Panchmukhi Mahadev Temple is located in Tanakpur, a small town in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand, close to the India-Nepal border. Panchamukhi Mahadev Temple is believed to be a powerful Shiva temple with a mystical origin on the banks of the River Sharda.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his Panchmukhi form, which means “Five-Faced Shiva”. These five faces represent different aspects of Shiva:
1. Sadyojata – Creator
2. Vamadeva – Preserver
3. Aghora – Destroyer
4. Tatpurusha – Supreme soul
5. Ishana – The all-pervading divine force
The temple has a simple and traditional North Indian design. It features a Shikhara-style sanctum (tower-like structure) over the garbhagriha (main sanctum) and is built using locally available materials. The entrance has a trident (trishul) and Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull, facing the deity. The temple is small but radiates strong spiritual energy.
The temple is believed to be centuries old and has grown in significance over time due to its divine origins. Although it may not have grand historical inscriptions, it is deeply rooted in the faith of local devotees, and the temple has been a sacred place of worship for generations.
Long ago, three Brahmins residing in Tanakpur experienced the same divine dream on the same night. In the dream, Lord Shiva appeared and instructed them to retrieve a sacred Shivling from the Sharda River, which flows along the India-Nepal border near Tanakpur.
He said, “I am submerged in the river; lift me out and install me at a sacred place.”
Following this vision, the three Brahmins went to the river the next day and miraculously found the Shivling exactly where Lord Shiva had shown in the dream. When they attempted to bring it to Tanakpur, the Shivling became so heavy that it could not be moved further after a point.
Believing this was Lord Shiva’s divine will, they established the Shivling at that very spot, which is now the site of the Panchmukhi Mahadev Temple.
Over time, visions and signs revealed that the Shivling enshrined here is Panchmukhi, meaning Lord Shiva manifests with five faces.
Locals believe that prayers offered here are never unanswered, and it is especially auspicious to visit during the Shravan month and on Mahashivratri. Pilots heading towards Purnagiri Temple, one of the 108 Shakti Peethas, also frequented the temple.
The Panchmukhi Mahadev Temple celebrates several important festivals with devotion and simplicity. The most significant is Mahashivratri, when devotees observe fasts and offer prayers throughout the night. Special prayers are conducted every Monday during the holy Shravan month (July–August), attracting large crowds. Pradosham, observed twice a month, is also considered highly auspicious for seeking Lord Shiva’s blessings. These festivals are marked by traditional rituals, aartis, and the chanting of Shiva mantras, creating a spiritually uplifting atmosphere in the temple.
