Jiengkieng-based Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Centre has renamed the landmark temple as Baidyanatheswar Shiva Mandir
An old Shiva temple on Turha Compound at Lower Nongrim Hills was been renovated and rededicated to the people on the day of Mahashivaratri. The renovation was an initiative of Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Centre (SNGCC), a socio-cultural organization working for the development of the downtrodden people of the society, irrespective of caste, creed and race.
The temple has been renamed Baidyanatheswar Shiva Mandir after the famous Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple also know as Baba Dham and Baidyanath Dham, one of the 12 Jyotiringas, located in Jharkhand. It is believed that the demon king Ravana worshipped Shiva at the Jharkhand site to acquire power. Ravana offered his ten heads one after another to Shiva as sacrifice. Pleased, Shiva descended as a vaidya – meaning doctor – to heal the decapitated Ravana back to health. The temple thus derives its name from this aspect of Shiva.
For the Lower Nongrim Hills temple, a Shivalinga was sourced from Guwahati. The consecration ceremony was performed by two Vedic priests from Shillong on February 16 and the temple was rededicated to the public the following day in the presence of Nongthymmai legislator Jemino Mawthoh.
The old interior structure of the temple was given the much-needed refit with wall tiles and granite-filled pedestal where the Shivalinga was installed. Devotees thronged the temple in large numbers throughout the day.
An SNGCC spokesperson said the temple would strive to serve the society as envisioned by saint Sree Narayana Guru who consecrated the Shivalinga at Aruvippuram Temple in Kerala in 1888.
“A morning walker is behind the renovation of this temple that was in a dilapidated state. He decided along with his fellow joggers to revive it, and committee was subsequently constituted for the facelift of the east-facing temple,” MK Mohanan, a city based businessman and president of SNGCC, said.
Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual organization, put up pictorial display to inform devotees about Lord Shiva, and the role of every person on earth. They also conducted spiritual discourses in traditional satsang style during Mahashivaratri marking the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti.
A book “Sacred and Holy Places of Lord Shiva at Shillong” authored by former PWD engineer and Shillong resident, Prabhat Kanti Paul was released by Mawthoh, who assured upkeep of the temple. “God is good to all and, therefore, all souls ask for salvation, peace and happiness from him. He is the Supreme Father of all. He has no ears but he hears, he has no physical eyes but he sees and he has no feet and yet he walks. He is a point of light that represent Shivalinga, the God of Renunciation,” he said.