Harsh Parvat

Harsh Parvat

Harsh Parvat, located just 11 kilometers from Sikar city in the heart of Shekhawati, is a renowned natural site known for its mythological, historical, religious, and archaeological significance.

Harsh Parvat is home to a magnificent temple that attracts a large number of visitors.

Height of Harsh Parvat

Harsh Parvat is situated at an elevation of 3,100 feet. It is the second highest peak in the Aravalli mountain range after Mount Abu.

Significance of Harsh Mountain

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for housing the world’s only five-faced (Panchmukhi) idol of Shiva. A statue of Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, is also present in the temple. It is believed that whatever wish a devotee whispers into Nandi’s ear is fulfilled.

It is also believed that any devotee who offers water to Lord Shiva at the Harsh Temple is freed from all problems and sorrows by the grace of Lord Shiva.

History of Harsh Parvat

In 1018 AD, Chauhan King Sinhraj established Harsh Nagari and the Harshnath Temple here. An inscription found on the remains of these temples reveals that there were a total of 84 temples.

Currently, all these temples are in ruins, but they were once large and very beautiful.

In 1679 AD, under the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and following his policy of temple destruction, his general Khan Jahan Bahadur and his army completely demolished this temple. It is said that a lamp used to be lit atop the Harsh Temple on Harsh Parvat, which displeased Aurangzeb, the ruler of Delhi. For this reason, he ordered the temple to be destroyed.

Later, the temple was restored according to the Vikram Samvat calendar, but it is said that although Aurangzeb destroyed the temple, Lord Shiva’s divine play was such that bees swarmed around Aurangzeb, and eventually, Aurangzeb had to surrender at the feet of Lord Shiva.

The idols from the temple destroyed by Aurangzeb are kept in the Rajkumar Hardayal Singh State Museum in Sikar.

This temple is very special from both historical and religious perspectives. It is located 45 kilometers from Khatu Shyam Ji and 121 kilometers from Jaipur.

Wind Energy Hub on Harsh Parvat

Wind turbines have been installed on Harsh Parvat, which supply electricity to the nearby villages and hamlets. It is said that in 2004, the capacity here was 7.2 megawatts.

Mythological Story of Harsh Temple

According to the mythological story of Harsh Parvat, a demon named Tripur had expelled Indra and other gods from heaven. At that time, all the gods took refuge on Harsh Hill.

To protect all the gods, Lord Shiva fought a battle with the demon Tripur and defeated him. In celebration, all the gods joyfully established this mountain as a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, naming it Harsh Temple or Harshnath Temple in honor of their happiness.

Historical Story

According to historians, it is said that Harsh and Jeen Mata were brother and sister. They were born in a place called Ghanghu, which is located in present-day Churu. Their father’s name was King Ghangh. Harsh was married to Abhalde, but due to illness, their father passed away. As a result, their mother also suffered from tuberculosis and eventually died.

It is said that after the death of their parents, Jeen was troubled by her sister-in-law, but Jeen never told her brother Harsh about it even once. Eventually, Jeen left the house and went away. Harsh began searching for her, and Jeen met him on the way. When asked why she had left, Jeen told him about the troubles caused by the sister-in-law.

Jeen Mata said that she had left home after taking a vow to Lord Surya Narayan and that she would not return home anymore.

At that moment, Harsh remembered the promise he had made to his parents to take care of Jeen. Because of this, both Jeen Mata and Harsh began meditating on the mountains. Harsh performed penance at the Bhairav Temple, while Jeen meditated on a peak of the Aravalli mountain range known as Kajal Shikhar.

Seeing the devotion of the brother and sister, Mata Jayanti granted them a blessing, which is why Harsh is worshipped as Lord Shiva on Harsh Parvat.

Roads to Harsh Parvat

The climb to Harsh Parvat is approximately 7 kilometers. The roads leading up to Harsh Parvat were constructed by the late Badrinarayan Sodhani to make the journey easier and more accessible for pilgrims and vehicles.

There is also a walking path to Harsh Parvat, which was originally constructed in 1050 AD by King Sinhraj. Later, this path was renovated by Badrinarayan Sodhani, and a stepped trail was built, which is 2.5 kilometers long.

At present, a large number of visitors come here, especially in the early morning hours.

In the morning, most people come to this hill for walking and running, and they also visit to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. To prevent accidents or any other emergencies on the roads here, the Sikar District Police established a VHF communication repeater center in 1971, which remains operational at all times

Harsh Parvat maintains connectivity with the neighboring districts of Sikar, including Churu, Nagaur, Alwar, Jaipur, and Jhunjhunu. This allows for quick communication and assistance in case of any crime or emergency. The roads here are highly attractive and well-constructed, adding to the appeal of the location.

View from Harsh Mountain

Harsh Parvat is a highly enchanting scenic spot. It is built from ancient stones, and the old sculptures found here are a major center of attraction. Most of the sculptures discovered at this site are in a broken or damaged condition. There is a good arrangement of clean drinking water available here. The temple, situated on the hilltop, attracts a large number of tourists.

Several viewpoints have been created at this temple. Since the mountain is situated at a high elevation, visitors and devotees can enjoy the breeze and also take pleasure in capturing photographs. From the height of this mountain, all the fields, barns, houses, and roads below are clearly visible.

The view of this temple is highly captivating and enchanting.

The mountain is home to a large number of trees and plants, including Babool, Banyan, Peepal, Dasar, Khejri, Kheri, and others.

Medicines are made from these trees and plants. Among them, the Arduza plant is found in abundance here, which is used to make cough medicine. Harsh Parvat is a treasure house of medicinal herbs.

The main temple of Harsh Parvat is the Harshnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, which houses the Panchmukhi (five-faced) Shiva idol. To its south is the Bhairavnath Temple, where there is a sixteen-armed idol of Goddess Durga, each arm holding a weapon. In the center of the temple complex, there is a cave-like chamber containing statues of Black Bhairav and White Bhairav.

In the center, there is a marble statue of Nandi Ji. The sculptures here display astonishingly beautiful craftsmanship. The architecture and artistry of these statues suggest that the people of that time were deeply dedicated to architecture and sculpting. Even the ceilings and walls of the temple featured remarkable paintings. This temple remains a major attraction for tourists.

Whoever visits here once always wishes to come back to this temple again.

Due to these special features of the temple, it attracts a large number of visitors. On every Monday, holidays, during Navratri, and on Shivratri, the temple sees a significant crowd of devotees.

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