The festivities of Shivratri (March 11) in Kurukshetra, my home town in Haryana, have begun. It has been reported that on March 9, a Shobha Yatra was carried out from the ancient Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple which included Lord Shiva's marriage procession.
It is believed that the Pandavas prayed to Lord Shiva at this site to seek his blessings for victory in the battle of Mahabharata. Shri Krishna led the worship by Pandavas with Abhishekam ceremony of Lord Shiva.
Some historical texts inform that the Shiva temple was constructed by Maratha Chieftain Sadashivrao Bhau after his victory over Ahmed Shah Abdali at Kunjpura near Karnal prior to the third battle of Panipat.
The ancestor of the Pandavas and Kauravas, King Kuru, performed penance in Kurukshetra and Parshuram as warrior sage humbled Kshatriyas here.
Though the temple has been renovated and area around it beautified, efforts has been made to preserve facade of the roof which is shaped like an 'amla' fruit along with a tall pinnacle that houses ancient Lingam venerated by devotees and visitors
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