Gauri Shankar Mandir, Delhi, IN

Deities: Lord Shiva
Built In: 1623
Location: Chandni Chowk road, Old Delhi
Constructed By: Apa Ganga Dhar (As per the legend)
Famous as: 800-year-old lingam

Gauri Shankar Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the Old Delhi. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and houses an approximately 800-year old brown lingam, made up of phallus stone.

The Lingam is encircled by snakes and represents a "cosmic pillar, the center of universe, the life itself". There are bejeweled statues of Gauri (Goddess Parvati) wearing real gold jewellery are situated just behind the lingam under the silver canopy. And Shankar (Lord Shiva), standing beneath the silver canopy, inside the main shrine. The lingam too has a silver water vessel above it from which droplets of water continuously fall. Along with these idols, are the idols of their sons, Ganesh (the elephant headed god) and Kartik, (the god of war). This has beautiful silver paintings depicting the scenes from the life of Lord Shiva.

The entrance to the temple, which has a flight of marble steps and flanking pillars carved with chains and bells, leads directly to the courtyard. Always bustling with the activities of the devotees, the courtyard has all the necessary items of the puja for Lord Shiva like sandalwood paste, flowers, bilva leaves and rice, on sale for the devotees to buy. The unique attraction of the courtyard is a marble chair of Bhagat Swaroup Bramachari, a Hindu saint who spent more than 50 years in the temple. It is his portrait and sandals that are kept here with his teachings about methods to achieve enlightenment.

Many legends are associated with the temple. One of them is that Apa Ganga Dhar; a Maratha Hindu Soldier was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. One day, he got badly injured in a battle, with the survival chances being quite dim. He prayed to the Lord and made a pledge that if he survives, he will build a temple dedicated to the Lord. To everyone's amazement, he survives and thereafter, built the temple that is today known as the Gauri Shankar Temple. Another legend is that one-day, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered that the temple bells would not be rung. From that day onwards to the next three days, he kept hearing the ringing of the bells in his ears. Finally, he relented and took back his orders.

Other Attraction Nearby:
Red Fort
Gauri Shankar Temple
Chandni ChowkSalimgarh Fort
Kashmeeri Gate
St James Church
Dara Shikoh Library
Lothian Cemetery
Rajghat

How to Reach:
by Road: The best way to reach here would be to take a Metro to the Chandni Chowk station. One could also take local buses or hire an auto.
by Rail: Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway Station
by Air: Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport.

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