of a pyramid. They are then coated with "chandi ka verk" (Silver Foil) and garnished with coconut powder. http://www.agraonline.in/city-guide/mankameshwar-temple-in-agra https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri Address: Lahor Gali, Daresi Rd, Near Jama Masjid, Sita Ram Colony, Sheb Bazar, Mantola, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282003 Phone:096341 61833 http://festivalsofindia-bb-blog.blogspot.in/2012/01/trayodashi-dates-pradosh-vrat-for-2013.html http://www.hindu-blog.com/2014/03/nanda-vrata-nanda-vrat-dedicated-to.html Nanda Vrata is dedicated to Shiva and it is believed that Goddess Sati observed this vrat to get Shiva as her husband. It is observed during Phalgun Shukla Paksha Saptami as per some scholars. In 2016, it is on March 15. Some scholars are of the view that the Vrat is also observed during Ashwin Shukla Paksha Ashtami (eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Ashwin month). Detail procedure on how to observe the Nanda Vrat is given below. It is said that the Vrat can be observed on the Shukla Paksha Saptami – seventh day during the waxing phase of moon in any Hindu month – especially in Phalgun, Chaitra, Ashada and Shravan. The Vrat is observed for getting good husband or wife. It is exclusively performed to get the desired person as husband or wife or the person whom you love. Goddess Sati performed it to get Shiva as Her husband as She only wanted Him as Her husband. The procedure of Nanda Vrat is simple… It involves fasting from sunrise to next day morning sunrise. One has to purify oneself before sunrise and offer prayers to Shiva on the fasting day. Prayers involve chanting of the mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya.” Offer Bilva leaves and white color flower to Shiva. Listen to prayers dedicated to Shiva. You can make a simple sweet dish and offer it as Prasad. While fasting you can eat fruits or other Vrat foods. You have to offer prayers in the morning and in the evening. The fast ends next morning after sunrise. To complete the fast you should perform food donation – Annadanam to poor children or elderly people on any date after the Vrat.