Baneshwar Mahadev Mandir

Overview

Baneshwar is a popular tribal fair held in Dungarpur district in Rajasthan state of India. The fair is held in the month of February at Baneshwar, a small delta formed by the river Soma and, 68.4 km from Dungarpur. This fair is a major fair of the tribals. 'Baneshwar' means the ‘master of the delta’ which is derived from the Shiva Linga worshipped in the Mahadev temple in Dungarpur. This is a religious fair with simple and traditional rituals.

About The Temple

'Baneshwar' is derived from the revered Shivlinga, which is kept in the Mahadev Temple in Dungarpur. "Baneshwar means the 'Master of the Delta' in the local Vagdi language and this name was given to the Shivlinga. The Baneshwar fair is held at a small delta formed by the river Som and Mahi, from Magh Shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Purnima.

Festivals

Baneshwar fair in its present form is actually one of two fairs: one which used to be held in of Baneshwar Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and another fair, which started after the construction of the Vishnu Temple by Jankunwari, daughter-in-law of Mavji, a highly revered saint considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Two disciples of Mavji named Aje and Vaje built the Lakshmi- Narain Temple near the confluence of rivers Som and Mahi. The 'pran-pratishtha' ceremony of the idols was performed on Magh Shukla Ekadashi and since then, the fair is held on this day. The large congregation that gathers here at the time of the fair pays homage to all the deities with equal reverence.

Aarti

Prayers are offered five times a day in the temples of Lakshmi -Narayan and Brahma. Brass gongs are struck at the time of 'aarti'. During the fair, 'aarti' of Mathadhish is also performed and Raslila takes place at night in the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Offerings, similar to those at the Baneshwar Temple, are made at these shrines too.

Prasad and Offering

In the morning, saffron is applied to the Shivlinga after it is bathed and an 'aarti' of burning incense is waved before it. In the evening, 'bhabhut' (ash) is applied to the Linga and an 'aarti' with a fine-wick lamp is waved. Devotees offer wheat flour, pulses, rice, jaggery, ghee, salt, chillies, coconut and cash.

Accessibility

Udaipur is the closest airport to Mount Abu, one hundred eight-five km away. The railway station at Abu Road is a 2-hour drive from Mount Abu and is well-linked to the rest of the country through a number of trains. Mount Abu is well connected by road, as it is near the national highway No. 8 and 14. A small road linking the city to the National Road No. 8, which in turn is connected to major cities like Jodhpur and Delhi.

Temple Address