A rare Panchmukhi (five-faced) Shivling believed to be around 300 years old was unearthed during the excavation of a lotus pond in Sarai Piparia village under Dataganj tehsil in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district. The marble relic, buried six feet beneath the ground, has triggered a surge of religious devotion among locals and drawn crowds from nearby villages.
The excavation, carried out with a bulldozer as part of a plantation and water conservation initiative, led to the unexpected emergence of the intricately carved Shivling, setting off religious celebrations and calls for the construction of a temple at the site.
Mahant Parmatma Das Maharaj of the Papad Brahmadev Mandir, who arrived promptly after hearing the news, identified the relic as a Panchmukhi Shivling an exceptionally rare symbol in Shaivite tradition. “This Shivling represents the five aspects of Bhagwan Shiva Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha, and Ishana. Its presence is a spiritual sign, and the sanctity of this land is now beyond question,” he said. According to the Mahant, the relic could date back around three centuries.
The discovery has since attracted waves of devotees, many of whom believe the find to be a divine blessing and an omen of transformation for the region. Chanting of “Har Har Mahadev” echoes through the area as residents light incense sticks, offer flowers, and perform spontaneous aartis.
The discovery occurred on the land of noted environmentalist Shipra Pathak, a former associate of the Narmada Bachao Abhiyan and founder of the Panch Tatva Paudhshala a plant nursery project that aims to distribute over five lakh saplings every year to promote ecological balance.
Pathak, present at the site during the excavation, told media, “This land was being shaped for a lotus pond, part of a larger vision to restore nature’s harmony. The Shivling’s emergence is no coincidence—it is a divine sign. When faith is sincere, miracles follow.”
Moved by the find, she announced that a grand mandir dedicated to Bhagwan Mahadev will be built at the exact location where the Shivling surfaced. “This sacred manifestation reinforces the importance of combining spirituality with ecological consciousness,” she added.
The massive turnout of people has prompted the local administration to deploy police forces and revenue officials to manage crowds and ensure security. Dataganj Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dharmendra Kumar Singh confirmed that the state’s archaeological department will be called in to assess the artifact’s age, origin, and historical significance.
“We are treating this with due seriousness. Once the archaeological experts have evaluated the site, appropriate steps will be taken regarding preservation or development,” the SDM stated.
The Panchmukhi Shivling holds immense symbolic value in Sanatan Dharma. While single-faced Shivlings are common, those with five distinct faces are exceedingly rare and are said to embody the complete cosmic manifestation of Shiva creator, preserver, destroyer, concealer, and revealer.
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