Pimpleshwar Mahadev Temple

Pimpleshwar Mahadev (Gujarati: શ્રી પીમ્પ્લેશ્વર મહાદેવ) is a historical Hindu temple of Lord Shiva located in the village of Saldi (District of Mehsana), Gujarat, India. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is also called “Mahadev” – The God of all Gods. Pimpleshwar Mahadev is famous for its annual traditional carnival “Saladi no Melo” (Fun Fare) on the last Monday of the holy month of Shraavan (August) in the Hindu calendar. Most temples of lord Shiva have a unique structure called the Shiv Linga which is considered to be a sacred symbol of Lord Shiva. The Pimpleshwar Mahadev in Saldi does not have the usual Shiv linga. Instead it has a Jaladhari – a continuous flow of water from an aquifer below the ground. This natural water flow is considered to be a sacred sign by the worshipers and another indication of the presence of Lord Shiva at this site.

Saldi is located about 60 km northwest of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Saldi is reachable by car, bus or public transportation. Ahmedabad International Airport (AMD) is the nearest airport with domestic and international flights. This temple is famous for its surrounding rural landscape and Pimpal trees, Bili Trees and Vakhada trees of historic age in the surrounding area of the temple. Pimpal trees are particularly attractive and important for Hindu pilgrims to the temple because the decades-old trees are considered sacred and symbolize happiness, prosperity, longevity and good luck. The temple has not been renovated for at least 100 years, and therefore it portrays an old style outlook that is attractive to pilgrims for reasons of nostalgia and a reminder of a by-gone era.

Salvabhai Patel, son of Teja Patel, migrated from Champaner, Gujarat and raised his family in the area which ultimately came to be known as Saldi. Approximately 200 years or seven generations following the founding of Saldi village, one of the cows of a herder named Petha Patel was found to be regularly releasing her milk over one location under a Pimpal tree, where the Jaladhari water source was ultimately found. In the Hindu tradition, worshipers of Shiva pay homage to the Shiv linga by pouring milk over it. Thus, the cow’s offering of her milk at this site without any assistance, led to the people of Saldi to attribute this phenomenon to the presence of Lord Shiva. Since then, the current site of Pimpleshwar Mahadev is considered to be very sacred by the pilgrims and villagers alike, and it has become famous throughout the state of Gujarat over the years.
The first temple or shrine was put in place by Petha Patel of Saldi at this site, dating back to the Hindu year Vikram Samvat 1143 (1086 AD). The current building was constructed and renovated by Sayajirao Gaekwad, the ruler of the state Baroda in 1895 during the British colonial era in India.