History, Significance and Miracle of Nishkalank Mahadev at Koliyak,Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Nishkalank Mahadev temple or Naklank Mahadev at small village Koliyak around 22 km from Bhavnagar, Gujarat is highy sacred and historical mandir of Lord Shiva. This in unique and rarest temple in certain way as sacred places are observed at mountain, on bank of river, caves etc but this temple is in Sea around one km inside from seashore, Koliyak Beach. Devotee can visit here daily in morning for some time during low tide and during high tide it submerge in sea and only flag and few part can be visible. It is believed that this temple was built by Pandavas after Kurukshetra War to pleased Lord Shiva.
As per the legend, Pandava were feeling guilty after killing their cousins and elders thus to wash this sins, they consulted Krishna. To help Pandavas in this dilemma Lord Krishna gave them a black flag and a black cow and told to trail and said at which place flag and the cow both turns in white, they have to worship Lord Shiva and performed penance there. They followed the cow everywhere for long and finally at Koliyak Beach, both turned white then Pandavas meditated and worshipped of Lord Shiva and apologized for the sins during terrible war of Mahabharat. Lord Shiva pleased with their prayers and showed up in manifest in form of Shivalinga to all five Pandava. Thus even today there are five Swayambhu Shivlinga placed with Nandi facing and worshiped here at Nishkalank Mahadev. As Lord Shiva helps to wash their sin and made them pure and Akarma. Thus this sacred Shiva temple famous as Nishkalank Mahadev which means clean, pure and guiltless.
It is mentioned in holy text of Hinduism that Pandavas built Nishkalank Mahadev on Amavasai of the Bhadrapada month. There is a small lake famous as Pandavas pond where devotees’ first wash their hands and legs before visit the Lord Shivas shrines. Veru popular fair well known as Bhadarvi is held on the Amavasya of Sharvan month. This temple festival is started with hoisting the flag by Maharajas of Bhavnagar and same flag remains there through out the year. It is just beyond the science that flag has never fallen down or washed away by the high tides or even in earth quake in 2001, this is just the miracle of Lord Shiva. People visit this place on foot and especially during Sravan month, Maha Shivratri and on Monday.
It should be taken care by devotee and tourist that high and low tides occurs everyday and amplitude of tides is influenced by Sun and Moon thus high and low tides are at their maximum levels during full moon and no moon thus these is the best time to visit the Nishkalank Mahdev or Nakalank Mahadev at Koliyak, Bhavnagar.
