Nishkalank Mahadev Temple, Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Nishkalank Mahadev Temple is a temple situated in Koliyak Beach in the town of Koliyak, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as ‘The Destroyer’ within the Trimurti, the principal deity of this shrine is around a km east from the banks of Koliyak Beach inside the Arabian Sea. One of the rarest sea temples of India, the Shivlingam here has its abhishekam done with the water through sea waves. Despite all the challenges, pilgrims here offer prayers to Lord Shiva by walking through the water, which is sometimes interrupted by high tides. During high tides, only the pillars and dhwaja (flag) is visible, looking at which it is unpredictable that Shiva is residing here in the form of five swayambhu lingams having great historical background.

According to Hindu Ithihas, this shrine has its history dated back to the era of Mahabharata which took place in the Dwapara Yuga. After emerging victorious in the war of Kurukshetra, Pandavas were upset about killing their own relatives. To get rid of this sin, they went to Shree Krishna who gave them a black cow and a black dhwaja and asked them to follow this black cow with this black dhwaja in their hand until both of them changes their colour to white. After pursuing the black cow for a long-distance, they observed a change in their colour to white after reaching the presently-situated Koliyak Beach in the state of Gujarat, following which they started worshipping Lord Shiva through Tapasya. Shiva was happy seeing their devotion and appeared in the form of lingam in front of each brother separately. These five Shiva Lingams are present to date, with an idol of Nandi in front of them. All these lingams are situated on a platform having a small pond, popularly known as Pandava Talab. Devotees use this water for cleaning their hands and feet before performing the rituals in the shrine.

The name ‘Nishkalank Mahadev’ is given as Pandavas were relieved of their kalank at this place. Bhadrapada Mela is the major attraction of this shrine organised on the Bhadrapada Amavasya according to Hindu Calendar Year. It is also known as Bhadarvi Mela. Although high tide occurs on Purnima and Amavasya, the devotees wait for the tidal pressure to lower down to worship the lingams. According to Hindu Parampara, the ash of a loved one who is no more is first applied to Shivlingam and the remaining part is immersed into the Arabian Sea, which is believed to be a path of Moksha. Bhadarvi Mela is initiated with flag hoisting on the top of this shrine by the descendants of the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. This shrine is a pure wonder of nature with some incidents which amazes and increases the faith of travellers and devotees here. Even after the massive earthquake of 2001, which claimed the life of around 50,000 people, this flag was waving undamaged at the top, contributing majorly to the beauty of this shrine.