Shri Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, Thanesar

The ancient Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated in old Kurukshetra city Kurukshetra district of Haryana, India. It was here that the Pandavas along with Krishna prayed to Shiva and received his blessings for victory in the battle of Mahabharata. The ninth Guru, Shri Tegh Bahadur stayed at a spot near the Sthaneshwar Tirtha that is marked by a gurdwara just besides this temple.The temple called Sthaneshwar is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the ancient city of Sthaneshwar presently known as Thanesar city or Kurukshetra city. The legends place its antiquity to Mahabharata period. It is said that Krishna worshiped Lord Shiva Done Abhishekam here along with the Pandavas and got the blessing for the victory in the forthcoming battle of Mahabharata. Krishna specially prayed O God “ Maheshwara”, I will protect pandavas(Dharma) in any situation, but there are some powerful Astras which I can’t “it is also believed that Kauravas consist of deadliest astra which can’t be controlled by any one except lord Shiva who is Mahakaal pilgrimage to Kurukshetra without visiting this tirtha is supposed to be incomplete and fruitless. Pushpabhuti, the founder of the Vardhana Empire of Thanesar named the capital of his kingdom after Sthaneshwar Shiva. The present temple is said to be constructed by Sadashivrao Bhau, the Commander-in-Chief of Maratha forces, to commemorate his victory over Ahmed Shah Abdali at Kunjpura before the third battle of Panipat