Koteshwar Mahadev Temple - This Temple of Lord Shiva is located at a distance of appx 03 kms from rudraprayag main which is 15-20 mins drive from here(as the name suggest rudra-prayag) this place also consider as the Stay place of Lord Shiva (Rudra) and Prayag -Confluence of Alaknanda & Mandakini river could be seen Here Hence Rudraprayag .
This place is also one of the Panch Prayag which are in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.(other four are Devaprayag , Nandaprayag , Karanprayag & Vishnuprayag.
This temple is considered to be first been built in 14th century and than rebuild in 15th & 16th Century , this is a very important spot for the pilgrimage for char dham yatra and pilgrimages do pay a visit before heading to Shri Kedarnath dham and Panch kedar circuit.
Koteshwar Mahadev Temple
At Koteshwar Mahadev Temple there are Many stairs which goes down to the confluence spot of rivers where the temple is located and just steps near to the temple there is a Holy cave with Shiv-linga and various idols carved in the rocky surface this is believed to be from centuries at this places protected by snakes (as snakes being the companion of lord shiva) there is a big fair happened every year in Maha-Shivratri when many followers come across from different part of India to pray at this temple and get the blessing of lord Shiva this place is also considered to be very effective for the couples without children they offer special pooja to get the blessings of Lord Koteshwar mahadev.
As per Mythology this temple of Koteshwar Mahadev is associated with the Story of Demon
called Bahsmasur (when lord Shiva was Delighted with the Very Hard penance of
Bhasmasur he offered him a boon of killing just in mere second anyone be it
king/man/god/ or any other creature by just putting his hand
on the head of his opponent he would be turned into ashes there & than.
But the Demon want to testify the power of the boon , despite of the fact he received this boon from lord Shiva He want to try it with lord Shiva itself on identifying his
intentions lord Shiva vanished and took shelter under this cave and meditate
here until the time when Lord Vishnu took the only femine Avatar called
“Mohini” and Killed Bhasmasur .
In Some other stories also Lord Shiva Hidden & Mediate here to escape from Pandavas reach, who were in Search of The Lord After the battle of kurushetra so In order to get the ‘Moksha’ (The ultimate liberation) and from here only lord shiva make his further way to Shri kedarnath and other panch kedars when discovered by Pandavas.
Koteshwar Mahadev Cave
People who wish to visit Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, "mahashivratri " could be the best time or in summer Season / winter season except for monsoon time(Due to Heavy Rain-fall and water-level in the river) one could visit here ,this place is very sacred and deities from around the village and the regions also being took here for the holy bath as per their rituals.
