Shiv Dham: Unique spiritual place of Punjab

Punjab: Ludhiana has many temples, but Shiv Dham in Bagga Kalan, Ladhowal stands out as a unique spiritual destination. Located around 10 km from the city near the Southern Bypass, the temple is the only temple in Punjab that houses 12 Jyotirlingas and 11 Rudra forms of Lord Shiva, offering a rare and powerful spiritual experience. It has become a popular destination for devotees seeking blessings and fulfilment of their desires, attracting visitors from far and wide. The temple is unique because it is the only temple in Punjab that offers darshan of all the 12 Jyotirlingas, which are usually spread across different states in India, as well as 11 Rudra forms of Lord Shiva. The consecration process, called Prana Pratishtha (infusion of divine energy to create living idols of Lord Shiva), brings these deities alive for devotees. The temple allows devotees to have darshan of all the Jyotirlingas and Rudra forms at one place, chief temple priest Nawal Kishore shared with the Tribune. He said, “Visitors also get overwhelmed by seeing the idols of revered dhams like Radha Krishna of Jagannath Dham, Lord Shiva of Vaidyanath Dham, Lord Shiva of Rameshwar Dham and Kedar Baba of Kedarnath Dham.” The temple was established in 2014 by businessman Sanjay Bansal and other devotees and has been attracting a large number of visitors since its establishment. “Devotees from various districts of Punjab often come to see the forms of Lord Shiva,” said priest Kishore. He also informed that the priest takes out time to explain the significance of these holy forms to the visitors, especially the youth, who often have many questions about Lord Shiva, his various forms and the jyotirlingas. Besides, the temple premises also have a cowshed which houses around 50 native Sahiwal cows. Priest Santosh Kumar Shastri informed, “We do not sell or use the milk of these cows. Their calves drink all the milk. A dedicated person has been appointed by the temple committee to take care of the cows.” The temple also has a lush green park with swings for children, making it a peaceful retreat for families.
The serene atmosphere attracts visitors who come not only for spiritual peace but also want a quiet place to spend time with their loved ones. Apart from spiritual and recreational facilities, the temple also includes a meditation area (Tapo Bhumi) and a Gurukul dedicated to the education of children. Inside the holy cave, devotees can see all the forms of Lord Shiva’s family, including Lord Shankar, Mata Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kartikeya, Nandi, Ashok Sundari, Ardha Nageshwar, Mahamrityunjaya Bhagwan, Kailash Vasi Shiva, Ashutosh Bhagwan, as well as Panchmukhi Hanuman, Siddhivinayak and Mata Gauri. The priest Santosh Shastri even claimed that sometimes, the serpent god comes to the temple to pay his respects to Lord Shiva. Shiv Dham remains a spiritual lighthouse for devotees, offering a unique experience with a combination of divinity, peace and devotion. Sanjay Bansal, head of the temple committee, said that the construction of the temple began in 2004 and was completed in 2014. He started this project after his guru Ram Krishna, who lives in Nirdhan Niketan in Haridwar, advised him to build a temple in Punjab that would house all the Jyotirlingas and the Rudra form of Lord Shiva.