Kedareswar temple

Overview : The Kedareswar Temple is a God Shiva temple located near the Mukteswar Temple, in Bhubaneswar, Orissa is one of the eight Astasambhu Temples. The presiding deity God Shiva is referred locally as ‘Kedareshwar’. It confines the Kedara-Gouri and is on the right side of the road that leads to Puri from Bhubaneswar and at a distance of 40 meters from south of Muktesvara.It is one of the ten landmarks inside the region.The sanctuary is confronting south and the main god of the temple is in round shape yonipitha shaped out from sandstone.The linga at the centre is missing. The shrine is 2.5 square meters which is 0.8 meters beneath the present ground. It stands close to the backyard of the Mukteswar Temple.Once there lived a couple Kedar (male) and Gouri (female). They were deeply in love with each other and decided to get into a wed-lock. But the society was against their union, so they decided to flee from the village.During their journey Gouri felt hungry, so Kedar went out in search for food and was killed by a tiger. When Gouri got this news, she decided to end her life, and jumped into the lake. The king of Utkal, Lalatendu Keshari,when got to know about the incident constructed a sanctuary named Kedareshawr, otherwise known as Kedargouri Temple.Still lovers come here to pray for a happy wedlock without any obstacles. The pond here is said to have some medicinal benefits.