Famous Temples Of Bilaspur District

                        Famous Temples Of Bilaspur District

* Shanmukhesvara Temple(शंमुखेस्वारा मंदिर )- This temple in Bilaspur is dedicated to Karttikeya and its architecture       bears the characteristic similarity to the post Gupta structures of the 7th century A.D. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva.

 

Naina Devi Temple

* Naina Devi Temple(नैना देवी मंदिर )- This famous temple of Naina Devi is situated at the height of 3,000 feet above the mean sea level. Here, goddess Durga is worshipped as Naina Devi. A legend of this  temple goes that Lord Shiva was having his tandava nritya with the dead body of his spouse Sati who sacrificed her life because of insults heaped by her father Daksha. Lord  Vishnu followed Shiva with his mace and started cutting pieces of the body to save the world and heaven from destruction. The eyes of Sati fell at this place and it became a place of worship as a shakti peeth. According to another legend, during the reign of  Bir Chand, Naina, a ahir woman, was grazing cattle on the hill top. There she observed that her cows were voluntarily dropping milk upon as white stone. She informed the Raja ,and it was found to be an of Goddess Durga.

*Ranganatha Temple( रंगनाथ मंदिर )-The temple, originally located in old Bilaspur town, was one of the impressive temples of the town, which is now in ruins. Due to the variation in temperature, and effects of water and silt this beautifully carved temple, has been damaged. The structure of the temple had a distinctive style. This temple  of  Ranganatha is the only replica  of  'Chandi-Asu' in Java.

*Gugga 'Pir' Shrine(गुग्गा पीर मंदिर )- At Gehrwin in Bilaspur district, there is the most famous shrine of Gugga Pir. Still groups of singers extoll the heroic deeds of Gugga.

Markandeya Temple

*Markandeya Temple( मार्कंडेय मंदिर )-Markandeya temple is situated at a place 12 miles from Bilaspur. A legend goes that Maharishi Markandeya performed austerities here. According to legend a tunnel connected Markandeya and Vyas caves and both the sages visited each other through the sub-terrain path.