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ACHALESWAR
MAHADEV TEMPLE
It is dedicated to Lord Siva and is situated 8 kms off the Dilwara
group. Its unprecedented attraction and popularity are due to the
fact that it treasures up an emblem of the toe of Lord Siva. Just
below the emblem, there is a small hole that tells a story
interesting. According to legends, the hole connects the earth to
the Patal loka. It appears that one Paramara King by name Dhara
varsha, a doubting Thomas by nature disbelieved the truth. Not being
satisfied with it, he decided to disprove the popular belief; so
ordered water to be poured down the hole with a view to falsifying
the age old fable current in his time. For six long months, hundreds
of workmen unceasingly poured down water into it, but in vain. The
thirst of the hole seems inextinguishable and so there were no signs
of water reaching the brim. Poor Dharma varsha retreated and
regretted. Alas! his foolhardiness ended with a terrible curse on
him by the lord Achaleswar. With this, his dynasty come to an abrupt
end.
Adjoining
the temple, there is a water tank known as Mandakini kund, supposed
to have been ever overflowing with ghee meant for the use of the
sages. According to the story, some three wicked demons deciding to
steal the ghee, went disguised as buffaloes. Unluckily for them,
their evil design reached the ears of Adipal, a valorous Paramara
king, who killed them simultaneously with a single shot of his
potent arrow. To commemorate his superb, feat and humanist action a
statue of the king with three buffaloes is set up here. Hence the
craze for a visit by the theists in particular.
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