Shiv Temple, Paudiwala

इस शिव मंदिर का इतिहास लंकापति रावण के साथ जोड़ा जाता है ! कहा जाता है की रावण ने अमरता प्राप्त करने के लिए घोर तपस्या की थी ! तपस्या से प्रसन्न होकर शिव शंकर भगवान् ने उन्हें वरदान दिया की यदि वो एक दिन में पांच पौडियां निर्मित कर देगा तो उसे अमरता मिल जाएगी ! रावण ने पहली पौड़ी हरिद्वार में हर की पौड़ी, दूसरी पौड़ी यहाँ पौड़ीवाला में, तीसरी पौड़ी चुड़ेश्वर महादेव व् चौथी पौड़ी किन्नर कैलाश में बनाई, इसके बाद रावण को नींद आ गयी ! जब वह जगा तो अगली सुबह हो गयी थी ! मान्यता है की पौड़ीवाला स्थित इस शिवलिंग में साक्षात् शिव शंकर भगवान् विधमान हैं और यहाँ आने वाले हर श्रद्धालु की हर मनोकामना पूर्ण करते हैं !

एक अन्य कथा के अनुसार विष्णु भगवान् की तपस्या करने के फलस्वरूप मृकंडू  ऋषि को उन्होंने पुत्र का वरदान देते हुए कहा की इसकी आयु केवल 12 वर्ष की होगी! अत: इस वरदान के फलस्वरूप मारकंडे ऋषि का जन्म हुआ जिन्होंने अमरता प्राप्त करने की लिए भगवान् शिव की तपस्या में निरंतर महामृत्युन्ज्य मन्त्र का जाप किया ! 12 वर्ष पुरे होने पर जब यमराज उन्हें लेने आये तो उन्होंने बोहलियों स्थित शिवलिंग को बाँहों में भर लिया जिससे शिवजी वहाँ प्रकट हुए तथा शिवजी ने मारकंडेय ऋषि को अमरता दी तथा वहाँ से मारकंडे नदी का उद्गम हुआ ! इसके बाद शिवशंकर पौड़ीवाला में स्थित इस शिवलिंग में समां गए थे !

यहाँ मांगी गयी मनोकामना पूर्ण होती है जिसके फलस्वरूप वर्षभर यहाँ श्रधालुओं का ताँता लगा रहता है ! शिवरात्रि के दिन यहाँ पर विशेष आयोजन किया जाता है ! पौड़ीवाला नाहन से 6 की मी की दूरी पर नाहन चंडीगढ़ मार्ग पर स्थित है !

Lakhdata Peer

The Shrine of Lakhdata Peer is a heritage for Nahan town, A symbol of unity of people of all religions. It is also believed that Nahan was once cursed by a dancing girl which resulted in flood and total destruction. At that time a wise man of Maharaja suggested him to get two bricks and some mud from the turbut of Lakhdata Peer of Multan now in Pakistan.

“It was around 250 years back when the bricks and mud from Multan were laid in Nahan near Pucca Tank later the dargah was made. Since then generation by generation my family is serving the lakho ke data Lakhdata”, says Bobby Khan who is the priest of the Dargah.

It is a regular stop over of tourists coming to the town and the local residents. Every Thursday people visit Lakhdata Peer. He has some supernatural powers of arbitration people visit him in the hope their wishes will be fulfilled His blessings and magical powers are well known among people.

According to local residents of Nahan Lakhdata Peer has always helped us whenever in dilemma. When you come to this place you feel tranquil and blessed that’s why whatever the weather is we never forget to come to this place.

The place has so many stories related to it and as Bobby Khan the priest tells one:

“Around 250 years ago when the town was more like a forest with two or three prominent places, once the two prince of the town were going for hunting and both of them stopped the drum beaters of the dargah both of them felled and their limbs were broken all the Hakims and Vaids failed to cure them.”

“Then the Maharani of Nahan town went to Lakhdata Peer for help and said she will offer churi that is baked roti crushed with jaggery and construct the place into a dargah when she returned back to her palace both the prince were fighting fit and she thanked the Peer and ordered to construct the turbat i.e. Shrine of the peer and it took just two days to build. Since then people not only from town but nearby places come to Lakhdata Peer” tells, Bobby Khan.

People come with their problems and are blessed by the peer “If you have some skin problem salt is given as niaj, that is offering made to god, if you have any problem in limbs baked and crushed roti with gur or jaggery is offered, broom and oil are niaj for any problem that you have, couples without a child offer gur and red cloth unmarried people tie holy thread near the pole of the dargah and they are blessed with spouse even the barren lands become fertile by the blessing of the Peer if chinj, local wrestling is performed in that land.” said Gafur father of Bobby Khan.

“Lakhdata Peer was a holy man from Multan who is also called by various names in different places. In Punjab he is called Lala Wale Peer, in Pakistan Sakhi Sarver. He was very close to Allah and is believed to have supernatural powers to bless people who come for help” he further added.